The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1892-01-29
HISTORIC PROFANITY.
THE OLD 'uNs WERE PAST MAS
TIERS OF THE ART.

T6RS OF The Art.
Mon Of Note Whose Custem IL Was 10
Use Emphatis Languags-All OF Eng-
lamd's Ruler hut Queen Victoria Used
Frsfhns s'Fi9urss Of rmprsssfon.'
1t is astonishing how often the so
called accomplishment of ingenious and
graceful profanity" interests and is
valued, even by gentlemen Of culture,
in boon companion and by sovereigns
themselves. Delhi Abdalla, Captain
Pasha, and afterward grand vizier of the
late intelligent and strong minded Sultan
Mahmoud Ill, was rough, common
boatman on the Bosphorus when he
strangely attracted the notice of that
Sultan. while rowing in his barge, by
the unusual and vulgar oaths which no
swore and his peculiar manner of shout
| ing them out. For this reason solely,
ut the time although so illiterats that he
could not write his own name). he was
placed at the head Of the Ottoman navy,
and afterward, as I have said, raised
high in the favor Of the Sublime Porte,
who, as . devcnt Mohammedan, was
himself prohibited by the Koran from
swearing at all. Some one may say, If
such are the benefits Of blasphemy, it
might be worth while to cultivate the
habit of aexclaiming profanely," as
gentle Charles Lamb expresses it.
Many Of the old English kings and all
OF the queens except Victoria, who, al
though her language is. when not angry,
decorous, still practices some of the
shortcomings Of the unsavory 3Four
Georgesr) had their peculiar profane
@igures Of impression, as Addison calls
them, by which they were known, as .
knight by his device. A catalogue or
roster Of old royal and distinguished
swearsrs. from the sublime blasphemy Of
the Conquerer to the soath reverential or
sentimental" (ses Leigh Hunt) Of George
~, would contain some historically fam
ous names. Right Hon. George Canning,
in his young days, talked Of writing .
book ON this subject, and it would have
been received with pleasure by readers
In search for the @curiosities Of itera-
ture, "if he had found time to carry out
his early intentions even in q cursory
manner.
The Conqueror, who, as Hume says.
was great even in his blasphemieS,
swore commonly by athe splendor Of
God, and on great state occasions by
the resurrection and the throne Of the
Almighty" Rufus the Red (William
ID, contented himself with swearing by
the foot Of st. Luke" and the first
Richard, taking counsel from his indom-
liable will, always swore by his great
prototype in that particular, the Apos-
tie Paul. Lord Clarendon says: 4Queen
Mary often interlarded her conversation
with strange oaths, /" and DIR. Lingard
reluctantly admits that ashe frequently
used very profane expressions. "Ths
Queen of the Lion Port" lit Is singular,
by the bye, that Faith Ali, Shah Of Per-
sia, FIRST applied this royal name to Queen
Elizabeth, In an interview with Sir Hart
ford Jones) was in the habit of invoking
profanely the different persons Of the
Holy Trinity. Cherbury being presented
to her, says that whenever she spoke
she would swear by her usual oaths.
Dickens adds that, although well edu-
Gated, she was coarse talker and a hard
swearer, which Macaulay asserts to be
true.
The ridiculous profanity of King James
minced the vulgar practice down into
what D'Israeli calls sharmless exple-
tives, of which numerous examples
NAV be found in "rare Ben Jonson.
Marlows, and other contemporary writ
ers. An analysis OF the transformations
of the supreme name from the auds" of
James TO the aegad Of Dryden would
be at least amusing. Jonson makes it
cause for praise In his sFastidiousr that
.he swears tersely and with great vari-