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T H E CHEM AWA AM ERICAN
SE L F-E X PL A N A T O R Y W ORDS
M UST H A V E B E E N T R U E
From an exchange we derive the following interest
ing article which we hope may incite our student read
ers to ponder the matter and search for other words—
there are many other w’ords, too, some being coined
all the time:
It is related that on one occasion a man who dis
liked President Lincoln’s secretary of war, Mr. S tan
ton, w7ent to the president and told him that Stanton
had called him a baboon. Much to the satisfaction of
the mischief-maker, Lincoln appeared to be deeply
interested and asked if he could prove that such a
statem ent had been made by the secretary. The tale
bearer replied that Stanton had spoken of Mr. Lincoln
as a baboon in the hearing of one Judge H olt and that
the latter was just then approaching the W hite House.
When Judge Holt came in Lincoln asked him if
Stanton had made the remark attributed to him. The
judge tried to evade the question but Lincoln pinned
him down and he finally admitted that the secretary
had spoken of the president as a big baboon but de
clared it to have been merely a cursory remark and
advised the president to pay no attention to it.
“ But I must pay attention to i t ,” said Mr. Lincoln.
“ If you had said such a thing or if our friend here
had done so I might let it drop and forget it, but if
Stanton said it, it is something serious, for I tell
you, gentlemen, Stanton is generally rig h t.”
Probably most persons who have learned to be ob
servant have noted that certain words of our language
are peculiarly self-explanatory; that is, their sounds
are expressive or suggestive of their meanings. It
seems likely, indeed, that a goodly portion of words,
new’ and old, pertaining to sounds were originally
nothing more than vocal imitations, each of the sound
to which it applies.
It is interesting and instructive to inquire into the
sounds and meanings of words in this respect but one
should be constantly on his guard in order to avoid
drawing conclusions in a manner analogous to that of
the gentle old lady who, according to the ancient story,
remarked after studying a hog and his habits a short
time, that “ the beast certainly had been most appro
priately nam ed.”
The w’ord “ ro ar,” for example, seems to approxi
mate the loud voluminous sound to w’hich it is applied
about as closely as anything short of an actual loar
could. Similarly, “ croak,” it seems, would suggest
even to one quite ignorant of English a low, hoarse,
coarse sound. “ Gobble” is almost a perfect imitation
oi the cry of the turkey to which it is applied and
“ cackle” is quite similar to the cry of a hen to which
it is applied.
“ T oot” fits the sound made by a steam or other
w’histle as no other word could and “ boom” is elo
quently descriptive of the sound of a gun. Could any
w’ord better than “ pop” be found as the name of the
short, smart, quick sound that accompanies the sudden
opening of a bottle or the bursting of a grain of corn
under the influence of heat?
No dictionary is needed to explain that “ bang” is
a loud, sudden noise or a sharp, heavy blow7 produc
ing such a noise or that “ whack” is a sharp, resound
ing blow*. Nothing could be more appropriate than
“ clash” for the name of the loud, harsh noise result
ing when two bodies strike violently together and
nothing would fit so well as “ slam” the loud noise
resulting when a door is violently closed.
“ Sneak” at once conveys the idea of creeping or
stealing away meanly or of a mean underhanded per
son; according to some etymologists, it has been derived
from “ sn ak e.” Here area few more of the numerous
“ speaking” w’ords that might be mentioned: Splash,
clip, buzz, gurgle, tinkle, drawl, brisk, whine, snip,
rip, drip, snap.
P E N U SE D IN SIG N IN G TH E DECLARATIO N
Peculiar historical interest and value attach to pens
used in signing im portant documents and many of
them are carefully preserved and treasured. In recent
times more than a single pen has been used for affix
ing the presidential signature to each of several bills
and documents regarded as of extraordinary im port
ance and all are prized as historical mementos.
But a single pen was used in signing the declaration
of independence, however, we are told, and it W’as
made from a goose quill—satisfactory steel pens were
not produced until more than 40 years later. Each of
the 56 men who affixed their signatures to this im
mortal document in turn took up the pen and used it.
H E W O U LD N ’T R IS K IT
A man who w’as trying a rest cure in a small village
developed “ flu” symtoms and went to the local d ru g
gist to get a preventive. “ I ’ve the very thing for
yo u ,” exclaimed the druggist trium phantly. “ Thom p
son’s Topcuro; 60 cents a bottle.”
“ No, no, no!” said the customer energetically.
“ But it ’s the very thing for your case. All the
doctors are recommending it. We can’t sell it fast
enough.”
“ I believe you but I ’d prefer som ething else.”
“ Nonsense! W hat’s your objection?”
“ Only that I ’m Thom pson.” And the customer
beat a hasty retreat.