The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1892-03-30
THE USE OF SLANG.
"Incog" Talks About 1t and Adds Several
Messages.

Messages.
DEAR HOWARD FRIENDs-This afternoon
/ have been looking over some OF the
Howard pages and notice "Hamlet's"
question of Jan. 6, docs the habitual use
OF slang finally terminate in swearing or
make the road easier therefor"
do not know that / am in position to
answer the question, but do know that l
think the habitual use of slang one of the
worse habits the people of the present day
ere addicted to. And it is surprising to
find how many people use slang whom we
never suspect until we catch them off
their guard or become better acquainted
with them.
Last winter far-a-way relative visited
me. liked her very much and thought
her very nice, quite charming. etc. 1t is
quite pleasant to meet one whose views
and opinions so nearly accord with ones
own. One day she asked for writing
materials and arranged them in the room
where | was at work. She dipped the
pen into the ink but it would not write.
She picked at it and fused with it to no
purpose; the pen was new and the ink
would not flow; at last she exclaimed
with a petulant, impatient movement:
"Shoot the pen" then glanced at me In
scared sort of a way and said:
''Oh, you don't approve of slang but
/ will say shoot the PEN Alas how
suddenly was my ideal transformed into a
very ordinary person, indeed. l can
laugh at the remembrance now. though
at the time was too much surprised and
disappointed. One OF the worst things
about slang phrases is that they are made
up in such a way and are 30 expressive
one picks them up and falls into the habit
of using them almost unconsciousy. but
they add nothing of charm or interest to
conversation.
should think teachers might do great
deal to put down the use of slang. Tell
the children why it should not be used,
appeal to their pride and forbid its
use on the play ground. Ii broken of
the habit when young they might not
acquire it again. And, teachers, may
give you another hint? When | was
teaching it was often the custom of teach
ers some time during the day TO have the
books put away and To give the whole
school, and particularly the little ones
lesson in arithmetic, geography or botany,
teaching them the names of the different
parts of flowers, the kinds of leaves, or
something in philosophy or natural his
tory-something outside the usual routine
of their studies If | was to teach school
again / would at least try to teach all my
pupils to use good grammar whether they
were old enough to study grammar or
not, and to speak their words plain
ly and distinctly. ! think even among
we'll educated people, unless they associ-
ate constantly with those who use good
grammar, they are apt to fall into the use
of bad. How few people whom we meet
use really good English. This should not
be so. We ought always 20 use as good
grammsr as we know, instead OF being
careless in our speech and using slang
beside.
Randolph" we are glad to see you back
again if only to criticise, and do not be
sorry for what YOU said even though some
do unthinkingly demonstrate. 1t is
we'll to be reminded to pause a
moment and see were we stand.
all right in its place; good, hearty laugh
does often more good than dose OF med
icine. Let US hope all the writers have
the clubs best interests at heart. and trust
they will submit nothing for publication
that is not for its interest and in accord
ance with its principles. Let Us be sure
that our contributions are such that they
may in some way do some good.
Cyril" please excuse me from saying
any more OF T.. p. Roe's works on the
page. cannot forget that they are the
lie work OF good man, and
would not, IL 1 could, prejudice
any one against them, If they can
not see fault in them | do not care to
point it out. However, my dislike of
them is very decided, and if / could have
leisure soon would send you my objec-
tions in private letter.
Will not some of the thinking minds of
the H. l.. G.. give us their opinions on the
propositions recently submitted by "How-
ard ?"
I am putting all the Howard letters
since our connection with THE SENTINEL
into scrapbooks and reserving the poetry
for a separate book, and find there is not
enough to fill IL; so ye poets all please
court the muses. for my sake. We must
tran sfer the crown from our poet laureate