The broad ax., 1897-05-08

1 - y
49, country, used in the
sense of well dis
posed. kind, honest" There can be nc
doubt that we obtained the word from
England and with the meaning 1t has
always had in that country. 1t Is
significant fact that the English mean
| ing is used and accepted in the Oldest
parts of our country and prevails in
parts OF our country farthest and most
rapidly advanced in the circumstances
We express by the word civilization.
We can readily see how, in this
country. We came to change the mean
ing and why now we are gradually
going back to its original significance.
In the early settlement OF America,
and in the settlement OF what We know
as the new portions OF the United
States, II happened through the alb
sence of means TO hire assistance that
the custom grew OF neighboTs helping
each other. II was a common thing
for new settler TO have a house rails
ing" From apple plrings and bed
bors far and near came in and lent a
helping hand and made the occasion
social as we'll Us industrial
In the help gatherings" those who
came in showed different degrees Of
skill and also different degrees of
alacrity and willingness. for there was
no compensation beyond the social
enjoyment that accompanied the work.
One would naturally Imagine how the
helping neighbors became noted in
greater or less da=-Ce for "cIeverness"
in the English sense.
1t Is easy 20 see how the clever"
man more e1si'y attended to his own
affairs and had more time to devote
to the assistance Of his rev neighbor.
And this very ''c,evervess' which gave
him more leisure was naturally cor
ducive to the Cheerfui and willing dis
position that usrHlly accompanies the
satisfactory condition o. ones own af-
fairs. Then. too. there is the natural
disposition thai E.skes persons more or
less well cispcsed and kind and honest
in the sense OF kindly and fair minded
ness. Cn1er such cOnGi- ions Of life in
a new country jus: beginning to build
itself up it might easily happen to
come about that sush . word az
clever came to mean not only "dex-
ferrous. skillful and ingenious" but
also well disposed. Kind and honest
and when people under such primitive
conditions spoke of a clever" person
they referred to moral and social cuaI-
tiles as well as 10 intellectual ana
manual ability.
But as parts Of the c.ultry became
older and more settled and there was
an increase o. population and wealth.
there came means .CT securing assist
ance without ealing OIL kind. well
disposed and honest" neighbors for
voluntary heI9 ard We can see the
word 'clever-'ss' 5 cpplied to neigh
borly qualities g.3iua.ly going into
disuse
And Eo- :: S a1:!ce@Dle that in Bos.
ton. New York and Other old eastern
cities and Throughout the older set
Elements Of tie country the word
clever" is used in its ORIGINAL Eng
hsh sense. while the nearer we an
preach the newly settled parts of the
country We end clever" used with its
mixed local meaning It is not un-
usual to hear in these new places a
man spoken Of as clever" who is |
neither intellectually nor mechanic |
ally ingenious. but simply well dis
posed and obliging." And. on the con-
-rary. in other and more advanced COM
nunities We hear of a man who is
neither kind nor willing spoken Of as
clever" becau-e he IS so "skillfuI aud
Ingenious"
Many English words that have a
meaning in the Uni ed States different
rom that commonly used in England /
have been in the same way affected
BY local conditions and circumstances.
but as these become more and more
Ike the conditions existing In the older
countries We find The meaning in the
Iseof the word going back to its origi-
lal significance. There are MANY per-
IONS who give little study to the uses.
meanings. and history Of words ana
'ften these new meanings are Sc:
.own by them as a servile imitation O
he English. bat to the student O
words tie changes show the strength
INC pha5ility OF our language, as wei.
Is the steeGy progress OF our own .oun.
~ IN the advancement Of better and