Rensselaer Republican, Volume 17, Number 47, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 July 1885 — THE SLANG EPIDEMIC. [ARTICLE]

THE SLANG EPIDEMIC.

A Worse Enemy to the Queen's English H Than Bail Grammar. Slang is breaking down social conventionalities by its free and indiscriminate use. It is lessening maiden dignity, which should always be entrenched behind soft and gentle speech. It is deteriorating the standard that we once held for your young men, and is unquestionably a vice making its inroads as insiduously as drink or gambling. Qur children are allowed to interlard their conversation with the catch-words of low comedies, without remonstrances, which must in the end produce its effect upon character and conduct.

Slang is a reflection upon the progress of our civilization, and if not repressed will soon become a prevailing feature of our popular literature. Our schools should be the reformatories for its cure. The principles of correct speaking are simple enough to be conveyed intelligently to the youngest children, and it should be impressed upon them that the use of pure diction is one of the stepping stones toward building up a pure character. It is pitiable to listen to the conversation of the average school-girl of today, whose lips should be as unsullied as the bloom upon her cheek. I will leave it to the initiated to interpret the meaning of the following phrases, selected at random, but actually uttered by some of the representatives of our first-class schools and seminaries: “Didn’t we have Jim dandy fun today at school?” “Yes, but the old dragon got on her ear because we didn’t know our Latin.” “Gee whiz! I don’t care.” “Ah, there! Stay there!" “Jimeny cracky! She’s a daisy.” “Did you catch on?” “Yes, I tumbled to the racket.” “Did you know that Jack Smith had blown out most of his fortune?” “You bet; he" B intends to fly high. The governor had to shell out the sheckels.” “Well, it is a> comfort to have as much dough as a person wants." “I saw him making a break 1 along the street on a blue streak.” “Awfully jolly 1 ” “Awfully funny!” “Take the cake?" “I should smile!” “What a gillie!” But it is needless to multiply the expressions ad infinitum. Do not such examples of slang confront us as a horrible nightmare ? Does it not plainly show that the tendency is increasing to an alarming degree? It is bringing the conversation of our sons and daughters down to the level of thieves’ jargon, and fast obliterating all delicacy of the sentiment in the minds of both establishing a of course and corrupt language as a means of social intercourse. The descent is easy which leads to vulgarity in thought, and it is a wise parent who forsees the end.— Cincinnati Commercial Gazette.