The New York herald., 1922-03-19

even English, but merely
flux of words to the pen" There
is a goodly rap at what Sir Arthur
Quiller- Couch called "jarson," in a
lecture, THE Art of Writing" de-
hvered at Oxford University. Sir
public speeches. Parliamentary de-
bates, its use even by Cabinet Min
listers, that he wedged in this lecture
between two others in his announced
course.
LII his Introduction TO this inter-
lude, as he called the lecture on
jargon, Sir Arthur said: Il ask leave
TO break the order of my argument
and 10 interpose some words upon
kind of writing which, from a super
ficial likeness, commonly passes for
prose, but which," he said, as he
warmed to his protest. is no writing,
not even English" Later he de-
scribed jargon as not so much bad
writing rs the avoidance OF writing" :"
Is that the American conception?
wonder, But accepting as author
ity So able a critic. / purpose to ex-
hibit a few of his horrible examples"
and then have look AT the language
of some American speakers in Con-
gress, as he found some of his ex-
amples in Parliament
Sir Arthur, it is interesting to note,
listens to American stories and re
peats them in venerable oxford He
alludes several times to an American
editor-a rowing one. sometimes
Texas-who cared not for frills of
language, but admired that which
gets there" He also applies To his
subject Chicago Jest: And so. like
responsibility in Chicago. jargon
stalks unchecked in our midst" An
East India story supplies the lecturer
with what he calls perfect example
of those who write with metaphor
and ornament rather than with the
language which gets there. A Babu.
reporting his mothers death, wrote:
Regret to inform you, the hand
which rocked the cradle has kicked
the bucket" OF that Sir Arthur says:
There Is metaphor there is orna-
ment, there is a sense of poetry"
Americans may not all agree to that:
surely the Colorado-T Texas editor
would commend it as being without
frills and getting there by the near
est route.
Sir Arthur takes his examples of
jargon where he finds them. and
finds few in newspaper writing, al
though this he found in the London
Times, and revised il for the benefit
of his Oxford class:
forms mentioned in the rescript is
the unification of the organization of
judicial institutions and the guaran
tee for all the tribunals of the inde-
pendence necessary for securing to
all classes the community of equality
before the law"
If such writing appeared in an
American newspaper it would con-
note that a copy reader had lost his
blue pencil. Sir Arthur said of it
that the editor of the Times ought
TO employ a man to write:
''One of the most important re-
forms is that of the courts, which
need uniform system and to be
made independent T. this way only
can be assured that all are equal be
fore the law"
LET me fly as high as | can" Sir
Arthur said. rising 10 jargon used in
a speech by Mr. Lloyd George. He
quoted him saying i'm the House of
Commons in answer to a question:
With regard to Mr., BaXton's
question. | cannot answer for an
inquiry which is Of pirate aud
confidential character. for although
1 am associated riH il | am not
associated with it as q Minister of
the Crown. These inquiries are Of