Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-12-13

From the Pttsburg Bulletin.
The prevailing impression-among many
worthy people-that a proper use of the
English language can be bestowed by close at
tention to the study of grammar and faithful
memorizing of its rules is . very misleading
one. Under this impression the parent whose
opportunities have been limited. and who
hopes that his child may at school acquire
correctness which fate and circumstances have
denied the father and mQther, urges upon the
embryo man and womanthe necessity for being
perfect in their grammar class. So the chill
dren laborlous,y commit to memory the various
rules which govern spoken and written IAN
Suage. They strive to remember why it is that
the expressions Il have saw, 81 seem Il
done. ''have went" &c, are grossly incorrect.
They master the rules ard are proficient in
their recitation. This good work is. however.
completely lost sight OF when the school
room is quilted if the parents are not
able and willing to supplement the
teachings of the school with intelligent
avoidance of errors of speech in the home.
Hence it is that ones ears are affronted by vul-
garisms Of speech proceeding from young peo-
pie who have labOred faithfully during their
schooling to master the rules of grammar. Il
Is bat one instance of the all-pervading rule
that the home Is the place of The most potent
educating influence and that home surround
ings and companionships exert an influence
that no schooling can offset. The child of the
excel in her grammar class. but will fall nat
urally into the old errors the moment the home
circle surrounds her. Or. if her companions
are viOlators of the commonest rules of gram
mar. no amount of skill on the part of the
teacher, or patience on the part of the pupil
will prevent such blunders as mark the lack of
culture and refinement. 1t therefore becomes
the duty of parents to closely observe the
niceties of speech, to educate themselves-in
this respect-up to the standard which they set
for their children. 1t will be no easy task but
1t will be worth the effort.
Refinement Of speech makes the gentleman
and gentlewOman more than any one thing
which can be mentioned. II is the golden coin
which bears the stamp Of true gentihtv. and its
absence proclaims illiteracy and ill-breeding.
1t is a defect which no fitness or richness of
raiment can hide. The perfect cut and fit of a
dress suit or the absolute faultlessness of a
gown cannot avert the baleful effect of a single
II seen" or render the wearer proof against
the lowering effect Of an Il haven't saw" SO
many really excellent persons, men and women
of rich endowments Of heart and hand. show
this disregard of the commonest rules of
correct expression that one marvels at
their obtuseness, seeing that it does and must
seriously obstruct their local preferment.
school, but in the home and in the
hands of those who have charge of the home
guidance of bright young people. BY con-
stantly and judiciously exercising watchfulness
over their own speech they can spare their
children an amount Of subsequent mortifca-
ton and local hindrance that can scarcely be
estimated. The father and the mother make
the child's future, and the home-not the
school OF seminary-shapes the chiid's charac-
ter and molds its traits. If there were less
blind faith in the potency of memoriZed rules
of grammar and more intelligent censorship at
home, there would be fewer atrocities of
speech perpetrated by well-dressed, well-be-
haved and seemingly well-infOrmed people.