The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1892-06-16
AMERICAN SLANG.
How Mild Specimen Of the Genuine
Article Affected Sedate English
PaNnln

| How Mild Specimen of the Genuine
Article Affected sedate English
People.
1t was the privilege of certain
Detroiter to be invited to the country
seat OF delightful English family in
Devonshire. He is rather shy, and,
| although accomplished and q good
story-teller, did not make great
effort to foist his talents upon the
congregation OF guests who were
assembled there and who comprised
many bright people. One OF the
daughters finally said to him:
'Mr. G., do you know one thing
which has surprised me awfully?"
"NO; what was it?"
"You have been here IL week now
and haven't used any slang"
"Well, really, l don't think that
IL"
"Oh, please use some just to oblige
me. l have heard so much about
! American slang!"
II can't think of any Just now, but
| I'll tell you what I'll do. The first
time | think of something I'll say it.
every we'll, but mind, it must be aw-
fully American, you know"
| The next Sunday everyone went to
church, for the family homestead was
located near village which was said
| to be one of the most orthodox places
in that part Of England. No one would
even ride to church, except those who
were too old to walk or were disabled.
| The American walked with the eldest
daughter, and her five sisters came on
behind, for like most English families,
the girls were in the majority.
When they were ali seated and the
guests managed to crowd into the lit
tie church, the choir, composed OF viii
lage girls, sang in q pleasing manner.
Before beginning the sermon the min
lister, a smal il man who spoke slowly,
said:
cit is with extreme reluctance that
would call your attention-to the
fact that it is necessary-to realize q
small sum-for the benefit of our
ch0ir-who, as You know-haye kind
! ~ volunteered-their services"
All the guests looked at one anoth-
err, for extra contributions for some
pretext had been the rule, and not
the exception for the last three
months.
ri know that you have already
given generously for various causes
and dislike To tax-you al1-but our
young friends-Whose voices have Just
hoW-blended SO acknowledgement
pleasingly to the ear-are perhaps en-
titled-to some slight recomI ense--
for their great services in the past
and their earnest endeaYors."
AS the minister proceeded, getting
more and more monotonous until it
seemed as though he could never
REACH the conclusion of his request,
! the American shifted uneasily and
then, leaning ever whispered to the
girl who had asked for o little
slang:
"Oh, tell him to cut it short and
pass the PLATED"
The girl was nearly convulsed with
laughter but, managing to control
herself, leaned over and said to the
sister sitting next to her:
"Mr. says to tie il him to cut it
short and pass the plate"
The remark went along the line and
when the five sisters had absorbed it
they we're fairly shaking with suppress
ed laughter. Then it Was passed on
to the guests and before the minister
! had concluded his dissertation every
one in the church was striving to sup
press outward Indication ofmerriment
by means OF handkerchief. But when
the Glate was really circulated the ED
est sister title red loudly and the five
sisters followed, the Youngest Whisper
ing lightly:
"Cut him short and pass the PLATED"
The American was o lionf for the rest
OF the day, and the half q dozen girls
all We'd with each other in showerinS
attentions upon him, while the old
gentleman, their father, declared that
American slang was awfully funny,
don't you knoW, almost as funny as
punch.-Free Press.