The herald., 1897-01-18
! HuTCHISON'S KICKS
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To youth like the undersigned, one
of the worst Of the many signs of the
times is the awful slang habit that be-
fouls the lips of the greater part of man.
kind to such an alarming extent and
that has within few months introduced
into the everyday vocabulary of the av-
erage citizen some of the foulest and
vilest words and phrases that ever pol
luted human speech or degraded human
thought or in any way described the
most vicious conduct of the lowest and
vilest Of human creatures.
One short vulgar word which formerly
did duty as the sign manual of growing
lads Of vicious habits, is now taken into
the mouths of men of supposed dignity
and decency, and is used as a noun, a
verb, an adjective and an interjection
on almost all occasions, and to the ex-
treme disgust of many thousands of
people.
One phrase of three words which used
to be rarely heard except as the last
epithet used in brawl among ruffians
is now commonly heard among alleged
gentlemen, and is even used as term of
familiarity and endearment.
The man who can translate the worst
possible vilification of his OWN mother
into a term of affection or who can thus
indecently and constantly refer to the
mothers of his best friends. may be a
gentleman" but his gentility is of a
different brand from that which is still
common in old Virginia and In some
other states that mine eyes have seen.
The city Of Los Angeles needs an ordi-
nance concerning language far more
than it needs an ordinance concerning
splitting upon the sidewalks.
The entire vocabulary of slang has
nothing in 1t to commend itself to any
one. The simple use of the word kid"
for child, has worked greater injury to
the child world than anything that oc-
Cured for ages. Careful students of his
tory and literature know that the Eng
liah language Is now suffering from a
worse sickness and more nearly fatal
malady in the nature of slang than it
has suffered before since the reign of
Charles II; likewise that the two epochS
are similar in regard to the licentious-
ness of the people; and that they are the
most licentious periods yet recorded
against English speaking people.
There are some persons who imagine
that we can make our city government
better by delegating nearly all authority
to one man and calling him mayor.
Those people seem to forget that we may
elect a good man for mayor who may be
an entire failure as a judge Of people to
help him run the city government. AS
citizen of Democratic proclivities 1 do
not believe In the appointment" Of any
body to any office, but do believe that
all office holders of any grade whatever
should be elected directly by the people.
I notice that the pamphlet sent out as
an alleged explanation of the proposed
new charter makes many incorrect state
ments On page IL it states that the new
charter will not turn out Of Office those
who are now in ''tilI their terms expire"
In section 8, 1876 and 1876, the new char
ter distinctly states that the new oftic-
ials will take office in April, 1888. That
will be nine months before the expira-
ton of the terms of the present city Of
ficials. I also notice that that will be
before the expiration of the charter of
the City Water company and would give
the new mayor almost absolute author
ity to deal with the water company,
through his appointees.
Mayor Snyder was elected to do that
delicate duty, and / think he can be
trusted to do it WELL Therefore, think
that the people will go to the polls next
wednesday and will vote against the
new charter.
Yours as always, ~
EDWARD L. HUTCHINSON.