Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1897-08-12
LANGUAGE
Il Is the Dividing Line Between Man
and Beast.

-
and Beast.
Mar is an animal. In body mar
| d.ffers but little from the remainder OF
the animal creation. For some time
scientists claimed for man a superiority
over other animals, inasmuch as he
was supposed to p,ssess mental attri-
butes which they did not.
Man possesses memory. reason,
Imagination, recollection ano judg-
ment. These are mind qualities which
early thinkers attributed only to the
hnman rae BY farther study, ami
mails we're credited with irst'one and
then another OF these mental attri-
butes, till, at last, the possession Of
reason alone was denied the animal
But, then, it was determined that the
higher lgnes Of animals had every ap,
pearance Of possessing reason, and so,
that man might claim for himself some
superiority mentally ovcr the beast,
the scientist called the animals in.
t~elligence, SO much resembling reason,
instinct, or Intuition.
There has been further research as
to the nature OF intuilive knowledge,
aud every revelation concerning it il
to the effect that, II intuition d.ff.rs
from reason, intuition Is much the
higher and nobler type Of knowledge.
Thus it follows tina. ignorant man in
his desire to exalt himself above the
animal in mind capacity. has utterly
failed. To maintain o distinction be.
tween him and the animal, as a last
resort man has been compelled to re-
vert to a physical characteristic. Man
now claims that his superiority over
the animal lies In the fact that he
possesses q spoken and written lam
guage, to acquire which the animal is
quite incapable.
though this theory is not altogether
invulnerable from the fact that most
ANIMALS communicate quickly and in
diligently, yet, as the communication
is by a series OF poorly formed sounds
instead of regular and harmonious
word for word formations, man is al
lowed to retain this distinction az the
characteristic difference between him
self and the remaining animal crea-
ton. So, not mind, but the power OF
speech renders nan superior to the
animal be controls. Not reason, buI
the power of language rises man above
The beaa', and 10 a place a little lower
the angels.
People are better than animals, ow-
lag To- the power of language. To use
good language IS progress toward en-
I,gh,ment. To use poor language is
the dividing line between Leasts and
men, SO good language is the charac-
difference between the educa,-
ed and the ignorant.
The higher the degree Of civilization
Of any race, the greater is the number
Of words In Its spoken or written lam
guage. The dictionary Of the English,
the German, or the French, is proof
positive Of the greatness and superior
ty of these nations. No race sur
passes in ccl,ure and intelligence the
speaking people, and their
dictionary is larger by several thous-
ind words than that OF any other race.
To be able to use correctly a great
of legitimate words distinguish.
IS the Individual as refined. To be the
of but few words, to be con
resorting to grunts for words.
md 10 slang for ideas, stamps the pei
ION as uucultured and ignorant.
Language is the mirror of the mind
4 person with narrow language has a
Mid. A person With incorrect
angnage has q faulty mind. A per-
on with impure and slangy language
las a mind sensual and depraved.
every person that thinks. talks, and
be manner and substance OF
lis conversation prove whether bis
thoughts have been low aud base, or
and noble. In all ages, under all
circumstances, no matter what the
ondiiioD. hBart and mind determine
he language Of the mouth.
No study Is SO elevating. 81 profit
BILE 10 The individual, as the siujy OF
Words form the language,
nd, as the language Is good or bad,
he person is admitted in circles cul
lred and refined, or relegated TO a
lace among the coarse and ignorant.
is a wise provision Of nature hat no
eFson shall be able 10 conceal his in
ate method Of speech. One remark,
ne sentence, often Q clause, decides
and IL ia unneceaaarv fnr sociatvfo :