Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-09-28
An EnqIishman on Some Amer icanism.

foreign critic returns home from a visit
to America and writes a book or a
magazine article. his criticisms take on
such superior tone and are written
in such an unappreciative spirit that
the truth suffers and American read
ers are justly indignant. But a graft
flying exception to this rule is found in
an article on THE American Lam
tober Pail Mall Magazine Mr. Archer
recently visited this country and made
an extended study of Americanisms'
more as a listener than a critic, ana
carefully avoiding the usual Ensllsh
soothing on this subject. He says that
the English language is better and
richer for the old words which nave
been kept alive in this country ana the
new ones invented Slang has place
to fill in a language it fills It well III
America. Mir. Archer thinks that in
order to remain healthy and vigorous
a literary language must be rooted in
the soil of a copious vernacular, ana
admits that America doubles and
trebles the number of points at which
the English language comes in touch
with nature, and with life. Bearing in
mind this tribute, American readers
will take good humoredly what Mr..
! Archer has to say about some of our
peculiarities of expression.
| Mr. Archer points out that the use of
! most" for almost" is distinctly a
colIoquialism. if not vulgarism.
"Mebbe" for may be-" and ''rd
ruther' or Il druther." for I'D
rather" are obvious examples Of
slovenliness. He cannot see the adj
vantage Of the substitution Of yep"
or ''yup," for yes. and of nope" for
no. He grieves over "somewheres'
where he says he has heard educated
Americans use, and thinks the omis-
sion Of the had" or have" in such
phrases as you'd better" and we've
got to- insidious laxities of pronuncia-
ton. In this connection he recalls
that Mr.. HoweIls makes Willis Camp
bell say, in The Albany Depot" Il
guess we better get out Of here Mr.
Campbell being in Mr.. Archer's words
"a witty and cultivated Bostonian."
He criticises the American use OF at
for 'in'-'at," to his mind. suggesting
notes the use Of the word bully"
which. he says. he heard in the con-
versation of grown-up people in New
York, but nowhere else. Mr.. Archer
states that the most popular slang ex-
preston in this country. while he was
here, was ITO rubberneck." or. more
concsely, ''to rubber" The primary
meaning Of this expression he says is
to "cTane the neck in curiosity" He
origin, on the precise Specification Of
THAT cuts no ice with me- He
thinks the expression the limit" com
prehensible and believes that it sup
plies felt want"
Mr.. Archer commcnds English col
lcctors Of slang to Townsends "Chim-
mie Faddcn," and to George AIDES
''Artie," in which books they will find
many priceless gems. He concludes
his article as follows:
II plead guilty to an unholy relish
of Chimmies and Artie's racy meta
phors from the muschall, the poker
table, and the grip-car. But it is to be
noted that both these profound stu
dents of slang, Mr.. Townsend and Mr..
AIDE. like the Greater of the delightful
DOOlcy, express themselves in pure
and excellent English the moment they
drop the mask of their parsonage.
This is very characteristic. Many edu-
Gated Americans take great delight,
and even pride. in keeping abreast of
the daily developments of slang and
patter; but this study does not in the
least impair their sense for, or their
command Of, good English. The idea
that the English language is degener-
| ating in America is an absolutely
groundless illusion. Take them all
round, the newspapers of the leading
American cities, in their editorial col
umns at any rate. are at least as well
written as the newspapers of London;
and in magazines and books the aver
age level of literary accomplishment is
| certainly very high. There are bad
and vulgar writer's on both sides of the
Atlantic: but until the beams are re-
moved from our own eyes. we may
safely trust the Americans to attend to
| the notes in theirs"