Ihr liewe
Leit:
Zwee Woche zerrick hen mer en Gschicht vum Salli Holsbock aagfange.
Wie ihr gewiss gsehne un gelese hen, hot der Holsbock zimmlich viel Englisch
benutzt. Awwer des waar immer so, besunners mit de PD wu so um 1900 rum die
viele PD Kallems (menschdens waare sie “Briefe” zum “Drucker” gschriwwe hen
ass in viele Zeidinge in Pennsylvaani un viel annere Schtaade gedruckt sin
waare.
Sie hen besunners viel englische Wadde benutzt wann sie gschriwwe
hen vun Dinger ass sie fer’s aerscht Mol do in Amerigaa aagedroffe hen. Zum
Beischpiel, der Alt Schulmeeschder (der Joseph H. Light, 1849-1901) hot mol
efders Setze wie der do gschriwwe: “Die Fraa iss dann eigschpatt warre, un am
Trial waar’s Zeigniss do pleen, dass die Jury sie graad guilty gfunne hot, un
der Judge hot sie gesentenced in dei Penitenshery fer ihr Lebzeit.”
Komisch, awwer wie ihr sehnt, hot er Trial, Jury, un
Judge in Englisch gschriwwe, hot awwer pleen un Penitenschery
id PD gschriwwe. Awwer sell iss genaa was viel annere Kallemschreiwer geduh
hen. Awwer ferwas hen sie Englisch benutzt wann sie gans gude, eefache PD
Wadde ghatt hen. Widder der Light: “Ich will die Woch enwennich Neiichkeide
schicke vun unsrer Valley. Uffkors dutt net viel happene. Mer duhne uns all
gut beheefe, un en yedes dutt so sei eegeni Bisnis meinde.”
Do kennt mer graad denke ass er Englisch gedenkt hot,hot awwer PD
gschriwwe!
Do in Schuylkill Kaundi waare zwee Eegner un Rausgewwer vun
Zeidinge. Sie hen aa alle zwee PD Kallems in ihre Zeidinge gedruckt. Der J.
Fred (Fritz) Wetter (1846-1926) hot mol die Jefferson Democrat
Zeiding geeegent (1892-1919) in Pottsville. Sei Feddernaame waar “Hansjaerrick
(HD Der Hansjoerg, E. John George), un sei Gschichte hen fascht kee englische
Wadde dren. Awwer sell kennt sei weil erim Aargau in der Schweitz geboe waar,
un weil sei Zeiding in Hochdeitsche gedruckt waar. Sei Leser hen nadierlich
viel Deitsch gewisst.
Der John Wesley von Nieda (1853-1939) hot mol die Schuylkill Haven
Call geegnet (Abrill 1900 bis November 1901). Unnerm Feddernaame “Jim
Brennessel” (E. “Stinging Nettle”) hen sei Schtoris iwweraus viele englische
Wadde ghatt. Awwer sell kennt sei weil er do in Amerigaa gebore waar un sei
Zeiding waar in English gedruckt.
In dem do Kallem hen ihr liewe Leser schunn zwee
vum Brennessel seine Gschichde gelese, “Jim Brennessel Sees a Baseball Game” (Call,
30 Yuni 1900) un “Die Narrisch Suss” (Call, 5 Moi 1900). Neegscht Woch
fange mer “Dumme Schtreech” aa.
Macht’s gut,
Der Alt Professer
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Dear people:
Two weeks ago we started as story by Solly Hulsbuck. As you surely
saw and read, Hulsbuck used quite a lot of English. But that was always
so, particularly with the PGs who around 1900 wrote the many PG columns
(mostly there were “letters” to the “printer”) that were printed in so
many newspapers in Pennsylvania and many other states.
They used especially many English words when they wrote about
things that they came across for the first time in America. For example,
The Old Schoolmaster (Joseph H. Light, 1849-1901) once wrote sentences
like this one: “The woman was then jailed, and at the trial the evidence
was so plain that the jury found her guilty, and the judge sentenced her
to the penitentiary for life.”
Funny, but as you
see, he wrote trial, jury and judge in English, but wrote
plain and penitentiary in PG, so to speak. But that is exactly
what many other columnists did. But why did they use English when they had
very good simple PG words. Again Light: “I wand to this week send you a
bit of news from our valley. Of course, nothing much happens. We’re all
behaving ourselves well, and each of us in this way minds his own
business.”
One could just think that he was thinking in English but writing
PG!
Here in Schuylkill County there were two owners and publishers of
newspapers. Both of them also printed PG columns in their newspapers. J.
Fred (Fritz) Wetter (1846-1926) once owned the Jefferson Democrat
(1892-1919) in Pottsville. His pen name was “Hansjoerrick” (John George),
and his stories have hardly any English words in them. But that could be
because he was bourn in Aargau in Switzerland, and because his newspaper
was printed in High German. His readers naturally knew a lot of German.
John Welsey von Nieda (1853-1939) once owned the Schuylkill Haven
Call (April 1900 to November 1901). Under the pen name “Jim
Stinging Nettle” his stories has an inordinate number of English words.
But that could be because he was born here in America and because his
paper was printed in English.
In this column you dear readers have already read two of his stories, “Jim
Bennessel Sees a Baseball Game” (Call, 30 June 1900) and “Crazy
Sue” (Call, 5 May 1900). Next week we will start “Stupid Pranks.”
Take care,
The Old Professor
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