The Savannah morning news., 1901-09-22


Thousands of persons who do not
themselves use slang, understand and
even appreciate 1t, for the American
brand Is generally pithy, compact and
expressive and not always vulgar.
Slang is at its worst in contemptuous
epithets, and of these the one that is
lowest and most offensive seems likely
10 become a permanent, recognized ad-
ditition to the language. No more vul-
Gar term exists than "masher," and it
is a distinct comfort to find Webster
ascribing the origin of the word to
Englands reckless funmaker-Puck.
Beaux, bucks, ladykillers, johnnies-
all these terms have been applied at
different periods to the self proclaimed
fascinator of wonderland to-day we
will use some one-any one of them
rather than that abomination, mash
err" Nor am putin on scollops and
frills," as the boys say-I know a
good thing when l hear it-as when
a very much overdressed woman en-
tered a street car, and it's first sud-
den jerk broke her gorgeous parasol,
while it's second flung her into the
arms of the ugliest, latest man pres
emit and whirled her pocketbook out
of the window knew that the voice
of conviction that slowly said: well,
she is up against it," slangily ex-
pressed the unfortunate womans exact
predicament. Oh, no, I'm not putin
on frills;" 1 am only Directing with
all my might and main to term as
we'll as to the contemplate creature
indicated by it, "masher.'
In a certain school, long ago. there
was very gentle, tender-hearted
teacher who was also the comforter
and peacemaker of her flock. When
ever there was trouble at recess and
some one pushed or some one else had
their gathers torn out. or in actual
war. names were called an mean
thing" and "tattle- tale" brought SOB
bling little maids to the teachers arms,
or when loss and disaster in the way
of missing blocks of rubber, broken
slate pencils, or ink stained reader COW
ers, sent floods of tears down small
faces, this teacher always came to the
rescue and soothed and patted and IN
variably wound up with these exact
words: There, there; don't let us say
anything more about it, and then we IL
all be quite happy!" 1 am sure we all
mandment: mot to say anything more
about iti'
Now, every one of us suffered more
or less from our encounters with the
multiplication table. Of course, hVes
and tens were at a premium-even very
stupid little girls could get through
them, and twos were not so pad, out
the rest of the tables were tear washed
daily. Sevens were, however, my own
especial nightmare-even to THIS udy
nv fingers instinctively begin to move
when I multiply any figure by seven.
Standing in class on the platform, the
"sevens" one day fell to me. Being
charged to put my hands before me
that | should not by chance forget ana
count by their aid, l staggered anu
reeled through the table so far as sew
en- times seven, when, moistenlng my
lips. Z hoarsely whispered, forty
nine" and the shock OF nndlng the
answer correct destroyed me utterly.
Seven times eight was any old thing
thew liked in figures, and so L reckless
Nv cried out: "Sixtytwo, l guess! anu
hurst into tears. Recess came, ana l
would not move from my desk, ana
then the teacher dried my tears on her
own handkerchief, and was comfort
ing me as best she could, Wheh SUI
denly I stole her thunder by pressing
nv damp cheek to hers ana saylns
eagerly. Don't let us ever say any
thing more about the seVehs' M;es
Sands. and then We'll all De quito
Poor little tots! Poor multiplication
+ob1eI and now, oh! I'd like to cry:
"Don't let US say anything. more aoou1
the 'masher!' and then we'll all De quite
happyl" But to claim the needless IedIs
of questioners let me say at once INC
creature is a nuisance, but not uau
ger. The stealthy, crafty, oeterihllisu
nursuer of the young and honest az
tress is a product of the imaglnatlon.
These "iohnnies' who hang about
stage doors and send foolish and I'M
nertinent notes to the girlhood Oh tne
aga are not in love; they do not even
think they are in love; they are actu-
atad nv vanity, pure and simple. Tnese
Young "taddies" with hair care1ully
nlastered down are as like one announcer
as are the peas of one pod-eacI
to be considered very oeVh VI .
fellow. but how can that pe' unieSs
he is recognized as a las9iH tha
Of women "masher"-and tne
quickest way to obtain that reputation
is to he seen supping or driving Win
nrettv actresses One of the odd Things
of the professional life is that IN lhe
artistic sense you are not conslueleu on
ACTRESS" until you have shown solne
merit have done some good, MONIES.
work: but for the purposes OF gosSlp
or scandal ballet girls, chorus girls OF
figurantes become actresses 1ull HeuS
ed. Ma'mas and aunties of would-os
young artists seem to have MADE YER
liable bogy man of this Would-pe lauy
killer. What nonsense! ANY wen
brought up young woman, respecting
the proprieties, can protect herself from
the attentions of this walking imperti-
hence. Letters are his chief weapon
If they are signed it is easy TO return
them. If one cares to take so mucn
trouble. A gift would be returned II
sent without a signature; 1t need not
be shown or worn. If the creature pre-
sumes to hang about the stage door,
a word of complaint to the manager
will be sufficient-the 'masher' Will at
once "take notice" of some other door
and probably Of some other actress:
But, 1 am asked Why does he exist:
And l suppose he could not II ne were
rot encouraged, and there does exist
a certain body of girls who think IL
great fun to get a jolly supper or a
ride to the races out of the Johnny
pocketbook. Wait. now-please don
jump instantly to the conclusion that
these chorus or ballet girls are thor
oughly bad because they smash 20
smithereens the conventional laws reg
ulating the conduct of society girls
Most of them, on the contrary, are hon
est and knnxyfnU how take of