The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1913-01-14
AMERICANS in
LONDON TAUGHT
Use OF DIALECT
Thriving School in Bloomsbury
District Also Teaches Visi-
tors Economy of Words
FOR INSTANCE, THINK AND
FANCY INSTEAD OF GUESS
Instead of Wasting Time Franz
ing Apology, Ii Is Merely Nee
essary to Say "Sorry"

LONDON. Jan. 14.-Americans VINO
contemplate a visit to London no
doubt Will be surprised to learn tha'
there is a flourishing school In the
bloomsbury district devoted exclusive
~ TO the instruction of Americans IN
the intrlcacles Of the true Engiish
accent and phraseology.
This London school for teaching ac-
cent is new idea, and is entirely the
product OF English ingenuity. It's con-
siderable success since II was nrst
opened last May has established IL as
n familiar institution TO Americans
visiting this country Even they, win
their "hustling", methods, can snow
nothing in their country more strlctly
up-to-date for meeting the demands OF
the hour.
According to the steel engraved re-
port and prospectus issued by the col
lege," nearly two hundred Americans
mostly women, have graduated during
the past summer after taxing the lull
course. and they can now Walk ana
talk and otherwise conduct themselves
in the true London fashion. so that
they can pass In any gathering With
out be1ng conspicuous On the arrival
OF every transatlantic steamship these
pamphlets. together with enthusiastic
testimonials and a schedule OF terms.
are posted to all American guests reg.
istered at the leading hotels.
O. l.. Bean. a mine owner and finan-
cier from salt Lake City, who arrived
In London on business mission last
Ittnn nd nv r
press received by him from the new
school that he promptly made an in
yestigation on behalf or his family.
School With Mission.
'It Is really an institution with a
mission" said Mr.. Bean in giving the
result OF his inquiries. "Of course,
American business men, as rule,
don't care a rap what kind OF language
they use so long as they can make
themselves understood They are
100 busy 10 bother with frills. But for
women and children | don't know OF
anything better than a course in this
school during a visit TO London. II
will not take up much time. and the
results should be far-reaching. for the
women In their turn, you know. are
bound TO impress their newly acquired
knowledge upon the masculine mem
bers of their families in the course or
time.
ION the whole. II would not surprise
me IL this school OF English accent
did accomplish more toward bringing
about a closer union OF the two great
Anglo-Saxon races than all the arbi-
tration treaties ever invented.
Economy of Words.
Another important feature OF Lon
don English, which this school pro-
fesses to teach. is the economy or
words 80 noticeable everywhere.
When a man steps on your foot in
tram car or bumps into you on the
street he doesn't waste your time or
his own with any such yoluminous
apology as. 1 beg your pardon IL
was quite unintentional assure
you!" He merely says, Sorry. and
passes on. and everybody is satisfied.
Even the waiter at the hotel or res
-taurant Is equally sparing OF words
in serving your dinner. He does not
Introduce each succeeding course with
any such stilted commonplace as,
Here Is the fish, sir or Shall ! serve
the salad now, sirT He just muir
murs, Thank you on all occasions
and on the slightest pFereeatien, until
you become confused and don't know
whether you or he ought to feel crate,
full. These two expressions certainly
cover a multitude OF virtues, and save
70 end OF time and effort.
The only exception to this economy
OF speech is in telephoning. Why you
should say, Are you there" instead
OF our brief Hello seems like an un-
necessary and inconsistent extrava-
gance. Still, we can overlook that one
slip IL you only succeed in teaching us
how to think and fancy instead OF
guess"