[Ads-l] gay avoidance

[James A. Landau]

Then we must do something about the Civil War song "Tramp Tramp Tramp"

In the prison cell I sit, Thinking Mother dear, of you,
 And our bright and happy home so far away,
 And the tears they fill my eyes
 Spite of all that I can do,
 Tho' I try to cheer my comrades and be gay.

 Chorus:
 Tramp, tramp, tramp, the boys are marching,
 Cheer up comrades they will come,
 And beneath the starry flag
 We shall breathe the air again,
 Of the freeland in our own beloved home.[2] 

Not only does it use "gay" but also "tramp" and "come", giving an odd view of Civil War prison camps.

Also, with regards to "blowhard" --> "Hornblower Brennan", does anyone remember the one-time Wall Street firm of Hornblower and Noyes (actually Hornblower & Weeks, Hemphill, Noyes)?

- Jim Landau

_____________________________________________________________
Netscape.  Just the Net You Need.

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The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org