Montgomery County sentinel., 1891-02-20
Slang-Slingers.
[From The Wduerly Progress, by J. L.
LODGE, d. D., Editor

Ihe lnnuence OF teacnlnB IN the prOuuc-
ton of mental and moral characteristics
seldom has more iorceful illustration In
the case of Jane Porter, the elegant author
of Thaddeus of Warsaw, Scottish Chiefs,
etc., works which will be read with hot
heart and holy tears while single soul,
Scottish or other, pants for liberty and waits
to pour out patriotic blood in its defense
From six years of ago she had felt not only
the educational influence Of the pastors and
teachers, but from nursery maids and serv-
ing men had heard songs Of wallace
Wight p and tales of "Bannockburn," and
"Cambus. Kenneth" all breathing such pa
triotism, and devotion to country, as would
thrill the nature of the child, and insensibly
but inevitably would mould the principles
and fire the soul of the future splendid
author. But, as she tells us in the intro
duction to Scottish Chiefs, it was Luckie
Forbes, venerable and humble woman,
whose stories of Wallace and Bruce, and
their deeds Of valor for Scotland against the
tyrant Edward entranced her youthful lis
tener, who most contributed to the forma-
tion of the pious and patriotic character
which afterward distinguished her and
shone in her admirable productions.
Sir Philip Sidney said, "Let who will
make the laws of q. people, allow me to
make their ballads, and I'll guide them at
say, let it be ascertained that people are
habitual readers of the novels and other
trash produced in the second part of the
nineteenth century, and apply the law OF
association, and the low taste which ex-
presses itself In vulgar habit Is sufficiently
explained. 1t is as true now as it ever was
that a mans speech is the index to his
mind. His utterances constantly show what
subjects interest him, what modes are con-
genial, what character attracts what COM
panionship satisfies, whittier the aspirations
tend. What is exasperating about the dis
gusting slang habit of this generation is the
perpetual strain it puts upon those who
wish to preserve the use of correct and ele'
giant language. The commonest words,
many OF them strong and expressive in
proper positions, are wrenched, distorted,
surrounded by associations so disreputable
as to force dignified speaker or serious
writer into crcumlocution in the effort to
avoid forms Of expression constantly on the
tongues of the vulgar. To the violation of
propriety, the degradation OF one OF the
noblest languages earth has ever known, Is
added the crime OF miseducating youth.
The child in ordinary society born within the
past fifteen years can hardly be said to know
whatthe English language is, for he has heard
little in his home that is not somehow tainted
with slang. How great the crime is may be
realized in the fact that the children OF faml-
lies where correct and pure speech is the
rule grow up practically educated in this
respect before they know anything of gram
mar as a science.
In this period, one wonders what is the
utility of u college course To many who en-
joy what, rightly used, is priceless priVi-
iege. 1t does not seem to purify from vulgar
habits of the past, nor TO preserve from con
tamnation OF ill bred acquaintance. With
the girl graduate it is lawful handsome" or
"horrid nice" If apprehension of the OBJ
scure is difficult, she doesn't Catch on
One of these, on being congratulated by her
anxious but elegant mother on her engage.
ment to gentleman considered q great prize
replied: "Yes, ma, | got there with both
feet, this time" This time, she was de.
termined she wouldn't "get left" He had
been difficult TO manage, but she had "got
the bulge on him." at last. Poor fellow
How thankful some of US are that we were
married some time ago! Not very long since,
l saw letter from q "proiessor" TO another
professor" in the same institution. "Rats p
The disgusting rodents were crawling all
over the rich and gilded envelope; fit type,
doubtless, of the correspondence enclosed.
Those who are set in high places to instruct
youth should be superior TO such coarse
ness; but if we might judge by the private
conversation and public addresses of those
whom they send forth, we should conclude
that Il professor Of slang had been added to
the faculty. Yet if some of this hopeful
brood should read this protest against u
shameful abuse, a depraved habit, and out
rage upon their mother tongue, with one
accord they'd cry out, "chestnuts chest
nutsl !"
About three years SINCE the wife of the
pf- IN ha
and his wife in a slang expression TOO sug-
gestive for this paper, but which was pub
lished in the Washington press So far as
concerns what Is known as society" In
America, We are not inclined to expect
much but comparison OF the manners, TO
say nothing of the morals, of our present
law makers and executives, supposed to give
tone to all in less honorable and conspicu-
Gus positions, with the department and hab-
its OF those who in the infancy OF the repub.
lie administered the affairs of government,
is not reassuring. Read the speech of Ingalls,,
in the Senate, the other day. in which he
threatened TO smite his political enemy "un
der the butt end Of his left ear" and then
read one Of the classic, elegant, powerful
orations of Edmund Burke, whose eloquence
flowed like molten gold from pitcher of
silver! With the hollow boast of progress
on our lips it were nearly sacrilegious to
mention in one breath the Irish member of
parliament and the Senator from Kansas
Slang has, as it was to have been feared,
invaded the precincts of the sanctuary. Not
long since, female on the platform, in ex-
pressing her disapprobation of certain OBJ
jections against her theories, exclaimed that
such opposers made her tired" Pretty
soon ratting, roaring evangelist" declar-
ed that paul was man the scientists
couldn't get away with" The saddest OF
all is, that the people, including some who
| at first were shocked at such a lowering oil
/ the pulpit standard, are becoming 80 accus-
toned To the pitiable dialect that remon.
! strances are few and mild. Perhaps. as the
new Chicago slang has it, they are too much
"in the swim" TO feel justified in criticising
or correcting others. But il you want dig
nifty and decency anywhere it must be In
the pulpit, Constantly is brought to mind
! Cowper's scathing criticism of these so fool
ish takers, who suppose their epigram.
matte, merry quips bring them the award
of "smartness," and his comparison OF such
to that grave, life.and death preacher, the
| apostle Paul. You have been listening,
with interest, 10 description of the vain
resorts ol men in hope Oi procuring saliva
ton in their own way, and were glad TO
hear them warned that no human projects
will avail, when suddenly the preacher cries
out, well, what's the matter with Jesus
Christ as Saviorg' Then, you took your
hat and left the house. AT least, did.
Last in point Of mention, but | had al
most said first in order ofimportance, is the
religious newspaper. II has been the very
last 10 yield to the whelming food Of slang,
but it is slowly yielding. Its literary stand
ard should be the very highest an educator
in pure speech, as in pure morals. Our
children study it; and there should be in it
no apparent endorsement of so monstrous
an evil. Every article containing slang ex.
pressions should be rejected; and the watch
ful editor should guard his pen. No better
advice could be given the young student
than to put Archbishop French's works on
The English in his course for it is likely
that careful study of them will make him
slang hater to his dying day. And 1t is
the duty, as it should be the pleasure, OF
every English speaking mortal to discoun-
t,s,ta ,f oh rlraf