The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-07-24

at first but 1t now has the alternatives;
rice" are correct Now, the authorities
for the single pronunciation, as we have
always pronounced 1t in the south, and
against the New England pronunciation
as give by Webster and Worcester, are
the following lexicons and lexicograph-
ers: Gull, (who is said to have been the
authority of the best educated English
Society. Stormouth. The Century, Tho
Imperial. The Comprehensive The En-
cyclopaedic. Perry and Knowles Not only
is the weight of numbers with us in our
pronunciation, but the weight of authori-
ty as we'll.
Conversation by polite society In tho
south is characterized by correct pronun-
citation No better English could be heard
anywhere than that which the queenly
women and chivalrous gentlemen of the
old south have handed down to us, their
children, and that same trust we should
carefully guard and transmit to the COM
ling generations. / have no quarrel with
the people of the north because they pro-
nounce differently from u.s. but sincere
| ly deprecate and stoutly resent any eff
fort made by school teachers, or others,
| from the north. to teach our southern
children northern pronunciation.
In conversation avoid gossip and dis
agreeable subjects. Be considerable. Be
gracious. Be charitable. In conversation
never lose your temper, or you'll say
something that will recoil and give you
pain and. perhaps, cause you bitter tears
To give ear to the whisperings of Islander
or rumored scandal is fatal to the best
things of the heart The gossip in social
life soon falls by the wayside, for the
-
to drag her down." One of the proudest
women in history was Cicily, Duchess of
York, and mother of Edward " She
was permitted to build a throne room in
Fortheringay castle. where she held her
court. as If she We're the sovereign. But
she loved gossip, invited gossips to pour
their slush into her ears, then she be-
came grossly vile gossip herself Peo-
pie became afraid of her. She was tho
woman with the serpent's tongue" The
whole picture of her personality became
odious, friends forsook her and in her
loneliness she sank into disgrace and into
her grave.
One who had lived in Europe for MANY
years returned to this country. and,
being a man OF prominence he was invit-
led to a reception that President Arthur
gave at the White House. This gentle
man recognized an old acquaintance in
one or the handsomeSt women present
Said he to friend, Mrs Blank is doubt
less one of the leaders of society here?''
The reply was: "She has wit. wealth
and beauty, but she is one of the most
unpopular women In Washington. People
are charmed when they first meet her
they are alarmed the second time, and
the third time they fly from her as If she
had the plague, because she is such an
Industrious. unfailing and indicate COS.
SIP" - ~
Does the reader remember that simple.
but striking picture, of a little boy lying
on the floor looking up into the kindly
face of a majestic dog? The little fellow
is asking the question that gives the pic
ture its title-"Can you talk?" This ques-
ton 1 ask of men and women. Can you
talk? Yes. you can; and you can use
your ability to talk in way that will
make the world sweeter and brighter and
human life happier. There is no use to
descend to the disagreeable things of life
for subjects of talk. The world is full Of
happy subjects, If we will but seek them.
Up up, from lifes chamber of horrors"
Into the beautiful sunlight OF Gods love
that falls so freely upon the evil and the
good and here find topics for conversation,
even as here the songbird finds his tune
full bar and with his sweet melody sets
all the nimble air in rhythmic motion.