The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1891-11-24
UNCONSCIOUS OAIHS
Recently Read Before the
Cousins Society.

iIliterste people sbounds IN elscula
tions. snd an infallible proof of re
fnement Is the infrequent use OF
ordinations. A man of vulgar
nature Is constantly attempting to
strengthen his assertions by oaths,
Surprise, JOY. grief, and impatience
in him find expression by profane
swearing. In low state OF civiliza-
ton all kinds of osths are common
Such was the case IN English society
until the early part of the present
century. Says Robert Mackenzie,
in 8 recent work upon that period :
8 s general eosrseness OF manners
prevailed. Profane swearing was
the constant practice of gentlemen.
They svore st interiors because their
commands would not otherwise re-
ceive prompt obedience The chap
lsin cursed the sailors because It
made them listen more sttentiyely
TO his sdmonitions. Ladies swore,
orally and in their letters. Lord
Braxheld offered to lady at whom
he swore. because she played badly
at whist, the sufficient apology that
be had mistaken her for his wife
Erskine. theI model of 6 forensic
orator. swore st the bar Lord Thur
low swore upon the bench The
king swore necessarily. When His
Msiesty desired to express approval
of the weather. of 8 handsome horse,
Of 8 dinner which he had enjoyed.
this first gentleman IN Europe,
supported ms royal sssevertion by 8
profane oath. Society clothed itself
with eursing as with s 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
probsble that many an honest house
wife would be greatly shocked upon
Learning the true meaning OF the
expressions thst so often fall
from her lips. How many careful
mother who expresses impotence or
s slight indisposition by 20 dear"
would be panied to hear her little
son echo her feelings by 20 God"
and yet such is the literal trsnsls-
ton. This expression is 6 corruption
Of @ Ds1, the vulgar Latin for o God,
the Latin word Dzls being the ongi-
nsl Of our word Deity. 20 dear me
suz Is .t.S, Q Dsd, * sEsifs<, or o
God sustain me.
In France HsE De- 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 Ny God" is a
phrase too sacred to be thus lightly
~Lordy Massey or Laws
s. msssy.1 Is nothing else than
Lord. Ia mercy" hardly the equi-
Yalent OF indeed" and yet so fire.
lusnIly used. Law sakes" means,
Of course. for the Lords sake; " Ny
gracious" is-my gracious Lord" and
mercy on NE" Is s prayer TO the
Deity. % heavens Is an osth
forbidden BY the Saviour,
and -heaYe1s and earth" falls under
the same interdiet.
BY Jimmy Is q corruption of
-by Gemini," the third sign of the
Zodiac. Since the heavenly bodies
we're supposed to have potent in
iGeDce upon human affairs, ii was a
frequent practice 70 swear by the
stars and considerations, as Is sttested
by the expression, my stars" My
stars and garters-n however, has q
different origin, and Is an oath for
nerly much used by the English
stars referring 10 the decor
stions worn upon the breast, and
ya-tsrs 10 the !e6elled sign Of the
lrder OF the Garter, an Institution
founded II 4. D. 1349, by Edward
III The story Is often told, though
unsupported by evidence,
that the Countess Of Salisbury, at q
ball. happening to drop her garter,
the King took II up and presented ii
TO her with these words, Honi soft
lui nal y pense.7 This accident Is
said 70 have been the origin Of the
order and the motto. RastzIFs ChT1E-
ie.S. however, gives another version
q the incident Some do sfirme,
that this order begsnne FIRST by
hyug Richard CsE1T d Lea, at the
siege Of the cite Of Acres. where IN
his create necsssytie there was but
twenty-five knights that frmlys and
sure-ye abode by him, where he
caused al Of them to wear tho1ges
Of blue lsythe1s sboate their Iegges,
and afterwards they were called
knights OF the Garter.
by Jinks or by Jingo7 are cor
Of by St Gingculph-H
Ihe names CT saints were often used
IL oaths b the early English: as,
st Peter, st Paul" -SEGeOrge.
o. ST Andrew" II was common to
sJeE b. Christs body, blood. OF
deztb. and such expressions are
found II the dramas OF the six
tenth. seventeenth. or eighteenth
centuries - ) blood means Gods
blood; Zoznds," Gods wounds;
. : death, Gods death: 5 body =
and odds bOdykins.7 Gods body or
the hast Mary" 50 often seen in
Shakespeare, Is Z corruption Of the
osth by the Virgin Mary" ~By'r
Lady refers, OF course, TO the same.
BY the mass vas { very common
oath, mass being the old name for
the Lords supper Gods sonties Is
Gods saints OF sanctities. era
=