Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1897-09-11
MAD o. MANY ACCENTS.
Experience OF n Chicago Girl with the
varied Prouuuctations-

PEOPLE who are under the impression
that accent betrays net only nationals
~ but proYtueialism as well will per
hlps be somewhat Assillusionized by
reading the following incident:
The experience is that OF a Chicago
woman who made the trip TO New Yorh
a short while ago. Up TO the time of
her visi. 10 the eastern metropolis she
supposed that she spoke fairly good
E-glish. She read none but the best
authors. and as he- friends were all
numbered among cultured people there
really seemed no reason why she should
not couch her sentiments in pure. sub.
stzntial Anglo-SaXou. Neither did she
affect an accent. At least ste was
Lot aware that she did. After arriving
iii New York, however, she learned that
SIZE not only had an accent, but that
il was 4 many-sided affair that was
truly p~erplexing.
She attended a reception I even.
ing where literary and artistic people
predominated. The first person she
talked with was a man with a bushy
r.o beard and gold eyeglasses.
Il am so glad, madam he said, in
the course of the conya rsation, &c
know that you are from my town. That
Boston accent is bound TO betray the
speaker wherever it may be heard"
The Chicago woman flashed him one
keen glance; then. seeing that he was
in earnest, she said;
II fear you have made a mistake. !
am from Chicago"
Soon after she began talking to an
elderly woman.
you are from Georgia. of course
said the older woman. II can always
tell a Georgian anywhere. There is
nobody on earth who pronounces as
and us like a person born and bred in
that state"
And again was the Chicago woman
forced TO proclaim the city of her ma
tivity.
Later a young man commented on
her accent. From Nova Scotia, of
course" he said. pleasantly. Il hail
from there myself, and it's a pleasure
to see some one who speaks as they
do at home. The minute you pro-
nounced my name | knew you were
from my part of the country. Nobody
else could say it with just that accent"
Again she gasped out something
> about Chicago"
Ahalf hour later another man claimed
: her for kindred spirit.
I've been lonesome and out of place
2 tonight" he said. Nobody here from
7 my section of the globe. You're the
: first person I've met all evening that
halls from west of the Rocky noun.
tains. The minute | heard you speak
!. ! said: Here's a woman from the far
s west We never lose our accent, il
y seems, wherever we may 60"
just before the reception ended the
snaye young man who stood at her sidt
leaned forward and said:
. I'll drive over and see you ONE day
If you don't mind"
y you'll do what?"
Drive over and see you. I'll wager
: we don't live more than ten miles apart
My home is in Robinson, w. Va, ant
!, you cannot live far away. An accen
such as yours and mine is never heart
: outside u immediate vicinity"
They were on their way home at last
|, you'll be apt to have a caller to
morrow" said her cousin. THAT youns
+ doctor from Montreal is anxious tt
know you better. He feels confiden
that you belong to his city. He saysh'
- was attracted by your accent from tn
very first. He's homesick and woul,
like tn toll To ro--o ~~~ f--- v