The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-06-19
TIE DERIVATION or JAG"
II Is Word That Seems to Fit The Occasion
"A Democratic Word.

There are O number of words In the En-
glish language that are the children of all
iect necessities, and might be called emer-
gency words-words that carry with them
meanings not derived from any dead lam
guage, but of peculiar significance to the
modernIsms with wbich they are travelling
abreast. These words will, of course, serve
their apprenticeship and at last
be taken into the colossal moroc-
co-backed ark of the language.
and until then deserve such general no.
tice as the charity and time of the lexi-
cographers are disposed to give them.
There are, however. a few whose sheer
irrepressibility forces them upon the pub
lie informally to such an extent that when
their faces appear in type they are at once
recognized for old acquaintance sake. even
though their doubtful origin cries out
against them. lt Is safe TO say that the
missionary work being done among them
is to little effect, for although they arc
dressed in purple and fine linen,
their mongrel associates follow them
into cOnrt and at times lead the fancy from
sacred scenes back TO the old pow-wows,
where their acquaintance was first made.
And so il seems. they must be brought up
through a slow process of incubation.
There IS no one word more typical of the
class referred 10 than the word lag" This
word comes like one who has Travelled
many miles and Ia weary, having for its
existence a few contested credentials in
the great book of words. where it was IN
structed TO cast its ballot for a different
meaning altogether. The construction of
applied, was certainly completed In a rum
shop, where it feels eminently Mt home.
The meaning of this word is peculiarly
variable, according to its application.
There Is, according to the common accept
ance of it. q vast deal of difference be-
tween. say, an East or West Washington
ton-street Jag" and one acquired in hi CHER
society. The Jag agrees with It's subject
In person and number, 10 usually irregular,
and is not often declined. Again. there is
noticeable difference between the
Democratic primary Jag" especially
In It's secondary form, and n social lag"
Their lnceptions are not related. A large
cOnvention-hall lag" Is not necessarily q
conventional lag" but may be considered
so In time. II be capacity of the word is
limited by Webster. but IS as it stands to-
day. or falls down tonight. almost I'M
limited. There seems to be no lag" so
large but that another may be larger. The
Jag" originated In the Democratic party,
and to-day there still remains the lag"
plank In that partys o iatform wider and
longer than any other piece of timber in
the whole of It's antlquated hulk.
There are no vehicles better patronized,
not excepting street-ears, than the lag"
There may not be quite so many who get
on lag" In one day, but they stay on
longer, and when the aggregate mileage is
caicula, cd the lag" clears the distance pole
first. One mali gets on lag" and In O
few minutes all his friends are on to it.
Then these friends got on . lag" of their
own. until matters become SD complicated
it requires several days to get them all
Strengthened ont. The campaign Jag is
an intermittent, and depends locally upon
the appropriations made by the Democratic
State central committee. The word Jag"
since the poets have got hold of &c, Is I'M
mortaliZed. for very few will suffer them
selves TO forget the lines:
Get onto Jerry-what a dandy load of peaches;
Get onto Jerry; hain't he got "jag!"
And so il seems the people might Just as
well carve the word III stone and give il O
berth in their dictionaries and be recon-
clled, for it has evidently come to stay.
There can be no question as to the politics
of the jag" for IL rnrely appears in any
other political meetings outside the
and whom 1t does it is nearly always
proxy. There Is. however, a typical Re-
publican lag" but 1t is not of the same
species as the ones referred to. The Re-
publican Jag breaks ont lightly after q
victory and disappears soon alter, leaving
the complexion better. the appetite strOng
er. and a luster IN the eye that shines
referred to. The Democratic Jag eats
cloves. all sorts of cheese sandwiches. and
in fact any thing in sight. 1t is incurabe
and has been quarantined for about thirty
years. The chances are that it will so re-
main. ALLAN BOTSFORD.