The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1899-01-10

exquisite, and whose appearance
would delight a painters l know you
would not say, 81 seem" but I think
it was Dolly the other evening, who
when she was asked about some flow.
ers, said they were given to MARY
and l." And it was d oily, I am sure,
who announced that MARY and myself
are going down town."
D. net say" thanks"for ''tnank you"
and do not, when you wish to encour-
age somebody in conversation, con
Glnue to use the interrogative yes
d. not pronounce route as if it were
spelled 'roWt.' Do not say depot with
any OF it's recommendations when you
mean station You thought it very
funny when you heard an old lady say
that she enjoyed dreadful health
when you were quite as ignorant, and
made a much greater mistake when,
laughing about the phrase, yon an
nounced, Between you and I, I think
it was perfectly ridiculous II is pos,
sible that the old lady did enjoy her
invalidism, but it seemed strange for q
girl who. was graduated last year to
make such q grave mistake as this. Do
not say, Il met everybody and their
friends" when yon mean everybody
and his friends" 1t is 80 easy to for
get ell these things, but if you wish to
be considered a girl Of good breeding
you must cultivate a good memory.
THE EVERY DAY ERRORS
Yesterday you invited some one to
come and eat lunch with you; it is all
right to ask people to lunch with you,
bat when you use the noun you must
say luncheon. Then, too, do not be
afraid to call the pretty little room in
which you receive your friends a parlor
it is a much better word than drawing
room, although you think that sounds
so fine, but there is really no meaning
whatever to the English word. "Par-
Tor" m from the French word
: p0rler," to talk, and consequently it
is proper to use it describing a room
where there is polite conversation.
When you think a little child is anus
ing do not say he is ''cute," for the
real meaning Of the word is cunning"
and cunning" in the sense of being
able to detect certain weakness or
wickedness, as a detective might.
Who was it said ''those kind" for that
kinda" A great English writer9 Pos
sibly, but it was another great EOglish
writer who said the purest English he
had aver heard was spoken by an
american gentleman who lived i'm
Virginia.
Drop that harsh sounding little word
'sgot; ;" you have said all that is neces-
sary when you say that you have a
book, or a flower, or a friend, without
got" to the have. And do not say II
guess" CT II reckon" when you mean
Il think" or II hope" 1t was Dolly
who, the other day, meant to say
sentence" and pronounced it as if
the second sep were a ''u'' and Dolly is
one of the many American girls who
seem unable to pronounce JUS" with
the clearness that should be given to
them. Acknowledge the existence Of
all the ISIS" but do not hiss them, and
do not make the mistake your South
ern cousins does. and say ''sir" and
''ma'am" too often. In the nursery
you were taught to say "Yes, mother"
and mo, Mrs. Gordon" since nobody
wished to have you speak in a servile
manner. l am glad they taught you
to say mother" and father" and
that you do not vulgarize these beauti-
full names into ''momma" and ''poppa,"
Remember this, too, my Dorothy: in
speaking use peoples names, and do
not say 'he'' or ''she" 90 continually
that you cause people to wonder about
whom you are talking. Do not speak
of the people whom you employ to
work in your house hold girls" If
you discuss them at all say the cook"
or ''housemaid, " or the ''laundress,"
do not tell Of some one who "keeps
three girls" When q service is asked
of you do not announce your willing
ness with an ''all right" Avoid run
ming your words together, and when
you wish to say that you are going Ito
stop at home" meaning Ito stay at
home" do not cause your listeners to
shudder by saying that you are going
to ''stop attome." Remember those
funny little marks that, in speaking,
every word has a special value and de-
serves special consideration.
Probably you know better, but the
world judges you by what it hears you
say, and you set yourself down as vul-
gar when you are simply thoughtless.
You find many slang words expires.
sive You thing it rather clever to be
we'll informed as to the latest slang,
- L.. L. IsEnnnl i'll - A Z 40 tina