COMFORT OF “CUSSING”

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 19 May 1928, Page 11

COMFORT OF “CUSSING”

TYTHILE .severely condemning the V spurious type of forcible language used by the man who perverts ‘‘swear words” from their legitimate function of soothing injured feeling in attempting to embellish a scanty vocabulary, Mr E. M. Johnson, -writing in the February number of “The North American Review” on “The Comfort of Cussing,” claims that when if is used for good and sufficient cause “cussing” from the fullness of the heart is not only beneficial in soothing the ruffled feelings, but is Nature’s chosen outlet for exhausting the strain of anger, which, if suppressed, might incite a man to actions which he might afterwards regret. Mr Johnson does not ask his readers to accept his hypothesis without citing cases within his own knowledge to support it. His uncle David was a past master of the art of swearing.

“Never,'' says his admiring nephew, “have I met a. man with such a picturesque vocabulary of cuss words." The rich pungency of the language he employed was his safety-valve, and as a child Mr Johnson, no matter how heinous his offence might .be, if ho kept out of his uncle’s way until the last rumble of the thunder of expletive had died away, was immune for retribution. Not so with Aunt Nancy. Aunt Nancy was a Puritan, and was never known to swear, but her resentment was relentless until she had inflicted punishment on his sinful person. The minister’s wife might call; the cat might have a fit; and both or either catastrophies might temporarily turn her from her purpose, but when the excitement had abated, Aunt Nancy was ready for him. The longer her wrath was suppressed the more it fermented.

NATURE’S OUTFIT

Mr Johnson reflects that had Aunt Nancy not denied herself that comfort of cussing, his memories of her might have been different.

As a tonic for irritable nerves, Air Johnson suggests that much of the nervousness and nagging ascribed to women is duo to their not indulging in “wholesome cussing." They refrain, he says, because they consider it wrong, when the fact is that it is just because it is wrong that it is beneficial. If it were not regarded as improper to use “cuss" words, they would lose all their tranquillising effect. One of the most human men he ever met used to swear before clergymen “because it pleased the poor things. They could not swear themselves, but they did enjoy hearing a few good 'cuss’ words." George Washington is entitled to the distinction of having been one of the world’s most renowned swearers. A tribute from an officer of his staff: is quoted. “It was at Afonmouth on a day that would have made any man swear. On that day he swore till the leaves shook on the trees! Admirable! Charming! Never before or since have I had the pleasure of listening to such swearing! Sir, on that ever memorable day, he swore like an angel from Heaven." “Small wonder," comments Air Johnson, “a man endowed with such a genius could well-nigh work miracles." Swearing, says Mr Johnson, is the nearest approach to a universal language. Tt is understood by all races arid all ages. It is only a. cultured man • who van swear in seven different languages, and that is a real bliss. One who uses it as an art lifts it above vulgarity. ATr Johnson asserts that the ease with which one swears in English has made it the great commercial language of the wmrld.