The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-10-30
LANGUAGE.

IANGtAGE
It is a matter Of curious inquiry with
the learned whether the lower animals
have a language OF their own through
which they converse and interchange
ideas. We are all familiar with the tones
and expressions which they use to tell
us Of their wants and sufferings and
joys. And while they can't talk our Ian
guage, they learn to understand pretty
plainly and promptly what we say TO
them and our feelings toward them But
as to their own language among them
selves our knowledge Is very limited.
It may be that the animals indulge
the same kind Of speculations about us,
and while they understand us they may
wonder whether We have a language OF
our own by which we communicate ideas.
Much Of their language seems TO US mere
sound "signifying nothing" So, much
Of ours may seem to them tales told by
idiots, endless repetltions; mere words,
meaning nothing. And there would seem
TO be ground for their thoughts. That is
just the way mueh-a large part Of
general conversation strikes thoughtful
people. Nay, II they could listen to much
epic and lyric poetry of high and distin-
guished poets they might remark TO one
another: "That sounds exactly like talk
ing. 1t seems to be full Of ideas. but we
| can't see what they are" And the same
might be said of many fine Grafton and
much fine talk. How might such things
| impress even a donkey There is no mis-
| understanding his bray, emphasized and
punctuated by his heels Who knows but
he is a great orator among his people?
"the laureate of the long-eared kind
while others not quite so musical. which
we call 'hoggish," may be with theirs
| merely men Of business English" the
style" &C.
| This whole question Of language, or the
ways and means Of communicating ideas
apd feelings, is a profoundly interesting
study. With man it ranges from that
not readily distinguishable from the bray.
| the grunt, the howl and the cackle Of
other animals up to the grandest and
| truest expressions Of the operations Of
the mind and the emotions Of the soul,
the swell Of the TIE Deum or the voice
that joins with the angels and archangels
and all the company of Heaven in ascrp-
! tons Of praise to the Almighty.
And yet how imperfect, how made
quate is human language, that is, words
and syllables that the tongue or the pen
uses. The man whose understanding is
guided or limited only by the dictionary
and grammar is going to be
most misled. The maxim of the
law is true everywhere: WHO
sticks to the letter sticks to the bark"
He does not reach the substance and true
meaning of things. A thousand things go
to show the meaning Of words and SEN
fences. They are often a mere play on
the chess-board. The simple utterance
and courtesy or ofrense Is all that is
meant. Or they may be like most Italian
and French operas-only music. meaning
only what the devil favors them with.
"a books book. although there's moth
ing In It," So, also. a speech, an essay
or a conversation. Conventionalities and
common courtesles and parlor converse
lions are pretty much all only conges
and politeness.
Then, for most part, II takes two peo-
pie, congenial and sympathetic, to make
a conversation. Observations are like
safety matches-they win not light I'M
less they are scratched on the right sort
Of paper. And. indeed. to a misunder-
standing and cranky and dyspeptic man
the simplest remark may be taken as an
offense anr raise row. But philosophiz-
ing might proceed for day on this
theme.
The business Of life is learning to read.
mark, learn and inwardly digest. We
proceed from letters to syllables, 10 SEN
fences. to books, TO whole series. to libra
ries, to men, to communities, TO nations.
The eloQuence of facts, the logic OF
events. the signs OF the times. the whole
tendency Of things, the purposes OF Cod
all come In order. A man IS not SO many
times man for the number OF written
and spoken languages that he knows and
can write ana talk. as an old friend al
| the University used to say. Solomon SAYS