The Waco evening news. [volume] (Waco, Tex.) 1891-1894, 1892-05-24
THE SLANG EXPRESSION.
Nhy 1t Is Some words aud Phrases Ae-
uuire "a Lasting Foothold,

quire Lasting Foothold
The "slang" expression or word ia
gifted, as an institution, with little less
than Immortality, and seems n necessity
as well as an evil. 1t appears to be
human nature to desire bit of slang as
a safety valve. Where profanity is re-
garded as coarse and offensive, the bit Of
expressive slang is used rs a relief for
pent mp feelings, and that, too, by lips
pretty as we'll as those bearded. The
particular word or phrase changes con-
tinually, hut slang, per Sc, remains with
us perpetually.
A history of the origin of slang terms
would prove interesting linguistical lore.
1t was General Ben Butler who bestowed
"shoo fly Apon America generation
ago The great public took up this eX-
preston, and "shoo fly" was used to eX
press contemptuous disregard of a per-
son, place or thing. The successor OF
this bit of slang cannot be recalled, but
every succeeding year has brought its
popular phrase or word, a Engual coin of
base metal, yet which passes current
everywhere, because stamped by public
approval
AS ~ the reigning favorite, it is sin
it," Its origin is, as i'll all cases, involved
in mystery. Certainly demure Louisa
Alcott, in causing one of her characters
in Little Women" TO exclaim, "Euch Il
good time, and | am in i'll" did not set
popular feeling in a direction which
made the words the slang phrase of 1891,
for it is twenty years since Little
Women was the book of the day.
In fact, the slang term comes from no
apparent source and disappears into the
oblivion of a general forgetfulness. 1t
is kept alive by its fitness for all occa-
sions, and because it possesses the power
of expressing tersely thought, expires.
sion or idea. That absurd creature of
the modern stage, the singer of topical
songs, gives wide currency to the slang
word or expression, and if he weds it to
taking, catchy melody, the life and
popularity of that slang will be pro-
longed materially.
The elasticity of slang is its chief
source of almost universal acceptatiOn,
What does not to be lin it, express;
The high and the low find these small
words, stamped with public favor, capa-
bic of fitting thousand situations. In
its negative or affirmative phrase it de-
scribes the attitude of the lover, of his
sweetheart, the business man-in fact,
every human being is lin it, or not lin
it, as the case may be.
Allied to this reigning favorite is the
term lin the soup" Now, there is nc
good reason for assuming that to be in
the soup is to be in trouble, to fail, to be d
loser. The simile is a crude and almost
stupid one. Yet that mysterious power
which gives slang its currency, bestow;
upon lin the soup" a quality of elasticit!
that fits endless subjects.
What the next slang term Will be NJ
man can tell, because no man has beer
found to give the origin of such terms
But that a bit of slang will follow 81,
it," is as certain as that tomorrows SUI
will follow today's. And then lin iI
will pass into oblivion, there 10 joii
"shoo fly" and the rest of the unremem
bered host. Pittsburg Bulletin
Travelling In China.
In north China you may perhaps hav,
your choice of three methods of travel
ing You may, if you will, take you
place in a springless Picking cart, a kline
of box or cage with no seat. The pas
senger is obliged to squat on the foo
cross legged, or to sit with legs stretched
out at right angles with his body, ant
as the cart jolts over great stones o
through the deep ruts in the road, he i
liable to be bruised black and blue
If such a cart looks uninviting, yor
may conclude to try mule litter. Thi
consists of an oblong box slung between
two mules, which never k, ep step, ant
rot infrequently quarrel, and the sway
ing. unsteady motion is as bad as that O
slip in heavy squall Or, one
more, you may prefer to ride donke
with a backbone like razor, and proba
bly, with no saddle and single rope TO
bride. -Exchange.