New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-10-05
ANATOMY or CONVERSATION.
MISS JULIA PAULINE LEAVENs TALKS
TO PROFESSIONAL WOMEN

As's7iI.N-Nb
The programme at tho Professional Wom1n's
League yesterday afternoon proved 10 lie Of more
than usual interes, and entertainments since al
most every member present took part, Ms 81.
John Gaffney was chairman OF tho day. and the
speaker was Miss Julia Pauline Leavens ~ chi
cago whose topic The Anatomy 81 Converse
ton"
People beginning to take more interest in
tho English language" she said. ITS rhythm ard
power and wealth Of synonyme make il tho Ian
guage OF the day, and It Is being constantly IN
riched by the Introduction and adoption Of words
from almost every nationality My talk is mainly
on the pronunciation OF words this afternoon. and
while a number OF words that shah mention may
seem new and strange. / can assure you that they
have not changed at all. and the pronunciation IS
just what IT when the dictionary 1rst classi-
fed them People are learning stop and look
them up--that is all
Miss Leavens then asked her hearers tor the cor
rect pronunciation of the word "address'-both the
and the verb-and was promptly told that
the pronunciation was the same FOR both ana that
the accent was on the last syllable. Word after
word was asked for by Miss Leavens. and the Pro-
fessonal Woman's Leaguers showed themselves
cqua TO every demand, ana rolled IN" most Zero.
clOus-loOkng words there were printed sips or
words distributed throughout the audiencel around
under their tongues as II they were the easiest and
"acc!irnate' "audacious 'sagIcioGs. ';ena-
c!ou5.' bona hde finance " "nnale: .PfosTresss' "
accessory. exemplary, and 'lirade" we're an
tossed 1T the ready and waiting LeaGuers who
seemed eager for the fray. and VINO caught The
expressions OF thought before they could be wordsd.
and returned them In prompt order. The side dis
cuss!ons were bright and funny. and the League
plainly showed that II II may not he up 10 date in
everything II Is at least on its native hca h when
It comes 10 word anatomy and pronunciation. II
was interesting how words OF purely Eng
l.sh and Angio-Saxon ancestry were preferred by
the League members.
Il do not see" said Mrs Ida Jenreys Goodfricnd
why we should not use n sound. sensible. English
homemade word every time in preference 10 the
imported or dollhouse variety; Why not keep our
language strong and pure IN Us diversity
rather than bring in foreign synonymes?' The
League agreed with her.
But" said Miss Leavens what are going
20 do when so many foreigners are coming to our
shores? II is impossible 10 keep our language from
incorporat ting alien words and idioms " would
be impossible as 20 prevent the people them
selves from coming"
still we American-born people can speak our
own English language" said some one. Everybody
laughed. II was plain to see that patriotism was
another influence rife among the l.-sCii.r r. and
that the good old picturesque English Of fore
fathers was good enough for them.
Before the discussion was closed Mrs Goodfrioud
read the programme for Drama Day. which will be
on October 49, The programme is most attractive.
and Will be handled by such prominent speakers
that II cannot fail 10 bring out a full audience.