"Inevitable" is the new cant phrase, and certain phrases _are_
inevitable, it would seem.
It is inevitable, if you should happen to beg the pardon of one of the
lower middle class, that he (or more generally _she_) will reply with
"Granted!"
It is inevitable, if you converse with a young Oxonian of immature
intellect, that he will murder the QUEEN'S, or (as he would call
it) Quagger's, English by some such expression as "What a beastly
sensagger!" or invite you to "stagger for the dagger" (_i.e._ stay for
the day). But competent authorities are inclined to think that this
laborious form of undergraduate wit, or "wagger," is doomed to speedy
"extigger."
It is inevitable that the would-be smart business person, when
inditing a circular or club notice, will say, "Forward _same_," or, "I
inclose _same_," instead of "_it_," whatever it may happen to be.
It is inevitable that, when 'ARRY wishes to be familiarly polite at
parting, he will take his leave with "So long."
It is inevitable that, when a young City man desires to express his
disapproval of any individual or thing, he will dismiss it as "no
class."
It is inevitable, if you make any surprising or absurd statement to a
Yankee, that his comment thereon will be, "Is that so!"
It is inevitable, if you meet an actor "resting" in the Strand, that
he will ask you to "Name it," and you will proceed to do so (possibly
at your own expense) at one or more of the excellent drinking-bars in
that locality.
* * * * *
[Illustration: A YORKSHIRE GOSSIP.
_First Gossip._ "SO YOU WAS NIVVER AXED TUT FUNERAL?"
_Second Gossip._ "NIVVER AS MUCH AS INSIDE T'HOUSE. BUT NOBBUT WAIT
TILL _WE_ HEV' A FUNERAL OF US OWN, AN' _WE_'LL SHOW 'EM!"]
* * * * *