The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1890-11-29

'lnc curing all that long course OF
study, before they were conversing in
a language not found ia their books,
and which seems to BE- fur more easy
OF acquisition than that taught within
the school hou-e walls. They may,
and many do, speedily forget their
teachers grammar lessons, but the
! lanGuaE. of the street-slang-slays
by them forever.
Webster tells US slang IS low, vu!-
gar, unau:h0r.zed language" This is
one dehniuon; there is yet another.
Most slang Is the use OF any word or
sentence to which new OF improper
meaning has Leen gwen. For Instance,
4 young lady is walking with her es-
cort, both well attired apd bearing evil
denCes OF refinement. Another female
passes whose apparel attracts the young
Iady's attention, and, clltching her
companions arm, she says, in subdued
tones, '.get on to that woman's Dress"
Were ie TO follow her injunction litera-
lily he would speedily had himself in
trouble, and the young lady herself
would be foremost in his condemnation.
Agalp, an election having been held,
and party feeling, as usual, having run
high, the journalistic organ of the sue.
cessful ticket publishes a glowing ac-
count Of the victory, and the article is
headed In the Soup! Every one
knows just what is meant by those
three words, but no book on language.
no dictionary, or any authority save
"slang." will warrant their use in any
such sense.
These are illustrations OF but two OF
the many slang words and phrases in
common use, and the tendency IS con
stantly to increase the number. To
such an extent has slang become the
rule, ti.at good authorities tell Us 1t is
almost impossible to hear a spoken
sentence that does not contain slang,
and 1t has been asserted that s0me of
cur ,ramps and street arabs can main
tain a pro'ractsd conversCioa by the
use wholly OF slang:
The grea. Dickens somewhat causti-
CallY Crtlcised the American people
upon the use OF slang, but 1t is not by
any means peculiar to this country, al
though, perhaps, more predominant
and aggressive here. In EurQSe il IS
confned almost wholly 10 the lowest
classes and a few fashionable idiots
among the upper ter, but IN this
country it is universal and while there
the use of slang is an evidence of lgnor-
ance or imbeciIity, with Us it bears no
such reprolch, and an apropos utter
ance OF slang seems rather 10 be con
sidered a smart performance, and is
usually rewarded with smie.
Any great popular occasion gives
birth 10 one or more slang phrases,
even a popular play often sflrds an
opportunity for eGriching the Slang
dictionary" Everyone remembers Inc
hardly ever OF "PlnsfJre," and the last
presidential election Afforded It's quota.
For anyone about that time to say he's
all right was convincing proof there
were oa,es on him. These, however,
can scarcely come under the reproach
CT being slang, although occupying de-
bateable ground. Al all events 1t is
not as bad Is ! good deal We SO often
hear.
Yet, while We profess to speak En-,
glish, it would be much better if we
could do So in its purity. 1t IS grand
and souorous language, and deserves
better treatment tAln the perversion
and muUlaliol il SO frequently receives.
Not long since, II a public restaurant,
W. listened for several minutes to a
siream OF pnra aad eloquent English,
that fell on our ears ike sweetest music.
Subsequent inquiry developed the
speaker was German, and had mas
tered our language under a German
professor in one Of the universities ot
Fatherland. Ii a foreigner could thus
speak pure English, why should not we2
Why do we not? The freedom OF
which we boast so much does not war
rant every man in using slang, or at
irIuuliug whatever meaning TO A word
that may suit his fancy. The pander-
ing to this folly of slang is not an evil
dence freedom by any means, but
rather OF a contemplate form of slavery,
that often renders the conversation OF
an intellectual man wholly incompre-
hensible to ordinary hearers.
The politicians are just now exercised
over the Bennett law and similar State
legislation, IN which the compulsory
education in E2glish Is the disputed
point, Bat why make all this fuss
about q language so few Of Us seem
willing 10 use, and which is rapidly be-
ing supplanted bY slang. 1t seems
sad commentary on the public schools,
that cost Sis 100000 a year, to be
told by some of our distinguished edu.
Gators that We are ceasing 10 speak
English, and by q small coterie of en-
thusi3sts that we do not know how to
spell.
Here Is field that offers most ex-
cellent opportunity for the labors of
these spelling "reformers." 1t will be
useless to inaugurate the new spelling
so long a. we persist in using slang.
Why need We worry over the ue in
"pedagogue," when, if 3 woman, we
call her "schoolmarm," and, if man,
"his nios" ? What difference does 1t
make whether we use or ph for physi-
clan, when we dub him cold bolus" or
"sawbones"? o. why trouble about
the te in "coqnette," when she would
usually be termed "mlsher"2