Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1917-08-11
Men, Books, People
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is an acquired taste. for. as a boy, I
never heard anything but proper
language. ~ E.s. $50. =
I was brought up on that kind. The
language Of our house was that Of yea,
yea, and nay, nay. go
never heard the word damn, except
when we came to Il In the Bible.
Outside II was spelled d-n, which
is very weak, indeed, and as unpro-
fi.able as hyphenated American.
And while / don't approve OF slang
IN general conversation. and insist
that my little daughter shall not use
1t, In certain kinds OF writing II Is
effective. III. g.. -.
1t saves one from seeming. "uppishs
and preachy For so much writing
done with the best intentions. sounds
too finely spun. as II long drawn out
OF farreaches Of consciousness, with
out pep or application.
It's like the work OF q man who
hoes potatoes In kid gloves, or like q,
doctor who, when he enters q conta.
gious ward, dresses In the rig Of q,
deep-sea diver.
Intact, slang disarms criticism, and
makes you feel that the man isn't
thinking Of himself or how he talks,
but Of his subject and YOU.
Another excuse for damn Is that
some persons ought to be sworn at.
When men with wide open eyes and
facts and friends to enllghten them.
keep on doing foolish things that are
getting them and their friends into
trouble, they deserve epifhets.
You have to scold and whip q man
who has taken an overdose OF opium.
Once only did I tell man to 20 10
and then was sorry for my temper
(which Is guaranteed IS per cent?,
but / consoled myself with the thought
that ! didn't believe there was such
a place, and IL the fool took my adj
vice he wouldn't be apt to get far.
Besides, the fellow seemed to be on
his way there anyhow.
There are some things about this
war and those who started II, that
would seem to Justify any kind Of lang.
uage man is qualified TO use. Any.
thing but prayer.
Before Mr. Wilson got his senses
and was converted by Mr.. Roosevelt.
you remember In the early DAYS 81
the war, he set apart day on which
everybody was asked to pray that the
war would end.
And some ministers did pray for II
while they discouraged preparedness.
II the Lord never quoted Shakespeare
I'm sure he did then. and said, what
fools these mortals be. .
A friend of nina who lives in Wash
ington wrote me q while ago
The terrible things done By Ger.
many Mr.. Wilson's too proud 10
light, and our ministers TO-DAY pray
Ing God to end the war and istoD our
wicked spirit Of military prepared
ness, have unsettled me- Nv Amer
can nerves are unstrung. -
Two OF the Lusitanfa Victims we're
ny intimate friends.
/ felt that as an American, must
get rid Of some Of my blood gufltness
u go mad.
SO last week got my wife and
children away (fof did not want TO
lurt them), then selected room In
ny house in which Bernstorff had
,een entertained By myself. and
where there was q good collection OF
lice things and breakable stuff.
ocked the doors, and with q heavy
nallet smashed up every BIT OF fur
liture and glass could hit. The d.
mo, windows, tables, chairs. every
hing came under my hammer which
swung with vuIcan-like strength.
tipping. roaring out the worst oaths
'ou ever heard man utter against
he kaiser and all his henchmen, m
luding few for home use.
I didn't spare Wilson nor Bryan
Ior the minister.
4 didn't leave thing In that room.
'ither, and / can tell you there wasn't
much left of me except sweat and
kin, but came out q happier man.
went at once, took bath, put
n clothes, and bought new stuff for
he room, because I could afford it,
hen duplicated the amount for the
,elgian fund. trebIed il for French
rphans, quadrupIed It for the am
ulance corps -as e sort OF penanee
or being an American.
This may In some measure explain
ny use Of strong language. "
Another thing, I don't belong TO the
oody-goody class, mot by a jugful.
m proud of what / iloid as essential
o character and nIanliness, to gentle
nanIiness, tat resent goody-goodlI
ess.
I had to go to Sunday school as
oy. but periods IN between stole
pples sneaked off and went fish
az many time when my good moth
: thought was at school
My New England conscience didn't
other me much. broke up birds
ests, leased the girls, broke by rob
ng down stairs all mothers cher
shed shells from the Mediterranean,
ressed up one night like lie diable :
nth skull and cross bones on my
hest to brighten our poor supefstf
Gus cook-weil, I couldn't tell the
craps I got into. The only thing 4
Tonder at is that ever lived to get
ut OF them. FonIy once did come
ear real danger and that was when
was caught by. an old Frenehman
j his stable braiding his horses
Iane. sT ~ y
I was dressed like lie Ionpgarou.
nd had small lantern in my hand
7 81