The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-11-13

limited. He has evidently decided liter
airy bent. Ho made his first public appear
ance before the Western Writer'S Associa-
ton at it's summer session in Dayton, and
that Lody may be said to be his discover
er. Since this is the case. would 1t not Do
a worthy act for the association to give
him practical announcement by putting
him In the way of getting On education,
say at one of the Indiana collegesT Tx the
boy develops according to promise ne Will
be credit to the society and give IL new
reason for being and if not. the TACT VIII
soon prove itself and he can DC ieis
to his own resources. 1t is not an answer
to this suggestion to say that If he has real
ability he will make his own way. nor Will
1t do to cite the cases of poor ana amoi-
tons white men who have risen by their
own exertiona Opportunities for educn-
ton are open to colored yonths. but the
doors of many industries whereby they
might work their way" through schools
or to financial success are still closed 10
them, as any one will see who investigates
the subject. 1t is good place for practi-
cal philanthropy to manifest ITSELF. ana rs
the Writer'S Association. as such, has moth
ing to do between banquet seasons. IL shouio
be glad to take MP the work and show
new reason for its being.
NUMBER of words in common use nave
different sIgnificatlons according as tncy
are spoken by English and underlined
Americans. It is such fashion. however,
| with would-be cultured Americans to as
sumo that the English usage is invariably
| correct, and to affect it in their own speech.
that 1t requires some courage for one who
prefers the homo vocabulary to remain
true to it. 1t is, therefore, refreshing to
| note MIR. Howells's use of the word smart"
| in his Traveller from Altruris." 1t 10
considered smart" says he of certain pro-
ceeding. meaning that 1t is considered
| ehrewd or brilliant. or as indicating Keen
| intellect. The anglo-manisc applies the
word smart to gay or stylish attire. ana
feels that he has done the proper thing.
| As matter of fact. the American use
| of this word Is correct according to all the
best authorities the English application
| being of doubtful propriety, even as sec-
| ondary meaning. 1t is different with
CLEVER" which is properly used in the
sense of intelligent or ingenious instead OF
| good natured, as is common with us. tt
| by no means follows that because the Brit
| ish were the original proprietors Of what
is known as the English language that
they are more likely to speak it In its
native purity than Americans. On the
contrary. many forms of speech in use in
! this country and labeled "Americanisms"
1 4 haap
investigation, to have descended without
change from the earlier and purer English
speech which has degenerated in its native
| land. IL is at least well to examine au-
thorites before being in haste to adopt
| foreign phrase, even If the phrase be En-
| glish.
| THE Rev. Thomas Dixon. who was re-
Gently fined $50 for killing thirty song
birds on Staten island. writes to the New
| York Tribune stating that it was robins
he killed and protesting against calling
them song birds "In my opinion" says
Mr.. Dixon, lit would be most uneeemly for
preacher or snyb body else to kill song
bird. But this is the first intimation l
have eyer received that robin is song
bird. 1t was of course q valuable piece of
information. At least, paid $50 for it.
| In my native South the robin, so far from
being considered song-bird, is regarded
as disreputable. Rluttonous pest On
Staten island, however, he has been deifed,
In my soul am sorry for the people whose
| stock of song is 80 low as to prize as divine
the cry of the robin" Mr.. Dixon may be ex-
| cused for feeling pretty sore over the heavy
fine no had to pay. but he shows too much
| vlndictiveness against tho robin. That
bird may not be. strictly speaking. q song
| bird but he has some beautiful notes, and
no one who has ever heard him practicing
after summer shower on one of the top
branches of an apple tree will sympathize
| with Mr.. Dixons abuse of him. If not
song-bird. he certainly has very pretty
song. Perhaps Mr.. Dixon does not know q
good song when he hears it.
| THE chrysanthemum has been called a
soulless flower by sentimental persons who
affect to find in its Haunting beauty and
want of fragrance spiritual lack. What
ever may have been the basis for this
theory it is no longer sound. The chrysan.
themum is developing fragrance and char
acter. and how can character exist without
| spiritual oeScuCot w 1870 once was but
the rank odor OF coarse grained plant ia
now spicy perfume that suggests far. off
forests. or meadows. or strange, foreign
places. 1t is . native of Japan or China.
and its half barbarous luxuriance
of color gives it q sort of nm.
accustomed. foreign air. as If It
were not yet quite adjusted to its new
surroundings Perhaps the supposed de-
velopment of soul is not so much q deyel.
opment as readiustment. a fitting to the
civilized environments; or. perhaps, il is we
| who are getting acquainted with 1t and
discovering beauties that were always
there, but were hidden to dull sense AT
all events the fragrance is there, faint and
evanescent but sweet. more distinct with
flowers of heiiotrope shades than soma
others. but there; and the plant itself ia
taking place in the affections of flower
lovers that, according to the fanciful. il
could not attain If it were without soul.
No one will have any sympathy for the
Greenfield farmer who has just been swim
died out of $1,000 by the three-card monte
game. even if they overlook the gambling
element~In it. He may own q thousand