The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-07-07
Grammar.
the Grand Chap,


times even by judges on the bench, We
are able TO entertain the opinion that
there Is a prospect OF reform since the
subject has been brought to notice by
The Sun. We DO not expect that
thorough and permanent reform Will be
accomplished in a jiffy. We shall be sat
isfled with steady and temperate progress
in the reform. All we ask at first is that
the Judges shall watch closely the IAN
guage OF the lawyers VINO argue cases
fsefore them, ana note any violation OF
those grammatical rules by which speech
is governed, for the purpose Of rebuking
The offender. When this first step in re-
form has been taken, We shall propose
another. which, We arc sure, Will be sat
isfactory to the bench. Let any lawyer
IN a case be empowered TO call the atten-
ton Of the Judge to any grammatical error
into which he may fan while charging
the Jury, or in the giving OF an opinion.
The desired reform can thus be promoted
without friction. When these two steps
have been taken, we may suggest others.
IL is not only in courts, some courts.
that reform OF speech is much needed.
We are surprised by the statements made
In a letter from MIR. Il. A. j. Lewis, which
we have printed. He tells us that bad
grammar is spoken by many of our public
school teachers" This Is an accusation
to the truth of which We are unable TO
give testimony. If it be true. 1t Is shock
ing 1t is the business of these school
teachers TO teach their scholars the rules
OF grammar, and IL they. in their own
sTttch are guilty OF violating thcn, where
Is the sense in their teaching? Our CORES
pendent asks us TO call the attention or
the members of the Board of Education 20
mn ln ct n
TO the request. we can here offer sug-
gestion. Let some member of the Board
take an example from Commissioner
Roosevelt of the Board of Police. MIR.
Roosevelt gOss about the city quietly,
looking for policemen who neglect their
duties. He takes the name OF the number
of any one Of them whom he sees mapping
or sitting on a stoon, or drinking a glass
of beer. or loafiing in anybodys company.
OF trinlng away his time. or doing any
other evil thing: and then next day, or
as soon as possible. the delinquent is or
dored to appear before the Board of Po-
lice by which body he is very likely 10
be made sufferer, even to tho docking
Of his pay Is there not any member OF
the Board of Education who will render
service Of a similar kind In the interest
OF the teachers in the public schools OF
the city? II there is, the opportunity of
becoming a public benefactor awaits him.
Let him go around quietly, enter any
school Unexpectedly, listen TO the language
of the teacher who is teaching any class.
observe his English. and if II is bad, take
his name and the number OF his school,
notifying him at the same time 10 appear
before the Board of Education that he
may receive such correction as he de-
serves. even If IT shall involve the dock
ing Of his salary. Ii is our opinion that,
in this way, the evil of which Mr. Lewis
has complained to The sun would finally
be reformed altogether.
So far we have approached only the I'M
grammatical lawyers and the unsram-
matical school teachers.
We now come 10 a more delicate branch
Of our subject. is il possible that there
are a good many preachers OF the Gospel
who use bad English in their sermons?
" should like 10 be able to say that we
do not believe there Is any preacher IN
this city thus at fault We cannot say II.
We have listened to sermons and nave
read sermons in which the grammatical
rules were disregarded grievously. We
have heard lots OF stories about such SER
mons which made Va smile. or even laugh,
though We confess that they ought rather
to have given us pain. We do not here
ike that which gave the Rev. John Jasper
our colored brother OF Richmond, his
widespread fame. We mean blunderS
that roll along like Niagara Falls from
the opening OF the sermon TO It's end. ana
that somehow tickle the ribs OF the good
grammarians who listen 10 the voice OF
the preacher. Let us lay aside all hu-
mOrous stories and tho lights for mo-
ment while we say that an entertaining
ly ungrammatical sermon can never be
edifyng to the critical nearer OF 1t. But
what can we do for the reform OF bad
English IN tho pulpit? Alas, this Is
question hard as d shinbne. Nevorthe-
less. here goes a suggestion. We main
tain that any pewhoider in church in
which an unerammatical sermon is
preached has right to rercnstrate with
tie preacher. or TO bring his case before
t.c authorities of the church. He has
no right To interrupt the sermon for the
purpose OF correcting the preachers gram
mar: but he may call upon him after the
services and tell him Of his fault II the
preacher gets angry, the pewhoider can
not be blamed.
We are anxious that there shall always
he grammatical accuracy In tho court
house. the school-house. and The church.
A mans grammar is often an index 10
tis illilN <ttCIldlt titibiAitei Civ va. ~
thought should g. together
We have not yet spoken OF the gram
mar OF our political orators. some OF
them Fay the utmost attention TO 1t, and
hardly ever make an error in it. Others
among them either must be ignorant OF
IL or must shamefully disregard II; and
We here say publicly that we have found
II trying TO sit through a speech made by
q political orator of this kind, even when
his Democracy was sound and his argu-
ment instructive. and his voice satisfac-
toN.
Grammar in Congress? AS TO that.
some Of Z; will pass, but more OF ii is un-
bearable. There are MEMBERS who get
their sreeches revised and corrected by
grammatical experts before sending them
70 the office OF the Congressional Record
for publication. Whenever a Congress-
man. Republican or Democrat, IS not
quite sure OF his ground. this is the best
thing he can do.
Grammatical reform. grammatical pre-
cislon, all around the circle of human
utterance. and in every quarter where the
voice of man is heard: surely this is de-
sirable
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At the Twenty-ifth street tent-meeting
there will be preaching to-day at and