The record-union., 1893-05-18
OUR INFORMATION BUREAU.
responses to Correspondents Seeking
Substantial Information.

heSponSeS TO correspondents Seeking
Substantial Information.
For responses to questions of practical
value. Mere puzzles, and the curious and
common, answers to which ought to be found
IN the ordinary home library, will receive no
attention. Queries published without re-
sponses are invitations 10 furnish answers to
make TINS department an information ex-
change also. Communications must be brief
ana signed with name and address,.
EDS. RECORD UNION: I have noted
with pleasure your protests against the
Introduction of rude and meaningless
words into the language, such as electro
cutlon. VIII you permit me to ask you
questions in this connection with regard
to certain other words that are more or
less used?
l. What distinction is there to be OBJ
served between the relatives who or
which and that. or has custom by misuse
biotted out the differentiation?
2. lily frequently occurs in the press.
Is it becoming good word by use?
3. May not meaningless convention
ality like ''electrocution" or lilly" have
its special uses in intercourse by speech?
4. Is our language exceptional and pc
cuIlar III borrowing from other tongues?
1t seems to me sometimes that by this
borrowing to enrich we are overlooking
and burying the English.
D. what work on slang can / consult
that will give me most of slang words
and phrases?
6. The use of land which, improperly
is very frequent in public prints. Is it
becoming so conventional that it may be
said to be properly used notwithstanding
the ordinary rules concerning use of con-
Junctlons1 STUDENT, Woodland
l. Who or which connect two co-ordi-
nate sentences; that is the proper re-
strlctlve, explicative, limiting or defining
relative, the relative of the adjective SEN
tence. Thus, Margaret who died in I740.
ana was lO9 years DID," This is capable OF
division into two coordinate clauses, viz.
Margaret died in l740, and was l09 years
old. Blessing on the man that invented
sleep" cannot be resolved into two sem
tences. 1t is true that these distinctions
are not observed, and that the words are
used interchangeably and wrongfullv
ottener than correctly and dIfferentially.
(Hodgson).
2. lily never can become a good word.
1t may be accepted, but must always re-
main an error. 1t is used for Flip when
the latter means badly" He was i'll
provided, be was an ill-bred fellow, etc.
But never lilly" You might Just as well
say "badlyly." (Stormouth.)
3. Yes, to expose ignorance and illumi-
nate brute perversity in the cases you re-
Ter to. There are conventionalitieS. how
ever, that are nero authorizations, or that
conserve modesty, etc.. pardonable and
advisable. But this subject is one upon
winch an entire chapter might be written.
4. No, it is not peculiar in this respect.
The popularity" pertains to all Eu-
ropean languages, simply because the
people using them have more frequent
communication, and greater need for it,
lSee W hltney's Life and Growth of Lam
guage" on this subject
.. Haten's slang dictionary, 1874 and
Later editions. probably.
b. This question is a perplexinp one.
because the error is so common that il
has become very nearly established as
permissible. But 1t is absurd. And
must always join words and clauses
which stand in the same relation to other
parts OF the sentence. But it is very
often used to introduce relative clause
no relative having occurred before
Thus: II have book printed at Antwerp
and which was once possessed bv
Adam smith" (Hodgson.) Yet Bulwer.
Southey, Mill, Macleod and a host OF
good writers INDUCED in the error. as to-
day do very many others of as high rank.
In view of this fact, Hodgson asks:
After all, is 1ndiscriminate condemna-
ton of this unfortunate location so
utterly reprehensible as it has been pro-
nounced ?" He adds: 1T is really a Verv
obvious application of the universal prin-
ClPIG Vi SAAAk'SISs dCCOIIlIR 10 WHICH good
taste often requires the omission of n
word or phrase that is clearly implied by
the context, etc. When there is no proper
ellipsis : there is, of course, no ex-
cuse for the conjunction"
EDS. RECoRD-UNIoN: Please inform
me, through your Information Bureau.
the salary OF state Senators and Assem-
blymen. A. Y.
Eight dollars a day for sixty days;
mileage added.
EDS. REcoRD-UNIoS: To decide bet,
will you state what is the population of
Brussels, in Belgium?
NJ. and c., Sacramento.
By the latest census it was found to be
4S2, los.
EDS. RECoRD-UNIoN Are there any
republics in Europe, except France and
Switzerland, and, If so, what countries
are they? ELLEN H., Chico.
Andorra, in the Eastern Pyrenees, be-
tween France and Spain; I75 square
miles; $500 population; declared a free
State by Charlemagne; now under French
protectorate. San Marino, a petty repub-
lie in Italy, which has retained its inde-
peudence through all the troublous times
of Italy. 1t is one of the most ancient OF
limited republics. 1t consists of q craggv
IHOuuldlu -i-UU leet nlgn, Win the city OF
San MarinO and several villages. The
area is thirty-three square miles. the pop
ulation $500. The people cling with te-
nacity to their independence. They are
renowned Tor their sobriety, industry
and hospitality. Much romance attaches
to the history of this little republic.
EDS. REcoRD-UNIoN: Can you give me
the name of the author of the sentence.
'Raillery is the sauce of civil entertain
ment; and without some such tincture
of urbanity, good humor falters" Ifiud
it in chapter of ex tracts but without the
authors name. SALTUs, Placerville.
1t was written by L'Estrange
EDS. RECoRD-UNIoN: May I trouble
you TO give me the meaning and applica-
tion of the much used Fin de siecle?n
In one paper 1 find it used in one way,