Misused Words.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXIV, Issue 946, 16 December 1933, Page 12

Misused Words.

MR JAMES J. O’REGAN, of Inangahua, x to whom "Touchstone” is much in-' debted for timely assistance, writes:—“l would say that the ancient word ‘client* is a misused word. I can remember when it was used only by the members of the legal profession, but 'to-day land agents, bookmakers and auctioneers speak of their clients. I am sure readers of your column would. derive much pleasure and information if they would read the author's preface to the second series of the Biglow Papers. Lowell, as well as being a humorist, was a scholar, and the Pious Editor and John P. Robinson are two characters well worth knowing.” The w’ord customer means a buj'er or purchaser, and its inappropriateness for the victim of a bookmaker no doubt led to the adoption of client as a euphemism in that connection. The word does, in fact, supply a want. A client is one primarily in whose interest a lawyer acts, or one who depends on the services of a professional or business man. In Roman antiquity a client was a plebeian protected by a patrician and bound to render service in return. A brief reference to “ Touchstone’s ’* volume of Lowell confirms the good opinion that Mr O’Regan has of his abilities as a humorist. One verse of a satire on a lawyer who spoke in favour of the Mexican war w ill bring back memories of these priceless Papers:— Parson Wilbur sez he never heerd in his life Thet th’ Apostles rigged out in their swaller-tail coats, An’ marched round in front of a drum an’ a fife, To git some on ’em office, an’ some on ’em votes; But John P. Robinson he Sez they didn’t know everythin* down in Judee. TOUCHSTONE.