THE OLD-FASHIONED GARDEN 



TV ^ ANY phrases which we commonly use will, if 

 "^ ■*• they are submitted to examination, very often 

 be found to have a meaning altogether vague. They 

 present a misty impression rather than a clear idea. 

 Yet, such is the folly of us ! — these are phrases which 

 come often and most trippingly from our tongues, ac- 

 quiring a certain vogue, perhaps, from their very 

 obscurity — as many things do. It is enough that they 

 are not quite understood to make them popular. 



Nowhere in common speech shall another example 

 of this be found that equals that sentimental superla- 

 tive, "dear, old-fashioned" ! Without qualifying ex- 

 planation, what does "dear, old-fashioned" mean? 

 To the speaker one thing, possibly — perhaps it hardly 

 means anything in the majority of instances — to the 

 hearer, another; and according to the dictionary, some- 

 thing quite different from either, I take it. For "old- 

 fashioned" is a relative compound which may be 

 stretched, like an easy conscience, to suit the moment's 



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