Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1904-12-23
PUBLIC SCHOOL NOTES.

first part of tie geology, Dynamical
geology, and on Tuesday they will take
examination.
Some very good articles were written
by the members of the rhetoric class
last week, some will appear in this
weeks paper. 1t is thought by Mr.,
Jones that some are geniuses.
The class in Physics have proved
themselves Industrious of late, having
completed Sound. After the Holiday
vacation they will take up Light.
A change in program was given to
the High School last Friday afternoon,
when it was given permission to visit
Mrs. Jones' room, in which the pupils
we're giving rhetorical exercises. The
invitation was greatly appreciated by
all the members of the High School.
The program was rendered with great
care and skill and showed on the part
of the teacher and pupils that they had
given great attention to the prepara-
tion of the exercises.
The pupils of the High School we're
evidently greatly benefited by the
visit from the Edgemont teachers.
Owing to better order that has pre-
vailed throughout proving that the
pupils need to be encouraged and
praised once in a while, in order to
show their good characteristics.
The attendance throughout the High
School has been very good this last
month.
Hardly week passes without the
pupils of the High School are given a
delightful treat of either test or an
examination in some study.
The freshmen are industriously work
ing on their program to be given after
the Holiday vacation.
John johnson, from Washington, has
been enrolled as member of the pub
lie school
We think all the grades in the school
are enjoying the same pleasure, that of
review.
The whole corps of teachers from the
Hot Springs school will attend the
State Teachers Association to be held
at Deadwood at the close of the MONTH
a two weeks vacation will be given
the pupils at the close of the week.
Miss Madge Turner aud Miss Gladys
Morgareidge are doing excellent work
in drawing. They are pupils of Miss
Chase.
! THE USE OF SLANG.
This period.is one of slang; it is the
principal language of the day. Time
or place matters not, it is convenient
and we use it regardless of its harm to
US or cur associates. 1t is very CON-
mon thing to hear young folks use it,;
nothing else is strong enough to eN
press their thoughts. And there is a
peculiar catchy ring, which the proper
words or phrases lack. They are the
ones that should guard against it, for
the best of words should be retained.
How many young men or women OF
today can carry on common CONVEX
sation for ten minutes without using
one and often times many popular
slang phrases. 1t becomes so much a
habit that even when we desire to speak
good English we will in spite of our
care use the slang of the day. 1t takes
such a possession of us that in time
instead of learning new phrases and
thereby strengthening our vocabulary,
we use our pet slang phrase regardless
Of the meaning we wish to convey.
Such phrase as was SO popular a year
or so ago, "Isn't it fierce," it made no
difference what the person was talkin g
about, music, literature, art, or the
common every day occurrence it was
always ''ferce." Those that heard it
were disgusted, but they often times
used a slang phrase equally as firing.
1t stops our growth, for we get care
less and pay no or little attention to
correct language, just use the common
phrases that appeal to US. And it not
only stops growth, but it marks one as
careless, and how quick young lady
is criticised for the use of it! 1t may
sound we'll to her; but man does not
think it in harmony with what she
should be. Have you ever noticed how
soon our fathers correct US, saying,
"Nothing sounds worse than to hear a
young lady use slang" And it is true,
for how much more genteel young
lady is whose speech is free from this
common taint. We who use it think
sometimes that it is impossible to get
along without it, but if we are determ-
ined to speak pure English we can do
it. And then when speaking thus we
are not in constant fear of making
some bad blunder, for we are more
often judged by our conversation than
we know. For as we go through this
world many people meet US only in a