Word: vulgarism
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Dates: during 1920-1929
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...nowhere near the magnetism of a striking hint, a single graphic stroke of advertising along a popular line. Depending on the elevation of the publisher's mind, this stroke will be "high" or "low"?something between popular religion or popular sex? a brilliant, mental contortion, or a vulgar, scandalizing distortion. Very, very seldom will the stroke be accurately indicative of the nature of the table of contents, or even of the nature of that feature in the table of contents which suggested the stroke...
Mercury, or quicksilver as it is sometimes called in the vulgar tongue, is a heavy metal with an unusually low melting point. On that account, it is in liquid form at ordinary temperatures; and its use is possible in thermometers for measuring most terrestrial temperatures. It is produced in five or six times the quantity of a metal like gold; but, because its uses, though unique, are limited, it usually sells for about $1 a lb., while gold is worth 300 times that amount...
...Japanese would soon have forgotten the so-called insult under ordinary circumstances, but this incident will only intensify the opposition. The popular mind will be more impressed by a concrete example of voluntary martyrdom than by countless exhortations as to the sanctity of National honor. It was no vulgar suicide that the patriot committed but the appeal through a recognized ritual to the sentiment of his countrymen. The appeal has not been forgotten, as the removal of his body to a more sacred resting place testifies. No one can deny that the memory of his deed will be a stimulus...
Prior to the dawn of this age Hercules held the world's record for infantile achievement. Since his day, however, standards are higher. His vulgar strangling act was but the rude and distant precursor of a Children's Crusade in all the arts...
...feature. For a moderate consideration, any city editor can now have a model of sincere, constructive, idealistic thought and writing against which to contrast the "blowsy," "slipshod" language of the news columns, the "drivel" he lets "slide under his nose," the "transparent absurdities," the "trivialities and puerilities." To his vulgar, ignorant cub reporter, a city editor may now say: "Go thou and read our column by Mr. Mencken and be a better...