The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1891-11-19
UNCONSCIOUS OATHS
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Cousins Society.

truth
-ALL's WE'LL THAT ENDS WELL
The conversation of shallow and
illiterate people abounds in ejacula-
lions, and an infallible proof of re-
fnement is the infrequent use of
EXPLANATIONS. A man of vulgar
nature is constantly attempting to
strengthen his assertions by oaths.
Surprise, JOY, grief, and impotence
in him find expression by profane
swearing. In low state of civiliza-
ton all kinds of oaths are common.
Such was the case in English society
until the early part of the present
century. Says Robert Mackenzie,
in recent work upon that period
GA general coarseness of manners
prevailed. Profane swearing was
the constant practice of gentlemen.
They sWore at interiors because their
commands would not otherwise re-
ceive prompt obedience. The chap
lain cursed the sailors because it
made them listen more attentively
to his admonitions. Ladies swore,
orally and in their letters. Lord
Braxfeld offered to lady at whom
he swore, because she played badly
at whist, the sufficient apology that
he had mistaken her for his wife
Erskine, the model of a forensic
orator, swore at the bar Lord Thur
low swore upon the bench. The
king swore necessarily. When His
Majesty desired to express approval
of the weather, Of a handsome horse,
of a dinner which he had enjoyed,
this first gentleman in Europe
supported his royal asssvertion by
profane oath. Society clothed itself
with cursing as with garment"
At the present day there are found
many curious relics of former oaths.
some having lost entirely their
original Specification, and it is quite
probable that many an honest house
wife would be greatly shocked upon
learning the true meaning of the
expressions that 80 often fall
from her lips. How many careful
mother who expresses Impotence or
slight indisposition by 80 dear"
would be panied to hear her little
son echo her feelings by 80 God"
and yet such is the literal transla
ton. This expression is corruption
of o Dea, the vulgar Latin for 0 God,
the Latin word Deus being the origi-
nal of our word Deity. 90 dear me
SUI" is then 0 Ded, me sustane, or 0
God sustain me.
In France Mon Dieu is as frequent
in the best society as ''indeed" is
among US, and should be so rendered
in translation; but to the English
speaking people "My God" is a
phrase too sacred to be thus lightly
uttered. "Lordy Massey" or Laws
a. massy," is nothing else than
Lord, ha' mercy" hardly the equi-
valent of 'sindeed," and yet SO fire.
quently used. claw sakes" means,
of course, for the Lords sake; My
gracious" is"my gracious Lord 5" and
''mercy on me" is a prayer to the
Deity. 60 heavens" is an oath
especially forbidden by the Saviour,
and "heavens and earth" falls under
the same interdict.
"By Jimmy" is a corruption of
shy Gemini," the third sign of the
Zodiac. Since the heavenly bodies
were supposed to have potent in
fuence upon human affairs, it was
frequent practice to swear by the
stars and consultations, as is attested
| by the expression, "my stars" "My
stars and garters," however, has
different origin, and is an oath for
merly much used by the English
nobility, stars referring to the decor
atoms worn upon the breast, and
carriers to the jewelled sign of the
order of the Garter, an Institution
founded in A. D. 1349, by Edward
III. The story is often told, though
entirely unsupported by evidence,
that the Countess of Salisbury, at
ball, happening to drop her garter,
the King took it up and presented it
to her with these words, " Honi soft
qui NAL y pense." This accident is
said to have been the origin of the
order and the motto. Rastelps Chron-
icEe, however, gives another version
of the incident. "Some do afirme,
that this order beganne fyrst by
Kyng Richard Occur de LION, at the
siege of the cite of Acres, where in
his create necessytie there was but
twenty-five knights that frmlye and
surelye abode by him, where he
caused all of them to wear thonges
Of blue leythere aboute their legges,
and afterwards they were called
knights" of the Garter.
"By Jinks" or shy lingo" are cor
ruptions of Shy st. Gingoulph."
The names CT saints were often used
in oaths by the early English; as,
est. Peter" "St. Paul." St.George,"
or "St. Andrew" It was common to
swear by Christ's body. blood, or
death, and such expressions are
found in the dramas of the six
teenth, seventeenth, or eighteenth
centuries. " IS blood" means Gods
blood; Zounds," Gods wounds;
"'s DEATH" Gods death; " g body !"
and sso11c ho1uEioc y Code bod, ~