Pueblo chieftain., 1921-11-06

American character that they are
giving this splendid effort their active
support. Governor Henry j. Allen in
his proclamation or the observance Of
Better Speech Week. of 1920 said:
Each man has tools peculiar to his
vocation-the carpenter his plane, the
miner his pick, the tradesman his
price-list, the student his Textbook;
but every true citizen, whatever his
occupation, should use his American
language. Better Speech Week calls
attention to the Importance of our
language. l command every effort
made by the schools of the State to
train our citizens in the cultivation
dfction."
AS the direct outcome of the two
previous drives, real speech improve
ment is evident in hundreds of towns
and cities thruout the United States.
The best results have been obtained
where every possible agency in the
community ha given its cooperation.
AS rule the several agencies have
been encouraged and coordinated by
some public-spirited club or society.
The Chicago Womens Club has not
only aided the Better Speech" CAM
paign in its own city but has fostered
the movement thruout the entire
country.
In many cities the various interests
Joined hands, for this splendid pur-
one church the minister preached a
sermon on The Sanctity of Words"
In another the church bulletin con-
tanned a carefully written announce
ment in regard to The Value Of Care
full speech" The Mayor issued an
official statement calling on all ciu-
: zens. to aid in the patriotic effort to
improve our national speech. The
| newspapers co-operated with news
stories and editorials. Department
stores used Better Speech" slogans
IN their advertisements and displayed
posters on counters ana in the win
dows. One bookstore arranged an at
tractive grouping of books useful for
speech improvement.
In Maiden, Massa achusetts, a
specialist of one of the photoplay
corporations gave his time in prepar-
ing two-minute films for presenta-
ton, these financed by the four cities
in the north of Boston.
Valuable as Better Speech Week.
Is as a general community influence,
and will doubtless continue to be, in
the school. Teachers report that as a
I result Of the Better Speech Week"
celebrations their students have been
stimulated as never before to work
for correct. distinct. and pleasant
speech. Miss Claudia Crumption.
Chairman of the American Speech
Committee of the National Council Of
Teachers of English. writes that the
interest already shown would indicate
that nearly every school in America
will formally observe Better Speech
Week"
The Guide to Better American
Speech Week." from which the facts
In this article have largely been
taken. states: Better Speech Week.
as 1t is now observed, serves one of
two purposes It may be an intensive
campaign for calling the attention of
the community to the need of speech
Improvement. or 1t may have a de-
finite place in years program for
developing power in speaking" In
examination in speech and for pledges
! similar to the following. written by
Grace Williamson Willet of the Chi
cago Women's Club:
II love the United States OF
America, I love my country's flag. I
I love my country's language. I pro-
mise:
1. That I will not dishonor my
country's speech by leaving off the
last syllables of words:
2. That I will say a good Ameri-
can yes and mo- instead OF an Indian
grunt 'umhum' and nup UNI or a
foreign va or 'yeh' and nope:
g. That I will Improve American
speech by enunciating distinctly and
by speaking pleasantly and sincerely:
4. That ! will try to make my
many boys and girls Of foreign nations
who come here to live;
o. That I will learn to articulate
correctly one word n day for one
year"
Better Speech Week" can accom-
plish permanent results only IL II in
spires It's observes TO all-year care in
the matter Of pure English: only IL 1t
causes every one to keep tho powers
Of the mind invariably in tone and
training by being ever vigtlant against
me me enemies OF American speech. And
this means more than to talk gram
matically and to enunciate clearly. It
requires the more discriminating use
Of overworked words such as nice"
splendid" awful" elegant" fierce"
etc: the elimination of worn-out ex-
acid test" ''the staff OF life." tho
arms of Morpheus Slang saves
ing"
Since Armlstic Day comes on FRI
Speech Week" it is fitting that ho-
mage be paid by word and deed to
the ideals for which the nation has
fought, that America rcdedicate her
self to preserving her language, as
an emblem of national unity. In ''its
native freshness and vigor." a Lam
guaee inherited by us from our
grandfathers and by us to be handed
down to our grandchildren unimpair-
ed in vigor and variety. in freshness
and nobility. y."-The Literary Digest.
!. + r.
The Thursday Literary club will meet
with Mrs. r. L. Wadhams, SIT West
Fifteenth street. Thursday morning at
9:15 o'clock.
= i. !.
The Now-A-Day club will meet with !
Mrs. Parrish on Wednesday afternoon, !
November Q.
f. !. +
The Twentieth Century Round Table |
club will meet Tuesday evening. No
vember s, with MIR. and Mrs. Lemuel
Fits, Jr.. III East Grant street. Mr.. |
Pitts will read paper on Tho Menace |