The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1920-11-18
SLANG WEARENS
THINKING POWER
Prof. Glicksman of Uni
vesity of Wisconsin Ad-
dresses College Club.
SLANG USERS ARE LAZY

Professor Harry Glicksman Of the
University of Wisconsin, offered the
members of the Kenosha College Club
one of their most attractively instruc-
tive programs when they met in reg
ular session at the Kemper Hall gym
nasium Saturday afternoon-in struc-
tive because of the wealth of inforrna-
tion on today's High Brow, Low Brow
and Slang; attractive because Of the
interesting presentation.
In his three years association as
English instructor at the university,
Professor Glicksman has become one
of the most popular members of the
faculty. He is also prominent as a
lecturer and is at present delivering
q series of Shakespearean lectures in
Milwaukee, under the auspices of the
University Extension Division.
The principal theme Of Professor
Glicksmans discourse before the Col
lege Club was the effect of high brow
and low brow minds upon the English
language, emphasizing the influence
of slang. He employed the terms
high brow" and Glow brow" not as
differentiating between the we'll edu
Gated and the less educated, but as
characterizing the persons who use
thought in their conversations rather
than dependability upon stock phrases
and gesture.
High Brow and Low Brow.
"The high brow thinks more; the
low brow thinks less" Professor
Glicksman explained. "The low brow
would substitute action and gesture
for meditation and thought The ma
tional tendency to substitute gesture
FOR thought manifests itself in jazz
music, jazz dancing, movies, cartoons
and slang. Slang produces mental
laziness, continued use will so dull the
national mind that our language will
deteriorate."
Continuing Mr.. Glicksman stressed
the point that certain expressions
which are considered slang today may
be reputable tomorrow, illustrating
With the word mob which originally
was taken from the word mobile
(moving). In the days of Jonathan
Swift the word was considered most
disreputable; today it is highly repu-
table, "The high brow and low brow
have one thing in common" Mr.. Clicks
man said "It is for the high brow
to adopt the good slang and discourage
the bad. In the category of good slang
are pep, snap, punch, hit them between
the eyes, get by live wire. These words
have imaginative energy and definite
sensuous appeal. They express some
thing that no other words express
Words that were a direct product of
the war such as 'Hooverize' and Pro
fteer' also have definite meaning and
nay be considered reputable. 1t is
the use of Believe me- 4 should
worry III say So, and some which is
bad form. The expressions are worth
less unless accompanied by elocution-
airy acrobats. 4 should worry means
nothing when bereft of gesture of
vocal infection"
Mr.. Glicksman decried the use Of
the word "some" as the most abomina-
BILE bit of slang in use. Some is an
lll-consuming blanket thrown around
every class of noun to save the speak
er the trouble of choosing discriminat
ing and exact adjectives," he asserted.
"The low brow always substitutes
gesture for thought for to the low
brow thinking is painful process.
Study for example the expressions
some girl some automobile some
bulldog The word some tends to
paralyze all thought and all tendency
to express one self exactly, 1t must be
accompanied by grimace or accent"
Discuss Slang in General.
A lively discussion of slang in gem
eral followed Mr.. Glicksman's talk.
Prominent in the list Of words offered
for Mr.. CHEESEMAN'S mental dis
elimination were kid and bunch.
Evidence that kid occurs frequently
in the choicest works of English litera-
ture. was offered. Mr.. CHEESEMAN'S
reply was that words are like people;
when they keep bad company they be-
come disreputable. He placed kid and
bunch in this class, explaining that
because Of bad company they have be
come common and vulgar and are no
longer considered reputable.
The final displacement of legitimate
productions by cinematograph, theory
which is advanced by many, was an.
other factor tending toward mental
laziness which was decried by Mr..
Glicksman. He explained that while
mental effort is necessary to interpret
the theme of legitimate play all brain
activity is dulled by continued patron
izing of motion picture theatres.
Presidents of various women's or
CARNATIONS in Kenosha were guests
at Saturdays meeting. Hostesses for
the afternoon were Misses Florence
Wells, Christine Buchanan, Anna
Asgaard, Elizabeth Wilson, Elizabeth
Churchill and Alice Johnson.
Miss Harriet Vittum, director Of
Northwestern University Settlement
house, is the speaker scheduled for
the December meeting Members of
the civics committee will be hostesses.
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