Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1897-12-23


 From the NansensicaI .ustopa.
 The Italian method Of profixing an t to word to give it a damaging signifl. canoe can be employed with good effect i'll christenirg that wayward and de. generate oifRsxing of English known az slang. In ta present state slanguaQe has attained es such Luxurious corp- pieter ess tfgs 1t warraHte serious treat ment. So ea9@ous and comprehensive has 1t beoonSs shat there is hardly a hg, man want, feeling or emotion of the heart that cannot be translated into the vernacular of tho bootblaek. In study. ing tho philosophy of slang the first natural query is, How and why did it originate? To tho first question one might give, with certain notifications, the same answer that would be given to the question, Why do people sweari The human animal, like locomotive, seems to require escape valves for oeea- sions when there Is too much steam in the boiler. When man is overfowinq with admiration, anger or wonder, the ordinary adjectives do not tor he thinks they do not meet the emergency. They do not relieve his pent up fullness any moro than sip from dewdrop would quench man S thirst. The natural man and the natural woman sometimes find relief under strong emotion in explosive utteranees. In the case of anger the es- cape valve expletive is an oath unless the man in question happens to be a gentleman and sometimes, though very rarely, when he Is.
 It will thus Do seen that slang, being of emotional ancestry, is first cousin to the oath, and both arc used by those who mentally resemble the man whose use of intoxicating drinks has made him forget or underestimate the attractions of pure water Slang, in sooth, is a whisky distillation of language. It ia so strong that it may be taken only very rarely with impunity, and herein lies tho chief danger in it's use Not only does tho slanguist find ordinary English tame, but he ends In not being able to find any English at all
 Another fatal characteristic of slang is the very one which at first secures its adoption-namely, it's pungency. The same law that makes quiet colors and shades wear we'll in tho world of fabrics has it's counterpart in the world of speech We tire very speedily of start- ling costume. in high eolors, and just as speedily do we tire of slang, which Is startling, high colored speech.
 Still another reason why slang can never gain a permanent foothold in the language is its utter lack of dignity. No subject can be seriously trented in slanguage. It's solo function is to tickle hy it's patness or it's grotesqueness. It reflects a fugitive iridescence upon cur rent wit and humor, as like the 5ub. b1e catches prismastie eolors, but, like the bubble, it vanishes even while you behold 1t. Naturally there are slang phrases of all degrees of goodness and badness, ranging from tho word which is only q slight remove from foreiblo but perfectly deeereus adjective to slang of the most daring, deep dyed or der. At cue end of the scale, for in- stance, one might place fetching and Rt the othex end it's superlative rum Again, tho injunction tplay ball'' is gentle and seemly, in comparison with tho brusque command ..get a move on. B Along certain lines the slanguist seems to rovel in extravagant synonyms and antonyns especially in those express ing some infrrnity in tho upper story. The man who has wheels" is also popularly known as 'nutty, cracked or of his trolley" Again, if be comes from tho copntry, he is corn raised, y has seed in his hair, or his "facs doesn't fit him. .Gall, nerve, ' check, " sand, 1" ,brass'' and "face'' arc also nearly synonymous terms for qualities whose universality has made them target for popular satire. Equally prolific is the slanguist in coining terms for money. "Dust, 7" "tin. !" " sand, ; rocks ; "chink and 'spon- dulieksa arc only few of tho words that translate filthy luoer"
 Two of the slang phrases now in gallingly frequent use are, That's right, " and That won't cut 1aueh ice. The latter, it must be confessed, has certain cool figurative qualities which give it saving color of grace. But most of these phrases rely chiefly upon their condensed expressiveness, which is the trademark of their Amer ioan manufacture. They arc but one of the many devices of the masses to com. pesss q crosscut and avoid circumlocu. tions Thus snap" and "cinch" are time economy for I moneyed sinecure and an assured competence.
 Ono of the surest tests of the rapid mortality of slang is the extremely pain ful sensation produced by hearing anti orated slang phrases used-and there are always people who are two or three or ten yeaIs behind ip their use of such phrases. When other people are saying Mot on your tintype, the user of nildewed slang feeblv eiac-
 A zrisn Story With a Moral.
 A story wSsh moral. or whose sole f.ss. son for boing Is to carry a moral, may nos always ne ors of place. Hero Is one brief and to tho point, which Is good for all laSs tudes and aN times: A young man stood Ilstlcssly w&kching somo anglers on bridge. He was poor and deiected. 1t last apprOachinga basket filled with whole some looking fish he sighed: eff I now had these, I would be happy, could soil them ut faiE prioe and buy ioe food and lodgings"
 1T will giyo you just as many and just as good fish said tho owner, who ohaneed to hear his words 'sif you will do ms , txsfling favor.'
 And what is that?, asked the other.
 eOniy to tend this limo till coms back. wish to go on n short errand.
 The proposal was gladly accepted. Tho