Semi=weekly graphic., 1897-11-20
MORTALITY OF SLANG
WORDS AND PHRASES THAT Run
WILD AND ARE SHORT LIVED.

From In6 NUn5FAHANtti
The italian method of prefixins an $
to n word 10 give It a damaging signlfi-
canoe can be employed with good effect
in christening that hayward and de-
generate offspring of English known as
slang. In its present state sianguage
has attained to such a luxurious COM
nleteness that it warrants serious treat
ment. So copious and comprehensive
has il become that there is hardly Il hui
man want, feeling or emotion OF the
heart that cannot be translated INTO Ihe
yernacular of the bootblack. In study
ing the philosophy of slang the tlrst
natural query is, How and why did 1t
originate? To the first question one
might give. with certain notifications
the same answer that would be given to
tho question, Why do people swear
The human animal, like locomotive,
seems to require escape valves Tor occa-
sions when there is too much steam III
the boiler When man IS oyerf1oWlng
with admiration, anger or wonder, the
ordinary adieetives do not Cor he thinks
they do not meet the emergency. They
do not relieve his pent up fnllness any
more than sip from a deWdrop would
quench a man $ thirst The natural man
and the natural woman sometimes lind
relief under strong emotion in explosive
utterances. IN the case Of anger the es-
cape valve expletive is an oath unless
the man in question happens to be
gentleman and sometimes, though very
rarely, when heis
1t will thus be seen that slang, being
of emotional ancestry, is first cousin
to the oath, and both are used by those
who mentally resemble the man whose
use of Intoxicating drinks has made him
forget on underestimate the attractions
of pure water. Slang, i'll sooth, is
whisky distillation Of language 1t is
so strong that it may be taken only very
rarely with impunity, and herein lies
the chief danger in its use. Not only
does the s1anguist 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 its pungency. The
same law that makes quiet colers and
shades wear well in the world of fabrics
has its counterpart III the world Of
speech. We tirevery speedily Of a start
ling costume, in high colors, and just
Us speedily do we tire Of slang, which
is startling, high colored speech
Still another reason why slang can
never gain Il permanent foothold in the
language IS It's utter lack Of dignity.
No subject can be seriously treated in
slanguage It's sole function is to tickle
by its pat on its grotesqueness. 1t
reflects Il i've irideseence upon cur /
rent wit aud humor, rs like the bub-
Bile catches prismastic eolors, but, like
the bubble, it vanishes even while you
behold it. Naturally there are slang
phrases Of all degrees Of goodness and
2adness, ranging from the word which
is only Il slight remove from a forcible
but perfectly decor0us adjective 10
slang of the most daring, deep dyed or
der. At enc end of tho scale, for in
stance one might place fetching" and
at the other end its superlatiye rum. -
Again tho injunction play ball" is
gentle ami seemly, in comparison villa
the husqa6 command get a move ON. y
Along certain lines the slanguist seems
to reYei in eXtravagant synonyms aud
antonyms, especially in those express
ing some infrmity in the upper story.
The man who has wheels" is alse
popularity known as 'nutty, - cracked
or off his trolley" Again. If he comes
from the country, he is corn raised"
has seed in his hair, " or his "faes
doesn't fit HIM " Gail, " nerve -
check, - sand, - brass" and face
are also nearly Synonymous terms for
qualities whose universally has made
them a target orpopular satire. Equally
prolific is the slanguist in coming
terms for money. Dust, - tin $
sand, " rocks, " "chjnk" and "spon.
dulicls" are only a few Of the words
that translate filthy lueer.
Two Of the slang phrases now in
gallingly frequent use are. THAT'S
right, and THAT won't cut much
ice. - The latter, it must be confessed
has certain cool fguratiyo qualities
which give it a saving color Of grace.
But most Of these phrases rely chiefly
upon their condensed expressiveness.
which is the trademark of their Amer.
lean manufacture. They are but one Of
the many devices Of the masses to com.
pass crosscut and avoid circuml0cu-
hons. Thus snap" and "einch" are
time economy for a moneyed sinecure
and an assured competence.
One Of the surest tests of the rapid
mortality OF slang is the extremely pain.
ful sensation produced by hearing anti.
quated slang phrases used--and there
are always people Who are two or
three on ten years behind in their nsa
OF such phrases. When other peoBle are
saying Not on your tintyDe . tbe
user OF mildewed slang feeblv oiae.
ulates | should smile. " Tho nioDsDo,,
and patness Of certain phrases make il
nara TO declare that slang has no legiti.
mate use But concerning its misuse
there can hardly be two opinions among
people whose opinions are worth any2
thing. \ careful study Of the malities
oil men and women who habitna1lv in.
terlard their remarks with slana win
furnish anybody with world of con.
vmclng conclusions in favor Of pnre
English. Critic.
The hagfish, OF myxine. has y ens.o,,
OF getting inside the cod and si1, ST