The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-08-11
Gosslp 81 Interest ID Women.

Are you a Bromide or a Sulphite?
/ Not for the hoi-polloi, exactly, but
rather for the more discriminating who
nevertheless have a keen ear for the
picturesque acquisitions of the Ian
guage, are these new slang terms as ap-
/ piled to persons. They originated, It is
| said in San Francisco where they sur
/ vived the earthquake and were discov-
/ cred by Gelett Burgess who has devo-
/ ted magazine article to their exploit
/ tation With Mr.. Burgess as sponsor,
question Of their success among the
artistic, high brOwed set of the upper
crust of Bohemia.
The term Bromide, the New York
/ Sun explains, includes all that great
| class of persons who on all occasions,
say the obvious. A Sulphite is one who
says the unexpected All the old, IA
miliar barnalities are bromidioms. The
/ original epigrams and clever obserVa-
/ lions arc described as suIphitic OF
/ course there are millions of Brornides
+ to every Sulphite-in fact we of the
great average are all Bromides. A Sui
/ phfte is in g way, a genius and We
! can't all be geniuses. Nevertheless we
can study tbs lists of hopeless bromf-
| dioms named by Mr.. Burgess as hor-
rtble examples, and at least avoid there.
The Bromide Is most easily detected
by what he says, although one may
also be bromide in dress, manner and
habits. Everybody is of course bromi-
| die in dress, some, however, more SO
ally, our 'talky talk and our nasty
nice talk that we proclaim ourselves
to be of the great class of Bronides.
| The worst phase of the disease of
| bromidihs is, however, that the suf-
ferer while expressing some Of the
| worst brornidions in the language is
always certain that he is speaking with
sulphitc acidtty and snap.
Mr.. Burgess gives as one Of the worst
bromidiOms the remark with which
| some people always comment on a gor-
geous sunset. IF one saw that sunset
painted on canvas one would condemn
it as impossible He limited darkiy,
however, that there was one bromidiom
viler than this but 1t remained for q
friend to explain that this was the
greeting which the majority Of the new
people he meets use on him; So glad
to meet Mr.. Gelett Burgess-you' the
Purple Cow man, aren't your" Only
one person has ever been known to
vary this fromula, a woman from
what Cneer, Iowa, who Won her sui
pnlIlc spurs Dy saying Pleased to
meet you, Mr.. Burgess. sure did en-
Joy your actin in The County Fair
Bring up the subject of automobiles,
the BrOmides among your listeners will
crop up so fast that you won't be able
to catalogue them.
Yes. automobiles are all right, ]
suppose" begins the man with the last
years straw hat, "but I'd rather have
a good horse than all the automobiles
CfC- AA-e%ACs nc HlGAls WHO says LAA4s
Is not only a Bromide, but he lies be-
sides.
And the original cost of the ma
chine Is really q. small item compare
lively comments the Bromide across
the table as he studies his gin rickey
With a look Of supernatural wisdom.
Keeping the darn thing in repair Is
where the real expense comes IN"
They're toys, that's all--toys for
the idle rich" Is the contribution to
the flow of knowledge from the man
IN the black alpaca who IS drinking
lemon and settler.
Fines do no good" says the peevish
little man wearing glasses when the
subject gets around to speeding; "bui
# these s0eeders were locked IN q cell
for twenty-four hours the abuse would
stop"
But, just for the convenience of the
thing" concludes Importantly the mar
, who has bought only once and Their
didn't tip the waiter. At think I'll Ref
: an automobile when they're sold with
{ in reason They're bound to coma
> down in price after the novelty wears
of, mark my words. But. as Bill JUS