Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1922-11-23
Incident of National
Better Speech Week
BY MAUD CHAPMAN

This week is Better Speech Week.
I'm only a little poster on the depot
wall, but | started most interesting
conversation last night.
Several people were waiting for
the late train and it was late, indeed.
One restless young fellow who was
pacing rapidly around the room (for
exercise) stopped abruptly in front
Of me. Say it with Better Eng
lish-there's reason." he read
aloud.
whats the idea? aked an elder
ly gentleman, looking up from his
newspaper which he had been vainly
attempting to read with one eye on
the bulletin board where the agent
was continually adding minutes.
"Oh, that! This is Better Speech
Week. laughed pretty young lady.
"All the schools have been making
slogans like that We. are trying to
emphasize to the pupils the need Of
correct English"
There's a reason" continued my
reader absent-mindedly. Then turn
ing to the group behind him, "Indeed
there is. I'm studying to be a law
yer
Il like that" exclaimed the elderly
newspaper reader. Reason enough
for everyone. I'm a doctor The bet
ter classes would never patronize me
were my English poor 1t helps in
conversing with my patients too. But
can improve, I'm sure. How about
you, Brown ?"
The gentleman thus addressed had
every appearance Of business man.
You're right, Doc. There is suf-
ficient reason to warrant every one
Of our sons and daughters learning
English thoroughly. Just last week
an agent came to the city with every
intention Of placing a large order
with our rival firm. From our entire
force, picked the most fluent speak
er and sent him to interview the
agent. He got the order by literally
talking the agent down. To Il can't
find words to express myself, our
representative answered 81 can" We
have offered him partnership in
the firm
Then a little girl in the corner
spoke up, 81 don't guess 'twould be
no use for stenographer to learn
that stuff. The big bugs in the Of
flee never'd know the difference if
we did cut it out"
A red-headed boy who had been
silently listening now expressed him
self. I'm farmer. Never could
see any sense TO this high-flown dope
anyway. Been through High School
and learned all the modern speech
there is a-going." DIN it anyway, a
COW wouldn't bulge if guy says to
her please, bossy, move over a
little" but you just cuss a little and
say I'll knock your brains out if you
don't move around herel" Why,
she'll beat it like everything"
There was a slight evidence Of
amusement on the faces Of the trav-
elers. But Immediately they all look
ed serious again.
On one side by himself very old
man had been sitting. lie was shah
by, dirty, and unkempt. His worldly
possessions were tied in an old iute
sack which he evidently transported
on his back He had been sitting
motionless with his head bowed in
his hands. Now he Strengthened up.
You're both very wrong" address
sing the stenographer and farmer
"And you are right, nodding toward
the others. My father sent me
through school and college. Like
many young people wished TO be
clever and witty and | picked up
every questionable expression
heard. Soon my speech became
shocking to respectable people. I
went back to the farm and ran it sue
cessfully until harvest. In attempt
ing TO close a contract on our grain
| interviewed an elevator He
turned me down, and we lost the
farm. 1t was so wherever | went. My
parents died in the poor-house. I'm
on my way TO the lumber-camps up
North where / hope to skin through
the winter. And you, stenographer,
if I'm not mistaken, are out of a job.
And, you, farmer, have no farm to
run, but your fathers and don't own
cow to cuss."
Neither attempted to deny this.
"Take warning. You're both young,
and there is still hope for you. I'm
sure this lady and these gentlemen
owe their success in large measure
to the mastery of their mother ton
que"
"Ann Arbor west: Mt Pleasant,
Glare, Marion, Cadillac, Frankfort"
called the depot agent.
A few moments Of hustle and
noise and the depot was quiet. But
through the window / glimpsed the
faces of the stenographer and farmer
on the outbound train. Both looked
very thoughtful.
Note-The above by Maude Chap
man, student in the local schools,
was ore of the excellent papers writ
ten by students of the schools during
Better Speech Week.