Page:The New Yorker 0004, 1925-03-14.pdf/33

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
There was a problem when proofreading this page.
THE NEW YORKER
31

The Dawn of Speech

THE archaeologist of the remote future was lecturing upon the written language of the early Americans, those who had lived in the primitive civilization of the twentieth century.

"These people," the professor continued, "were a race of dawning intelligence and possessed of a very limited vocabulary . Apparently, they spoke in monosyllables, with distinctive words for pain, surprise and the elementary emotions. This remnant of what the ancients called paper, fortunately preserved to us through some kindly chance in nature's chemistry and recently brought to light in the ruins of well-nigh prehistoric New York, sheds much light upon their language. Sentences, it appears, they never used. They were, we must remember, but one higher than animals in the long ladder of evolution.

"This precious relic, combining as it does crude pictures with cruder text, enables us to state with some certainty the relationship of word to action. For example, we quickly discover that the word 'oof' was spoken when one of these primitive people was the recipient of a violent body blow, a frequent occurrence. 'Oof' was apparently the passive voice, the active form, used by the aggressor, being 'pam' or 'pow.' Othermonosyllables were less pugnacious. For instance, there is 'awk' which seems to have been synonymous with sudden surprise of an unpleasant character, but was rarely if ever employed in physical combat. 'Glub,' a most singular word, appears to have been spoken solely by persons under water. . . ."

Science, after a lapse of several thousand years, was reading the comic supplement.—A. H. F.


Jottings About Town
By Busybody

Here it will be summer again in another three months, although it hardly seems like any time since we had it last.

Winter greens are now being used by many of our golf clubs. And at the nineteenth hole so are peppermints.

The quaint dialect of the modern newsboy is a source of constant amusement. One urchin at Wall Street and Broadway calls "Telegram! World! Journal!" Inquiry disclosed that he was vending the Telgram, Woild and Joinal.

Dopoulos P. Dopoulos is showing an advance spring line of goobers at his peanut stand at 161st Street and Gimph Avenue.

————— is nursing a cold, same being her husband's, as usual.


An
Absolutely
New
Creation!

HYPATIA
CORS-O-BAND

THE natural grace of American Womanhood is happily interpreted and enhanced by Cors-O-Band, the Ceinture recently adopted by prominent women of Society and the Stage.

The backless model illustrated, designed for Evening Wear, is fashioned of finest material, and closely confines the hips, while affording entire freedom to the upper part of the body.

The CORS-O-BAND gently yet firmly controls both Diaphragm and Bust, is easily adjusted, fastening at left side front with cleverly concealed hooks and eyes, gives support just where it is needed and assures the flat straight back line below the waist. Straps are detachable and may be dispensed with for evening wear.

A Particular Garment for
Particular Women

BATISTE $10.50

SILK BROCADE 18.50

SKINNER BOOT SATIN 28.50

SILK JERSEY 35.00

If preferred—you may order by mail—giving exact natural measurements of hips, waist and bust—or visit our Corset Studio and be fitted by an expert corsetiere, under the personal supervision of our designer.

{{c|

Mail Orders Given Careful Attention
WRITE FOR CATALOGUE—Dept. 26

20-22-24 West 37th Street
Just off Fifth Avenue
NEW YORK, N. Y.


$350 for 50 Packs

$500 for 100 Packs

Monogram

(Trademarked and Copyrighted)

Match Packs

WITH YOUR OWN
INITIALS

Colors of Match Packs: Gold, Silver, Light Blue, Black, Blue, Orange, Yellow, Green, Purple, Lavender.

Colors of Initials: Gold, Silver, Black, White. Smart for the Vanity Case—Ideal for the Hostess.

{{c|A Charming Gift—Packed
in a Tin


Mail order and check at once to:

THE
CAN-DLE-LUXE
SHOP

(CANDLES OF QUALITY)

619-N MADISON AVENUE
NEW YORK

Also carried by such smart shops as


Lord & Taylor New York

Alfred Dunhill, Ltd. New York

B. Altman & Co. New York

The Ritz-Carlton Hotel New York

Kaufman & Baer Pittsburgh

Gimbel Bros. New York

Hall's Chicago

James B. Russell New York

Saks & Co. New York

Daniel Low & Co. Salem

S. S. Pierce Company Boston

M. T. Bird & Company Boston

L. S. Ayres & Co. Indianapolis

M. M. Importing Co. New York

Boggs & Buhl Pittsburgh

Sim & Co., Inc. Troy


KAY AND ELLINGER,
INC.

'342-N Madison Avenue
New York

The Monogram Match Co., 319 De Young
Bldg., San Francisco