New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-06-08


understand her better than some Others do.
~Oh, I've had good synopsis OF what she thinks
about me before, says l. Il guess can stand another
dose
Miss Phoebe throws witherin stare my way.
Oscar says she, "do not pretend that YOU have not
been shocked by this young man vulgar largon. YOU
know YOU have always agreed with me that the Of
slang was
Miss Phoebe. saws he cutin in. 81 am prepared to
disagree with YOU now. Ii YOU wish 10 know, ! have
keeny enjoyed hearing Mr.. McCabe talk
Oscar" She gasps. you enjoy slang.
"NIy dear Phoebe. says he, do YOU know what slang
Is, You don't Very well m going to tell you. II Is
Coll0Quia metaphor which has come into common Use.
small proportion Of it might be termed coarse Fox
the rest, from the shop, from the stage
from the studio from the raCcraCk, from the whole
people Technical words, coined in the trades in the
professions. forged by happy chance into SMILES,
metaphors forming virie phrases which picture wildly,
which stick in the mcmOry-that Is slang.
Almost takes Miss Phoebe of her feet this does for
II clear what the professor says counts lot with her
But when she gets her balance again after another gasp
two, she's still standin' pat
"But-but It debases our beautiful language says
she lit cheapens il poutes, the clear springs q
English from which great authors, great poets have
Rubbish, says the professor. That Is priggish
form of intellectual snobbery which about played out
My dear Phoebe, YOU think because YOU stuff your
conversation with dried and musty flowers Of speech
that have done service for generations that you
using elegant dction but all YOU doing Is OverwOrk
ing obsolete thrcadbare inagery-bcautiiuy expires
sye once perhaps; but faded and frowsy You Gull
them from Shakespeare. not knowing that the Bard 81
Avon went 10 the people for his metaphors. When he
he used the slang Of the day freely True,
he emDclShed II, embroidered II, with his rCh fancy
but i slang just the same. Oh yes, i was For IN
stance I've often heard YOU speak Of someone not
knowing hawk from a handsaw, quoting Shakespeare.
Substitute for that characterization this one 4 PIN
headed boob who don't know whether he's comm IN
goin' out That's from Our friend MCCabe here who
seems to have unlimited supply Of such pithy figures
al his tongues end And when II comes 20 planning
a. 10, IL. 4I.-
"Humpr" snorts Miss Phoebe, tossin up her chm.
"You always did have queer ideas, oscar. Shake
use slang III never believe it. And for dealing with
this Young man. | positively refuse.
Professor Huincr ShrugS his shoulders and turns
helpless TO me.
SAY" SAYS 1. that's easy fixed, Miss Van Klpp. I
don't know whether the professor was handin u line
Of hot air my talk not, but II l. stands between
them kids and their playground II scratch my entry
You stay right here and III have sub IN deck inside
OF halt an hour.
~Do YOU mean that-that you will resign, says She.
"Surc, says 1. up to junpin' Of the dock, Il g
the limit
I'd collected my hat and was turnin 10 CO. when Miss
Phpbc who seems 90 be hayin some sort Of private
debate with herself, motions me 10 come back.
WAIT a moment SAYS she. Il had decided =.
Withdraw my offer. but now you-Eou-wcu, You have
made D. difficult II D. possible that ! have uls'ulgei
YOU. / know what that means. My motiyc- are often
mistaken In fact, may well acknowledge that aw
generally disliscI Perhaps merit j. al. too Bur II
wish v1u 90 know. Professor lIuincr and 'cv others
know that heart ! am not the Grabbed quarrel r.s
Old pins'c- / seem. When you add @ wrctgacl d,-.--
ton and an unfortunate d. position o. lie made lonely
by bitter drappoin'ment-"cI trust that YOU
understand"
I'm f.ll,wln' Mis- Van Kipp~ SAYS l. AMI.
whats more II you'll push this through for the kids III
Skinny your side. u, matter what turn mp.
THAN. you.~ SAYS She. IL think can promise
Hope YOU don't mind shakin "a that says /.
I c,,e.t .hr ..lyc-,i some along th, spine bu' we