Word: lessing
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Dates: during 1870-1879
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Without claiming infallibility in the matter of good taste in pronunciation, I am inclined to think that the New-Englander makes less culpable divergences from the accepted standard of usage than either of the first two classes, though, be it confessed, the Yankee occasionally falls into an opposite error of making the a too broad, the o too confined, and the r utterly inaudible. In his mouth won't, the contraction for will not, becomes wunt. He is apt to call law lor, America Americar, etc., evidently to atone for his almost universal slight to the r in the middle...
...interesting features of that dreary region lies in the opportunities for contrasting the behavior of the lovers with that which novel-writers nowadays give to their heroes. On marking the difference, one involuntarily feels almost proud of his century for being in this particular a little less ridiculous than bygone times, although it may outrun them in a thousand other absurdities. To whatever quality it may be due, whether to common-sense, or lack of deference, or indolence, we no longer find the lover addressing his mistress in metaphors, the far-fetchedness of which would put to shame the worst...
...boats have not proved to be attractive enough to induce many to make use of them except just before the races; nor have the prizes offered been of a sufficiently high grade to induce men to train any length of time for them. Consequently the races are more or less uninteresting, and the general interest in rowing is lessened. Mr. Blakey has offered to sell the boats and oars and lease of the house for twenty-five hundred dollars, and this can be paid in two years' time, one instalment of about three fifths of the whole amount, or fifteen...
...country grows older, the young men rise into prominence less quickly. Time was when a boy graduated from college at fifteen or sixteen, and had his professional education or a good start in business before he had attained his majority. As college after college springs up, and higher education becomes more general, the number of graduates of the older colleges who become prominent men is proportionally decreased...
...shabby. In the new everything is so new as to give a cold and cheerless aspect to the rooms. Further, in the new buildings at Yale the rooms have no open grates, but are heated by close and unhealthy steam-pipes. Is it better to pay a few dollars less and spend your evenings with your feet on a hot iron pipe instead of at a homelike grate...