The times., 1897-08-08
A MANY SIDED ACCENT.

People W ho are under the impression
that accent is not only the nationality but
provincalsm As well will perhaps be some
what disillusionized by reading tne Iol-
lowing incident:
The experience is that of a Chicago Wom-
an who made a trip to New York short
while ago. Up to the time of her visit 10
the Eastem metropolis she supposed that
she spoke fairly good English She read
none but the best authors, and as herfriends
We're all numbered among cultured people
there really seemed no reason Why she
should not couch her sentiments In pure,
substantial AngIo-saxon. Neither did she
affect an accent. At least she was not
aware that she did After arriving in New
York, however, she learned that SHE not
only had ail accent, but that it was many
sided affair tnaC was truly perplexng.
She attended a reception one evening
where literary and artistic people pre-
mated The first person she talked with
was man with bIIshy red beard and
gold eyeglasses.
II am so glad, madam he said, In the
course OF the conversation, ito know that
you are from my town. That Boston ac'
cent is bound TO betray thespeaker wherever
it may he heard. :.
The Chicago woman flashed him one
keen glance then. seeing that he was In
dead earnest, she said
Il fear you are mistaken. l am from
Chicago.
Soon efter she began talking to an elderly
woman.
.You are from Georgia, of course" said
the older woman. Il can always tell a
Georgian any where. There is nobody on
earth who rronounces as and us Ike a
person born and bred in that State"
And again was the Chicago woman forced
to proclaim the city of her nativity.
Later, young man commented on her
accent.
From Nova Scotia. of course he said,
pleasantly. Il hail from there myself,
and it's pleasure to see some one who
speaks as they do at home. The minute
you pronounced nay name l knew you
were from my part of the country. Nobody
else could say it with Just that accent
Again she gasped out something about
''Chicago-"
A half hour later another man claimed
her for a kindred spirit.
.'I'ye been lonesome and out OF place
tonight" he said. Nobody here fron
my section OF the globe. You're the
first person I've met all evening that
hails FROM west of the Rocky Mountains.
The Minute I heard YOU speak I said,
Here's a woman from the far West We
never lose our accent, itseehls, wherever we
mag co.
Just before the reception ended, the
suave young man who stood at her side
leaned forward and said:
"IH dnve over and see you some day.
| IL you don't mind.''
You'll do what?''
"Drive over and see you. I'll wager
we don't live more than ten miles apart.
Ny home is in Robinson, w. Va, and you
cannot live far away. N accent such as
yours and mine is never heard outside our
| immediate vicinity"
They were on their way home at last.
You'll be apt to have a caller tomorrow -
said her cousin. THAT young doctor from
| Montreal is anxious to know you better.
| He feels confident that you belong to his
city. He says he was attracted by your
eccent from the very first. He's home
| sick and would like to talk to some one from
| his native town. ] didn't tell him any
| difference. You ="
But the young woman gasped Chicago"
and tainted. Chicago Tribune.