The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-12-15

necessary combinations of words. instead
of giving it all to the evolution of new and
Outlines ridiculous spellings of those we
already possess. Some old words might,
with propriety. be restored to their original
Use and usefulness in the language. Take,
for instance. publican" 1t is a good old
word. short comprehensive and easily
spoken In it's stead we have only the
awkward saloon keeper" and the monde
script "saloonist" On the other hand. if
the printer mangles this sentence with the
types. l can describe the mishap only
"typOgra phical error if | would stick to
the dictionary Why not say ''errotype''
and be done with it? l don't claim any
credit for originality in making this sug-
gestion. The word was invented by one
Tim Strong. of Fond du Lac Wis. while he
was editor of the Commonwealth of that
city, fully twenty-five years ago. That the
language blacksmiths have ignored it is no
proof of its unfitness. The word should en-
ter into general use as monument to one
of the brightest geniuses that ever went
down to an untimely grave. Here's another
opportunity for the word-coiners. We use
the word "humorist'' TO describe one who
dispenses witty sayings. Why don't we
say ''rumorist'' TO describe one who picks
UP every flying bit of gossip and gives it
added scope and impetus? Sometimes we
say ''rumor- monger;" if we land he) are in
the newspaper business we sometimes use
"faker land that usually misspelled with
an 'i'), and sometimes we use plain liar.
which most often fits the case. But the
latter isn't polite, so why not unite on
"rumorist," which is short and to the point
and, therefore, would be satisfactory.
Yet another word we should use, being
shorter and more explicit. is factor for
manufacture with the notifications
that the change implies. Manufactures,
manufacturing and mandatory are
awkward and do not properly describe ex-
listing conditions. A manufacturer is one
who makes things by hand-that is, by man
power-and there are few such in these
days of improved machinery. 1t follows
that there is little manufacturing done.
A mandatory" is a place where things
are made by hand. and there are even
fewer of these than of the manufacturers.
Factor" factoring and factory are
more TO the point, and by reason of their
brevity will save much energy. time and
space in writing and printing IL they come
into general use.
''Give us the luxuries of life said one
who was wiser than I, "and we will dis
pense with its necessaries.''
AS a paradoxical witticism this sentence
has few superiors. but consciously or un-
consciously. ii is coming to be the economic
gospel of the race. If I were asked what is
the greatest evil apparent in American life
to-day, I would answer: THE striving for
luxury-that is. fine living and attendant
idleness; or, if the fine living be not at
tainable for idleness alone" All the other
evils including drunkenness and debauch-
cry, follow in their train. Every prominent
street has its parade OF idlers of both
sexes. afternoon and evening; every saloon
and cigar store has its knot of youthful
hangers-on; every downtown corner has
its group of young loafers, ogling the pass
ing women and taking the first or second
steps toward criminality OF course. not al!
of them turn out vicious but many of them
do, and most of those who do not become
the embodiment of petty vices beside which
the open, positive, greater ones would seem
virtues. Back of this condition undoubted-
| ly is the careless attitude of parents or
worse still, their careful efforts to prevent
their children laying hold on life with
strong hands; in other words, to fit their
offspring only for a life of ease.
XXX
l have in mind the case of a young man
! who was one of that unfortunate class of
persons condemned to a certain amount of
fame from their youth up and with the in
culcation of luxurious ideas he has fallen
into complete Obscurity. The son of we'll
| TODD and well-known artist his early de-
| sires were granted until he was thoroughly
| spoiled, and when his father died. his
mother carried on the work with enthu-
siasm. His family position brought him
! into public notice and his musical ability
! made him a society pet. Before his ma
! jority attained his chronological re-
searches had won him the assistant cura-
/ torship of a great scientific institute. But
| there he stopped. He had not been trained
| TO do anything save in the first flush of en-
| thusiasm, and having won certain social
| recognition having accomplished few
scientific feats and taken part of a course
| in medicine, having written three or four
| moderately successful waltzes and for a
| brief period edited a small magazine he
| was content to rest on his oars, and soon
! began to drift back with the tide. The re-
| suit is that to-day he is nonentity, where
| as he might have been distinct force for
| the worlds good in one more Of several
! lines; he is content to idle away his time
in cheap club, whereas he might be an
| honored member of the best. Too weak to
be vicious. too indirect to be fOrceful, even
for evil, he is the most striking example !
! know of the bad results of our growing
| American tendency TO bring up the sue
ceeding generations without fitness for
anything but dilletantism. And If the re-
suit is so bad in a case where there was
| the excuse of comparative affuence dur
| ing the formative period of the boys char
acter, what shall we expect the outcome TO
] be If the surroundings are made comforta-
| ble-not luXurious-only by that la Dor
which is decried. THE GOSSIP