ANTI-SLANG SOCIETY.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2667, 7 October 1881, Page 2

ANTI-SLANG SOCIETY.

The Reform Club is the title of a new organisation by young ladies for the purpose of discouraging the use of “ slang phrases ”in conversation. At a recent meeting, while a member was addressing the society, she inadvertently made use of the expression “ awful nice,” and was called to order by a sister member for transgressing the rules. “ In what way have I transgressed the rules ?” asked the speaker, blushing deeply. “ You said it would be “ awful nice ” to admit young gentlemen to our deliberations,” replied the other. “Well, would’tit be?” replied the speaker. “ You know you said yourself no longer ago than yesterday, that——” “ Yes, I know ; but you said ‘ awful nice.’ That’s slang.” “Well,” said the speaker, tartly, “if you are going to be so awful nice about it, perhaps it is; but I wouldn’t say anything if I were you. Didn’t you tell Sallie Spriggins this morning to ‘ pull down her basque ? ’ ” “ No, I didn’t,” retorted the other, her face growing crimson, “ and Sally Spriggins will say I didn’t. She won’t go back on me.” “ This is a nice racket you are giving us,” cried the President, after rapping both speakers to order. “ Let me ask what is the object of this society ?.” “To discourage slang! ” cried a dozen voice.

“ Kee-rect ” said the President; “go on with the funeral."

A member rose to explain that she had been fined at the last meeting for saying “ awful nice ” herself, but she hadn’t the stamps to pay it now—would settle it, however, in the sweet by-and-by•

“ That’ll be all right,” said the President ; “ pay when you have the ducats.”

Another member asked if a young lady could say “ old splendid ” without subjecting herself to a fine. “You bet she can’t,” said the President, who was the original founder of the society, and, therefore, appealed to when any nice question was to bo decided.

“Then,” said the speaker, “I move that Miranda Pew come down with the dust, for I heard her say that her beau was ‘ just old splendid.’ ” “ Well, if my beau was such a hairpin as your fellow is, I wouldn’t say it.” “ Shoot the chinning,” said the President ; “will you never tumble ?” But the confusion was too great to be allayed. Miranda’s blood was up, some sided with her and others against, and amid the babel that folowed could be heard such exclamations as “ Dry up!” “ Nice huckleberry you are !” “ Wipe off your chin !” “Hire a hall !’* etc., when a motion to adjourn was carried by a large majority.—(American paper.)