The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1919-02-01
DESTINED TO LIVE
Not All War Phrases Likely to Be
Forgotten.
Some Of Them Are Welcome Additions
70 the Language, and Those That
Are Not Will Not Long
Retain Favor.

The Buffalo Express appeals Tor o
new war vocabulary. 1t cites six
phrases In common use and declares
that they have been used SO much that
they mean nothing. 1t demands that
writer's cudgel their brains to find new
phrases to take their places.
Here are the six phrases that have
occasioned this attack:
"Hun," "drive." "over the top" do
ing your bit" carrying on" and
s.strafe."
Though possibly all of these words
and to them should have been added
ssBoche" and "~camouflage" at least
are being overworked, there is much
to be said III their behalf, and most of
them doubtless will stick till, In the
natural and unprecedented course of
word manufacture, new one develop
to take their place. the Duluth Herald
observes.
And the main thing to be said for
them II that they r very useful, be-
cause every one of them expresses
poignantly an important thought. The
purpose Of language is to convey
thought. Language that conveys a
thought most effectively to the most
people. especially at a time when
clearnass and dcfniteness of thought
are 50 important al now, is the best
language to use
Hun" isn't likely to 60 out Of use
% long as Americans remember Bel
gium and northern France and the
bombing Of cities and the destruction
Of churches by long-distance guns and
the work Of the submarine. Not to
speak Of the rare availability of the
word for the uses Of head writers, who
have helped to make 1t common, the
cOnnotAtions Of the word at SO &C
cuTately the common opinion Of the
character Of the Germans as devel-
cped In this war that there is small
chance Of Its retirement.
"Over the top" has been worked
hard In the same connection, used aft
er Z quota has been filed; and In that
sense WEAKNESS Of 1t has led to its
gradual disuse. Moreover. there is like
u to be less trench warfare and more
war In the open he~nceforth. and as
''over the top means q leap Of the at
lacking force out Of its trench this is
the phrase most likely to be dropped.
Yet it, Significance In stouthearted
valor ana daring among those who
have gone 'over the top" is so deep
that It will never be forgotten by them
or by n.
sDoing your bit" 1t is well enough
to retire. not because It has been over
worked. but because 1t has been mis-
understood. In Britain. where Il start
"a. it means "doing your share" II
doesn't mean doing a little Bit" II
means doing all you can. But our
sense Of the word having that large
difference, 1t isn't a good phrase for
a. to use, and we should retire 1t on
pension and substitute do your ut
most"
Garry on" another British phrase
= splendidly and nobly Anglo-Saxor
ard should not be sacrificed for any
consideration. When the British al
Mons and after were overpowered and
overwhelmed and outnumbered and al
but crushed by the enemy's superior
ny In strength and equipment they
amply carried on" and so made the
rsversal at the Marne possible. What
ever betides. however black the hour
may grow. however hopeless the out
look may seem. 1t is the Anglo-SaxoT
habit to ~carry on and the courage
and perslstence It stands for have
plucke1 victory out Of many a defeat
Garry on" will have won this war: 81
let M. who share tho same spirit viii
= British cousins neve forget tn,
wosd and the spirit II stands for.
~9tFafe." being German. we coult
spare readily enough, as well as thu
spirit Of venom and hate that II sig
niNos.
Words don't win or lose wars. LIE
~ launch our 'drive" "over the top
each man doing his bit" and let u,
'acorTy on" until we 'strafe" the "Hun'
forevermore.