The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-02-06
DEFENDED SLANG.
Mrs. TOler's Paper Before
WOmen's Federation.
1t Was Received With Only
Mild Protests.
DON'T START IN SLUMS.
Says That Slang Often Comes
from Best Writers.
An interesting Meeting of the
Federation.

The feature of the February meeting
of the Topeka federation of women's
clubs at Unity church yesterday after
noon was the paper read by Mrs. Sallie
F. Toler of Wichita on Living Lang
uage." Mrs. Toler is chairman of the
department of literature of the state
federation and was so introduced by the
city president, Mrs. H 0. Garvey but
/ her paper. was really a defense of slang
to which she argues our language owes
many OF its most vigorous and pic
turesque expressions She quoted that
well known authority on American
slang. George Ade, and read an extract
from his -Artie" The paper was anus
ing and was very well received.
Mrs. Myra WiIliams-Ja whose
stories and sketches are not unknown
to magazine readers read an original
story, a sweet and pathetic little tale of
a husbands devotion to his invalid
wife, and Mrs. John B. Bartholomew
recited an address of welcome in verse
which was written by her 20 years ago
for a meeting held in Topeka Novem-
4 Der g. 1888. of the old Kansas and Mis-
souri, Social Science club which was
the mother of the present Kansas Social
/ Science federation. Master Noel Keys
of Beloit recited some original verses
on The Hired Girl" which proved that
he has given the domestic service pro
blem no little attention. The author is
only IS years old and his verses as well
as their delivery mark him as some
thing of the infant prodigy The music
which supplemented the literary num-
bers on the programme was unusually
good. Miss Emile King sang Little
One a'Cryin' =" by Obey Speaks and Con-
nells' Summer Night" appearing for
the first time before a Topeka audience
since her years study with Francis
Fischer Powers in New York Miss
Charlotte Parkhurst played her com
paniments. Miss Anna Marie Nelis
whistled two charming old ballads in
her usual pleasing style and Mr.. Aft
Kingenberg, the Norwegian pianist
who is attracting so much attention
among the local musical fraternity this
winter, gave LISTS Polonaise in E,
Grieg's An Den FTuhling and STAY
enhagen's Caprice
The routine business transacted at
the beginning of the meeting made Mr.
P. G. Noel and Mr.. Kielberg individual
members of the federation, and includ-
ed a report from the club house and
entertainment committee Mrs C. o.
/ Knowles chairman of the club house
committee, reported that invitations
had been sent to the Commercial club.
, Y NJ c. A 7. ". c. A. and T. A. A
to appoint committees to confer with
the federation committee on the sub
ject of a club building for Topeka
In introducing Mrs. Toler. the prin-
cipal speaker of the afternoon. Mrs
Garvey announced that a discussion
of her paper would be in order Mrs
. TOler'S defense of slang included the
lineage of some of the best words in
the English language which are unde-
niably of slang origin and showed how
word grows from the vernacular to
an unaSSaIlable position in the best
speech and the best writing. She de-
MED that most of the slang originates
in the slums but cOntended that much
of our slang is direct product of col
lege life. Her pOlenic was so cOnVtnc-
ing that when at its close the president
invited a discussion of its question
only one woman took issue with Mrs
TOIer Mrs. W A Johnston. president
, of the state federation being called
upon rose and said: THE only thing
can think of at this stage of the game
= is Mrs. Johnston, it's up to you.
: Now that I have the backing of the
; chairman of the department of Htera-
ture of the state federation. I will not
reprOve my kids when they come home
4 with the latest slang phrase. but will
1 try to keep up with them and with the
growth of the English language" Mrs.
c. c. Goddard of LeavenWOrth spoke
? entertainingly of her education in the
popular idiOm of the day through the
( visit of a young boy who called the gas
, the "glimmer," referred to a friend
] Miss Sleeper. as Miss SnOozer," and
used other expressions for which she
was at first obliged to ask an iuterpre-
tation.
Mrs. J. 6. Wood and Mrs. J. T.
Pringle each told amusing stories illus
trative of the expressiveness of slang,
but Mrs. W A. McCarter rose to the
defense of the purity of the English
= tongue and though she acknowledged
t that she was on the unpopular side OF
- the argument and could not make a
= funny" speech. she proclaimed her be
8 lief that the words of the mouth show
: the meditation of the heart and for that
reason she was opposed to the intro
4 duction into the language of any words
Y or terms of doubtful origin.
Yesterdays meeting was the last of
p the federations programme meetings
= which have been planned and carried
- out bv Mrs Garvey with conspicuous
5 success during her administration as
- president Of the federation and as she
has announced that she viii not be can
G didate for reelection to the Office. was
p the last occasion on which she viii pre-
Z side at a public meeting of the fedora
a tion. There was a large audience, as it
. was guest day and the public was in
q vited, especially the wives Of legislators,
: ! most of whom are prominent club wo-
! I men In their own towns The meeting
: was uncommonly successful in a social
1 / way. There were a great many beau
tfful toilets Mrs. 6arvey wore a charm
. ing gown OF black lace over white tai
: feta with a garniture of pearl Dasse
- menterie and black velvet ribbon Miss
l. King was in a pink crepe de chine with
!; cream colored lace trimmings Miss
u TarkhuTSt wore a lovely old blue crens
de chine exauisiteIy fashioned. Mrs
FARRELL, and Mrs Goddard of Leaven-
worth were in becorinE street toilets
L Miss Anna Marie Nellis gown was Q
= Persian foulard in rose shades with lace
r. trimming Miss Allabelle Troutman
l. Miss Serenice Fuller. Miss Addie Skin
{ ner. Miss Esther Cham berlain, Miss
r Bessie Bates and Miss Anna Marie Mel
II lis assisted at the social hour which fol
lowed the programme