"English as She is Spoke"

Horowhenua Chronicle, 1 July 1910, Page 4

"English as She is Spoke"

Tfliero Imvo been complaints of late from tlio Bench in New Zealand, and also from visitors touring tin l Dominion, concerning tho too-fre-mtent defiling of tlio well of English by tlie use of slang. Hut we (Fikilcling Star) really do not know what slang is out hero, dthough wc may spdak of folks "blowing in" to see us, 'or "ducking their dook" to pjrwt us, or being "too full of 'ink" to be respectable. What would ouv critics say if they were up against tho argot of London or.i New York? For instanco, George Greenfield was before Magistrate O'Connor in a. New York Coui'it- the other cliny. Tho following dialogue ensued between tho Magistrate and tho accused: "You know what- 'hinging the hungers' means, don't von? Tell me wh ! at it means." Why— or—it mea'iils opening m. satchel," said tho prisoner. "And you know also what a 'poke' is. What is a, 'poke'? "A pocketbook," s-aid Greenfidid. "And wbat does 'farming sucker' mean?" "Getting a man between two men and trimming him." "What (1 oo.s 'getting a super! mea,n ' ) " "To take a; watch,' ; said tho prisoner. "And wlnat dioes {getting his whole front mean?" "Why, trimming him of all his ice, •lin's super. iand wlilnteve.r." " 'Tee' means diamonds, does'nib it?" "Yo-es." rosrpondod Greenfield. And then Greenfield was fined twenty shillings for being too familiar witih tho language.