The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-10-22

Il ~ F---~~'
he has come to be regarded a
specialist on the subject Of American slang Mr.. AIDE
does not crave the honor and hopes to live long
enough to win the favor OF the pursts who took vio
lent exceptions his book Of "Artie.'' published
three years ago. and who may and several distinct
shocks in that odd little volume Fables in Slang,
which has Just come from the press. In both Of
these books Mr.. AIDE has gathered the vernacular
OF the period. the irreverent metaphor. the far
fetched simile, and the words coined in the
He deals in language which is often spoken but
seldom written.
to the origin of the many slang words and phrases
which are being added to vocabulary every year.
to enrich It or corrupt IT, according to the point Of
It must confess that It is difficult to locate the
birthplace of piece OF slang" he replied. THE
critics who denounce slang most bitterly, and who
deny 1t any place in literature. usually say that all
slang has its origin in the criminal or slum layer Of
society and then gradually works its up, until
cographer. Well, don't believe 1t. There are too
many kinds Of slang. The criminal element has its
own argot. but the slang of the basement saloon
doesn't ordinarily find its into the colleges, and
yet our colleges are regular hotoeds of slang. In
thief parance at the present time a policeman Is
bull mans legs are his gains, his is a
'beak' conk. his ribs are his Stats and on.
Could you imagine a seminary girl using any such
terms? When she talks slang she says that some
thing other is lily hun or the only
flower the stem She may talk of having a
mash. giving the frozen face the
full and fgurative. and don't see that they can be
traced to the vicious element Of the large cities And
borrowed from the slums
''Of course trace dozens or slang words
and expressions to the track and the poker
table. but this language borrowed from the
gamblers has its value. Is there any good eouiva-
lent for the word bluf'? And could anything be
expressive than standing pat? There GER
tain words and phrases that grow into general use
because there Is actual need of them. Now call
to mind two valuable slang words that have como
In within the last Ave Years. One is kid In
its old application to a small child. however. and
the other is string When you say that a man
started In to kid you. mean that he pretended
be serious with you but that his real purpse
to make fun Of you and bring you into ridicule Now
Is there any word any six words In the purest
vocabulary that would express the shade Of
meaning? The nearest word Is 'chaff, possibly, but
chatting may not be mock serious, and kidding al
ways is. You take the other word To string a
to deceive him by pretense Of SINGER
fly and induce him to believe something that isn't
true. The kidder seeks amusement only; the
'stringer wishes fasten conviction in the mind
of his hearer Mind you. don't say that writ
ers Of English ought to begin using string and
kid. but do say that when such words come into
our vocabulary because they express new shades OF
meaning it is not surprising that great many peo-
pie take them up and use them freely.
Then. again, great deal OF our socalled slang
isn't slang at all. When young man calls his