The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-11-06
HER COMPLEX ACCENT.
A Girl Whose Way "f Speaking En-
g,ish Must be Puzzle.

From the Chicago Tribune.
People who are under the impression
that accent betrays not only the ma
tionality but provincialsm as well VIII
perhaps be somewhat disillusionized by
reading the following incident
The experience Is that of a Chicago
woman who made trip to New YORK
a short while ago. Up to the time OF
her visit 20 the eastern metropolis she
supposed that she spoke fairly gooo
English. She read none but the best
authors, and as her friends were all
numbered among the cultured people
there really seemed no reason why she
should not couch her sentiments IN
pure. substantial Anglo-SaXon. Neith-
er did she affect an accept. Al least
she was not aware that she did. After
arriving in New York, however she
yearned that she not only had an ac-
cept, but that 1t was a many-slded az
fair that was truly perpleXing.
She attended a reception one evening
where literary and artistic people pre-
dominated. The first person she talked
with was a man with a bushy req
beard and gold eyeglasses.
II am so glad, madam" he said, in
the course of the conversation, Ito
know that you are from my town. That
Boston accent is bound to betraY the
sneaker wherever it may be heard"
The Chicago woman flashed one keen
glance; ther, seeing that he was in
eagnest. she said:
II fear you have made a mistake. ]
am from Chicago"
soon after she began talking with an
elderly woman.
You are from Georgia, of course"
| said the older woman. Il can always
tell Georgian anywhere. There is no.
| body on earth who prounces 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. II hail
! from there myself, and it's a pleasure
! to see some one who speaks as they do
| at home. The minute you pronounced
| my name / knew you We're from my
| part of the country. Nobody else could
| say it with just that accent" Again
| she gasped out something about Chi
| cagO."
I've been lonesome and out of place
| lOnlSnI, he Sdlu. ANbDOuS HGIt llDlli
| 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 l heard you speak
/ said: Here's q woman from the far
| west We never lose our accent, 1t
seems, wherever we may CO."
Just before the reception ended the
suave young man who stood at her
side leaned forward and said:
III drive over and see you some day,
if you don't mind"
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. and you cannot live far away. An
accent such as yours and mine is never
heard outside our immediate vicinity"
They were on their way home at last.
You'll be apt to have a caller tomor-
| row." said her cousin. THAT young
doctor from Montreal is anxious to
| know you better. He feels confident
that you belong to his city. He says
he was attracted by your accent from
the very first. He's homesiCk and would
like to talk to some one from his ma
tive town. l didn't tell him any diff
ferent. YOU"
But the young woman gasped Chi
| cago" and tainted.