The Washington herald., 1913-08-17
1t Is Opinion Of Britisher that
the Slangy Vernacular Of
This Country Would Have
Been Fine Medium for the
Classics.

Special Gable to The Washington Herald.
London, Aug. 1.-THE American Ian
suage. says a writer in the London Daily
Express, is developing a new literature
which is imaginative. metaphoric, ana
full of color, besides being the time
saving device Of the age. 1t is the short
hand Of spoken languages.
Precisely what is this remarkable Ian
guage? he asks. Some one defined cauli-
flower as plain cabbage with a college
education. In the same way II may De
said that American is simply the we'll
known slang with a university training.
1t is supervising.
To illustrate, let us take a word which
is a marvel of condensed description.
Suppose l wanted, to say of a man that
he was clumsy, futile, helpless, and un-
desirable; that he was slovenly in his
manner and shabby in his dress; that he
was intellectually insignificant and spir-
itually nil; that he never minded his own
business and meddled with every one
else's; that his presence was an abomina-
ton to me-if 1 wanted to say all this,
and little bit more. l should merely
declare that he was ''gink.
L. 8. for Red, Red Rose"
1t is this pregnant. compact quality
which especially recommends American
for poetic use.
Suppose Robert Burns had written his
exquisite Red, Red Rose in American
instead of English. For tenderness In
the exaltation of a loved one American
is unrivaled. Witness:
o my Iure's a red red rose.
She's a Tippin, she's just rippiu', she's hear!
She can truxey-trut and tango.
shes ounce. o she's a mango.
she's the candy kid for fair.
Are YOU thereg
o my lures like a red, red rose.
just take it from me. kid. she's dream. she's
scream.
Pipe her in her glad rags there.
should woT1y! She's bear!
She's all peaches and cream.
Get gleam!
And would not Byron's Maid Of Ath-
ems be infinitely more expressive In
American?
Maid Of Athens ere beat It.
Give me hack my hesrt-I need IT,
Cut, cut that taffy, please!
Stop your teasin'.
Quit the slueezin'.
mplGre YOU on my knees.
III admit You got me going
And NY love for you is growing.
Rut 5 enough, kid.
Call the bluff, kid,
I've got your number and I'm wise.
There's no your making eyes
Not only in the language of love is
American so rich. 1t can be mellifuous
or bitter. as you wish. It can express
hatred as eloquently as affection, and
that is more than can be said of English.
Byron was severely handicapped when
he wrote his criticism of Scotch review
ers.
Byron In "American."
How infinitely more singing he could
have been had he had the average Yam
KEGS knowledge of American.
You two-for-a nickel Scotch reviewers,
lon re nothing hut a bnnch Of brewers.
You've got my goat, but by Hank! you'll rue 1t.
I'm on the Job and Ill beat you tc-it
You're just lot Of pikers from rikerland.
Why can't you IuCst poet with the glad, glad hand!
You're bunch OF beany ginks; gang Of piffy Rocks.
You goilyWobhle. runty-punty. lolly-pop spooks!
You've missed your right vocations; you'd have been
Just simply grand
A. nifty engineers Of Antonio's peanut stand
80 fade away. Beat h! Twenty three! You're fun
Of fiies. .
lust put ess in your suldarued shoe and beat it'll
Are you wisef