The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1892-01-08
THE SLANG EXPRESSION.
Why It Is Some Words and Phrases A
quire a Lasting FoethoId.

why III Is some words ana Pnra9tS Acc
quire Lasting FoethoId.
The "slang" expression or word is
gifted, as an institution, with little less
than immortality, and seems a necessity
as well as an evil. 1t appears to be
human nature to desire bit of slang "a
safety valve. Where profanity is re-
garded as coarse and offensive, the bit OF
expressive slang is used as relief foa
pent up feelings, and that, too, by hpsl
pretty as well as those bearded. The
particular word or phrase changes con.
tinually, but slang, per SO, remains with
us perpetual1y.
A history of the origin Of slang terms
would prove interesting linguistical lore.
It was General Ben Butler who bestowed
"shoo fly" upon America generation
ago. The great public took up this ex.
preston, and ''shoo fly" was used to ex.
press contemptuous disregard Of per.
son, place Or thing. The successor od
this bit of slang cannot be recalled, but
every succeeding year has brought it,
popular phrase or word, a lingual coin OF
base metal, yet which passes current
everywhere, because stamped by public
approval. 50 -
As to the reigning favorite, it is s'in
it." Its origin is, as in all cases, involved
in mystery. Certainly demure Louisa
Alcott, in causing one of her characters
in "Little Women" to exclaim, sSuch
good time, and I am in itp' did not sc
popular feeling in a direction which
made the words the slang phrase of 1891 4
for it is twenty years since ''Littls
Women" was the book of the day.
In fact, the slang term comes from DC
apparent source and disappears into the
oblivion of general forgetfulness. II
Is kept alive by its fitness for all occa+
sions, and because it possesses the power
of expressing tersely a 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
a taking, catchy melody, the life and
popularity Of that slang viii be pro
longed materially.
The elasticity of slang is its chief
source of almost universal acceptation.
What does not to be Gin it, expressi
The high and the low find these small
words, stamped with public favor, cape
BILE of fitting Thousand situations. In
its negative or affirmative phrase it de-
scribes the attitude of the lover, of his
sweetheart, the business MANN fact,
every human being is Sin it" or not ''in
it, )" as the case may be. s-1 lj
Allied to this reigning fayorite is the
term Gin the soup" Now, there is no
good reason for assuming that to be, in
the soup is to be in trouble, to fail, to be
loser. The simile is crude and almost
stupid enc. Yet that mysterious power
which gives slang its currency, bestews
upon Gin the soup" a quality Of elasticity
that fits endless subjects.
What the next slang term will be no
man can tell, because no man has been
found to give the origin of such terms.
But that bit of slang will follow ''in
it," is as certain as that tomorrows sun
will follow today's. And then sin it.
will pass into oblivion, there TO join
"shoo fly" and the rest of the unremem-
bered host.-PHtsburg Bulletin.