The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-06-20
wHY.DO PEOPLE SWEAR.
An Inquiry Which Waits for n Sat-
isfactOry Answer.
York Commercial Advertiser.

New York Commercial Advertiser.
Rev. Mr.. Goodchild, of the Central Bap-
fist Church of this city, recently delivered
very earnest sermon against swearing,
in which he said: Swearing is the most
useless of sins. 1t has not the temporary
advantage or pleasure of other sins. 1t
fectly correct in stating that it is useless,
but as to the temporary advantage or pleas
ure of the thing there may be some On differ
quaintance remarked on hearing what Mr..
Goodchild had said: II never swear. 1t is
not hereditary in my family My father
never swore, nor my grandfather. And yet
the other day, when a great stout party.
weighing $50 pounds, entered an elevated
of some temporary advantage or pleasure
which would relieve my feelings. simply
did not know what to do OF course, some
men would have sworn!
But why do people, including some quite
good people, swear? Not very long ago
well-known bishop. waxing warm in his in
dignatio suddenly exclaimed why, good
ness graciousv' and, realizing that it was
not quite the right thing the right reverend
pardon, ladies and gentlemen! The bishop
knew he had done wrong, but it is difficult
ness. We are not discussing oaths, old and
horrible or curses, curious and eccentric,
or swearing, frequent and disgusting, such
as are found in the common speech of so
many people. and to which Rev. Mr.. Good
child probably referred. We want TO draw
attentions to those EXPLANATIONS which are
used in good society and which seem to
express a conscious need of some swear
ing language" expressing intensity of feel
ing A young lady of one of our fashion,
able schools says that the common custom
of the society in which she moves is to use
such expletives as Julius Caesar" Great
Scott" and Darn it!'' A very excellent
lady of very pious aspirations relieves her
feelings by exclaiming, "Oh N.Y. and For
pity's sakei" And a gentleman who is the
elder of q Presbyterian church has the
habit of saving "Confound iti' Dash it,"
"Bless my soulr' In Japan, it is said, they
have no swearing language. But this needs
Investigation. In India the most vile ex-
pressio that can escape the lips of hui
man being is "Oh, you son of an OWL
And among the common people the usual
exclamation on occasions of surprise is
'taubah" which dramatically translated
means what a pity.
The useless habit of q man invoking con-
dernation upon himself is not common to
the profane language of the world. SO far
as we are aware it is absolutely unknown
in Asia In England at the beginning of
the century the expression. "Demme, was
Diell' of the French finds its counterpart
in the sAllah" of the Arabic. Even the
rather of His Country is charged with
having sworn Custis, in his Life of
George Washington" says that General
charles Scott had q most inveterate habit
of swearing After the war OF independence
was over a friend was very anxious TO re-
form General Scott of this evil habit and
quoted the example of Washington. and
asked him. whether ii was possible that the
great Washington ever swore. General
scott reflected for moment, and then said:
Eyes. once. 1t was at Monmouth ana on