Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1890-04-03
IN ITALICS.
A Bad Habit. Especially Noticeable In
Girls, Which Should Be Avoided.

THAT girl always talks in italicsS
said lady TO her friend, as gay girl OF
fifteen, laughing and talking volubly,
fitted past the elder woman.
81 fancy they all do so" was the reply
of the other. is it only because l am
growing older, and am more subdued
than used to be, that l think nothing,
in young girl, equals or even APP
proaches repose in charm? lam so tired
of hearing girls use superlatives, when
positives are in order; of listening to
conversations which are peppered with
dashes, and spiced with interjections;
in fact, see so much to criticise in the
girl of the period, that I'm half afraid
Of doing her injustice. For she is
sweetp'
Sweet" cried the first speaker. SIN
deed she is, with the sweetness of rose
half-blown, the sweetness of youth, and
freshness and real enjoyment, and buoy
ant hope. But she and host of her sis
tiers are like Eva Leighton, who flashed
past us a moment ago; they talk in
italics"
l have always thought it best, if one
has cause of complaint, to go at once to
the person most nearly concerned, and
have a candid comparison of views.
am too fond of girls to join in whole
sale condemnation of them, let them do
what they may; but / would really like
to ask them if they do not think they
might be more careful, not so much of
what they say, as of how they say it,.
For instance, the other evening, / heard
from the lips of beautiful girl, repeat
eddy, the exclamation: "By Joyer
knew that she had a brother at col
lege, and l inferred that by Jovei"
was one of his college catch-words, but
it was in the worst possible taste, as the
excrescence Of speech, in the boys sis
ter. / am not justifying him in its use,
for think it is more elegant for every
one, as we'll as safe, and according to
Scripture, to garnish conversation with
no explosives, and to be limited to plain
affirmation and denial: "Yea, yea, nay,
nay" But an Objectionable phrase GER
tainly sounds worse in girls talk, than
in a boys. lawfully, fearfully, stun
ningly," and the like have an italic eff
feet, and girl would do well to avoid
them.
II perfectly hate Mrs. G. / detest
her. She's meaner than an Indian
squawl" said Gertie Manning of lady
who had offended her by some harmless
popularity Translated out of girl
superlative into plain vernacular, this
meant only that Gertie did not espe-
cially like Mrs. G, and preferred to be
in some other ladys Sunday-school
class, and that, for some reason or other,
she thought Mrs. G disobliging, ''mean"
in girl-parlance. standing for variety
Of disagreeable qualities.
Girls are very apt to be sweeping in
their assertions, simply because youth
is intolerant, and apt to DO crude in its
judgments, and less gentle and patient
than maturity. For this reason, If |
were girl again, | would cultivate tho
habit Of reserving my spoken opinion.
/ would wait little, and defer, ever so
much more than / used to do, to the
opinions Of my elders and betters. The
habit of italics, in speaking, is partly
habit springing from temperament, not
always a matter of disposition or Of
thought The impulsive, impetuous,
swiftly-moving nature brings to every
act OF life greater force than the slug
gish. phlegmatic opposite does. But
nothing is so delightful as enthusiasm
held in leash; the hasting, hurrying,
sanguine temperament restrained by
gentleness; and in no way can this most
desirable charm be gained, except by
daily thought, daily self-discipline,
daily vigilance. There is no danger
that your speech will be colorless, dear
girl, or that your spontaneity viii be
lost, If you study to be tranquil, even
dignified. Try the plan for the next
few weeks Of never talking in italics
Margaret E. Songster, in Interior.