The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1895-02-23

III many dlnerent ways. To take
on is to grieve; to ''take heart"
stands for courage; to stake after" to
resemble; to "take down" is to hu-
initiate; ito ''take off, TO mimic: to
take in is to cheat. The prefix
"up," although small, is constantly
serviceable. 1t is used as equivalent
to "knowipg;" and to a person who
fails in bushes -"all up with him.
whats up?" means "wbat is the
news?' and it is not limited to these.
A like instance is that of the word
'cut," which is used in numerous
ways; first to imply leaving, to cut
capers, cut dash, to abridge any
thing, to cut out (exceD and to "cut
ones eye-teeth," whatever that NAV
mean. The word ''cleave" is used to
indicate the closest union, and also
to separate persons or things From
words, their combination into phrases
is an easy transition, but to pass into
the region of fable, aphorif m, proverb
or symbolic maxims. would beguile
us into an inextricable maze. The
old folk lore of early times are often
enigmatical and occult Fer instance,
why did they insist upon the goose
as the symbol of stupidity, and the
duck for endealment, while the owl
was the representative of wit and
wisdom? Should not the gray goose
quill-so long the instrument of the
toilers in rather stand for
learning, and the stupid, dismal look
ing owl represent the unenviable dis
tinction?
Exclamations and explttives are
often thoughtlessly used but are very
strangely meaningless. Such is the
word "well" in commencing remark,
or the coupling together two adverbs
OF time, 'now, then" Yet another
phrase in vogue, which is quite as
absurd, "All right" in response to
some question. Even persons who
ought to knew better have a custom
OF misapplying the word "transpire."
A prominent writer says he found in
leading New York newspaper, that
the Mexican war 'transpired' in the
year lS47." The writer might as we'll,
and considering the latitude in which
the battles were fought, might better
have said that the Mexican war "per-
spired" in the year 1S47 Tie most
monstrous perversion of the word that
l have ever met with, is in the follow
ing sentences, the first and second
from papers of the highest position,
and the last from a volume of which
tens of thousands have been sold, and
which aspires to the dignity of his
tory: Before this can be finished,
years may 'transpire,'" etc. "The
police drill will 'transpire' under
shelter today in consequence of the
moist atmosphere prevailing" "More
than century was allowed to trans
pire' before the Mississippi was re-
visited by civilized man." To any
person who has in mind the mea ming
of the word, the idea of years and
centuries and police drill "trans pir-
ing" is ridiculous.
Words sometimes are charged with
momentous importance; how much
of potency is couched in these three
"watch, " "work" and 'wait," if ana
lyzed; they seen to have kindred re-
lationship with fidelity, energy and
patience. Such words as "home,"
"heaven," 'life," 'love," ''mother,"
eternity" for instance, seem to com
prise volumes of meaning, when their
import is duly considered. Tenny-
son thus refers to the inadequacy of
words to express what we mean TO
convey, and this deficiency we all
often feel.
II sometimes hold 1t half sin,
To Tut in words the grief feel;
For words. like nature, half reveal,
And half conceal the soul within"
Sidney Smith remarks that "woyds
are an amazing barrier to the recep-
tion of truth. When we come tocon-
sider what crimes we have inflicted
on each other from mistaking the
meaning of words, the exercise of de-
finition certainly begins to assume
rather dignified aspect. Even the
more considerate are liable to inter
NIT the government of the tongue by
uttering careless or cruel words, and
they wound like the poisoned barb.
Kind words, on the contrary, like
mercy, are twice blessed"
words are mighty, words are living
Serpents wi h their venomed stings,
Or bright angels erowding round us.
With heavens light upon their wings"
BRooKLYv. MY.