The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1956-04-13
Just Among Ourselves
Passing Comment Considered or lneonsidersfs

The other day We came upon an advertise.
ment which described the article on sale "a
many splendid thing" All, shades of Francis
Thompson! Misquotation becomes douby and
trebly infamous when it involves not only mis-
understanding but complete lack OF intelligence.
The newspaper which carried the witless thing
in 12-pont type had some admiring editorial
comment on modern schools and present-day
culture and enlightenment. Absurdity can 90
no further
And one of our pert reviews recently broke out
anew with expression which belongs to the
measles, mumps, and whooping cough of cliche.
dom: it described some athlete actor eve are
glad to have forgotten which, as an athletes
athlete actors actor 1t is now five years
at least since this type Of phrase began To fade
out under the Sock Treatment of reputable edit
ors and speakers Yet here il is again; persistent
polio has rival II is diseases diseased
There's no accounting for the genesis, de-
velopment, and disappearance of phrases. But
one might expect in general, some enrichment
of the language by reason of their passing
through the mazes of living speech. Yet their
effect seems TO be weaving Of the mind from
justified and classic forms of expression with
out supplying solid substitute for the pabulum
they prescribe
a
the inanities of what is horribly called the teen
age, is practically inarticuate, save for angular
cches and semlslang expressions. He can talk
breezily, but he doesn't speak in sentences.
His language is wholly outside the domain of
textbooks, TO analyze or 10 interpret.
man of Importance in the business world
man with money and therefore model for
aspiring youth. was known as an entertaining
tw.n.a IT,
ment on the Streaked Coffee Cup circuit Hardly
luncheon club or Ki-Roto group but had heard
his words with pleasure anG possible profit
He was always pleasant perSonable; never boring
or tiresome; not over-long in his stay at the
microphone He was fully entitled to the name of
popular afterdinner speaker
Now this experienced and acceptable man re-
Gently had one of his speeches recorded on tape
unknown to himself Afterwards steno-
grapher typed copy of the address, and this
was sent to him, The man was appalled, For, by
his own declaration, there was not, in the entire
twenty-minute speech, single complete sent
encel II was a mass of catch phrases, elliptical
remarks, cleverly constructed sldereferenceS
interlarded comparisons and illustrations, state
ments haIf,compteted and left hanging in air
There not sentence in the lot; not one
sequence of words that the ablest grammaran in
the world could line up under the heads of sub
ject predicate, and modifers, and finish off
with period
II is true of course, that the most perfectly
constructed speech. conforming skillfuly with
all the laws of grammar and rhetoric-can be
deadly wearying thing to listen To- Grammar,
rhetoric, and logic combined with an important
subject of discussion, cannot of themselves make
an interesting or valuable address. II is the man
who talks, his manner his appearance, his own
interest in what he is saying, the quality of
his voice and other personal facts about him.
these things are what gives life and effective
ness to the speech or leaves ii prosy and inert.
To the speaker who has all pleasing qualifications
for his work grammar and rhetoric ought to be
a great aid, but he can do without them. His
presence and personality can give life to the
dry bones of his discussion even if the bones
of grammar and rhetoric are absent He can make
an effective speech without any sentences at all.
This is one Of the near-miracles of human
communication, Yet II is pity that the effective
speaker should lack his proper equipment. We
may wonder at the work of artist who pro-
duees good results without the ordinary tools
of his craft But we should not discount the value
of those tools, nor cease to regret the fact that
artist was denied them. If he does well
without them, what very superior things he
might do by possessing and using them.
Besides not all speakers are artists. Not ev-
cry man can charm the Brotherhood Boys at
their weekly luncheon by masterful mutaton
of sentences. A speaker poor in personal at
tractves, and poor in words and in knowing how
TO turn a phrase, is heavy trial upon audi
tory He is a heavier trial than the speaker who
reads or recites his opus with perfect correct
ness and with about as much living inspiration
as that of clicking telegraph key.
To know ones language adequately and to
have smooth facility in using it is great and
desirable art Surely our Bachelors of Arts ought
to possess ii. But they do not generally speaking
They talk--in public as in prvate.-in slams
phrases. qupS, half sentences, elcheS. They say
OK" Roger See you later, alligator,
That's good cigar them" The last phrase is :
quote from S. Leacock
A generation or so back pupils We're urged
by prissy teachers of English to study Pater
Newman and Stevenson tR. ID as the great mas
ters of style. We cannot and do not, expee
modern writer's and speakers to initiate tht
manner of these notable stylists, for the tempe
of our expression has changed. Yet we can hay,
good style in the modern manner, but for tha
We must have words and skill in using them.
Maybe, despite the changes of fashion II
rLt L. xf Ernt n.