USA > Pennsylvania > York County > History of York County, Pennsylvania : from the earliest period to the present time, divided into general, special, township and borough histories, with a biographical department appended > Part 52
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Daniel Lehman who died some years ago, had been messenger and watchman from the
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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY.
organization of the institution to the time of his death, a period of some twenty-five or thirty years. He was succeeded by Lewis J. Wampler, since whose death Mr. John Craver, the present incumbent, has held the position.
Of its seven presidents, four were gentlmen of German descent. Only two of the whole number survive -Messrs. Roland and Rosen- miller. Of the same descent were both its cashiers. As nearly as could be ascertained seventy-six different persons -medical doc- tors, merchants, manufacturers, mechanics, farmers, and ex editors, some of them gen- tlemen of fortune and leisure, have served as directors; and of these seventy-six, at least sixty, or 78 per cent, were of German descent. Including cashiers, tellers, book-keepers, and watchmen, eighty-three different persons have been concerned and employed in the control and management of the institution; sixty- five. at least, of whom are, or were, apparently of German ancestry.
The First National Bank of York was chartered February 24, 1864, with a capital of $200,000, which was the same year in- creased to $300,000. Its first president was Eli Lewis; first cashier, Hy. D. Schmidt; clerk, S. B. Hopkins.
First board of directors: John L. Mayer, Daniel Hartman, David E. Small, D. A. Rupp, W. Latimer Small, J. D. Schall, Isaac Frazer, and Z. K. Loucks.
In 1867 (after the death of Mr. Lewis) Hy. D. Schmidt became president, Jacob Bastress, cashier, and C. E. Lewis, teller. In the same year, also, the presidency changed again from Mr. Schmidt to David E. Small, and from the latter to Z. K. Loucks.
In addition to these already named, Eli Lewis Hy. D. Schmidt, S. S. Hersh, W. G. Ross, John H. Small, Jacob Loucks, N. H. Shearer, J. M. Danner, C. M. Billmeyer, and Robert Smith have acted as directors.
In addition to S. B. Hopkins, J. B. Bas- tress, C. E. Lewis, John J. Frick, W. H. Souder, H. D. Rupp, H. C. Niles, R. H. Schindel, Ivan J. Glossbrenner, and H. K. Fox have served as clerks.
Messengers, Samuel Coble and Caleb Kep- ner.
The officers now are: president, Z. K. Loucks; cashier, J. Bastress; teller, J. J. Frick; book-keeper, R. H. Schindel: discount clerk, Ivan Glossbrenner. Capital, $300,000; surplus, $100,000.
Of its four presidents, three were Pennsyl- vania Germans; also, at least, one of its two cashiers; and of some eighteen different directors at least twelve. Of about twenty- eight different persons who have been con-
nected with the bank, in one capacity or another, at least sixteen appear to be of Ger- man descent.
The Farmers' National Bank of York .- The certificate of the comptroller authorizing the bank to commence business, bears date the first day of March, 1875; capital, $200,- 000; surplus fund, $30,000: undivided prof- its, $14,040.11.
V. K. Keesey, president; E. P. Stair, cash- ier. Directors: John A. Weiser, W. H. Jor- dan. M. S. Eichelberger, M. B. Spaher, N. Lehmeyer, Charles Spangler, S. H. Forry, Horace Keesey and V. K. Keesey.
The bank commenced business on the 25th of March, 1875.
The above has been kindly furnished by the president of the bank, to which let it be added, that here too, it will be seen that more than half, indeed, nearly if not all, the gentlemen who have been instrumental in the establishment of, and who have hitherto so successfully conducted the business of this, as yet young but flourishing institution, are of German descent.
Western National Bank of York .- The preliminary meeting which led to the forma- tion of this bank, was held April 6, 1875, at the American House, northwest corner of Market and Newberry Streets.
Between this time and July 22, 1875, the stock was sold to ninety-four subscribers, and on this latter date the bank was organized by the shareholders signing the articles of association and the organization certificate furnished for this purpose by the comptroller of the currency.
After the above named instruments were executed, the shareholders held an election for the first Board of Directors, which re- sulted in the following named gentlemen being chosen: J. H. Bear, Israel Laucks, William H. Emig, Clay E. Lewis, Frederick Greiman, Albert Smyser, John Fahs Jr., Si- las H. Forry, Daniel Kraber, Charles A. Klinefelter, H. B. Schroeder, Solomon My- ers and George W. Ruby.
October. 1875, the bank was chartered, and on Monday, November 29, 1875, the bank was opened for the transaction of business. Jacob H. Baer, was elected president and M. J. Skinner, cashier.
On May 5, 1877, the Board unanimously deposed Mr. Baer, and on May 12, 1877, Al- bert Smyser was elected president, and so continues.
M. J. Skinner died January 11, 1879, and January 13, 1879, Clay E. Lewis was elected cashier, and so continues.
During the existence of the bank, in addi-
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THE PENNSYLVANIA GERMANS.
tion to the men who were first elected as di- rectors, David Smyser, Samuel Lichtenber- ger, William H. Bott, Frederick Klinepeter and James A. Dale, have served in that ca- pacity.
The present Board of Directors is com- posed of Albert Smyser, Samuel S. Sprenkle, William Eyster, Michael Miller, Israel Laucks, William H. Miller, Charles A. Kline- felter, Albert Smyser, John Zellar, E. L. Schroder, John Fahs, Solomon Myers and Frederick Greiman.
Both the presidents, but neither of the cashiers, were Pennsylvania Germans; al- though Mr. C. E. Lewis, the present cashier, speaks the dialect.
Of some twenty-six different persons who have served as directors (including the present board), twenty-four are of German descent, and all except one are Pennsylvania Germans. Of about thirty different persons who have served this bank, either as officers, directors, or employees, at least twenty-five were of German descent.
The Drovers' and Mechanics' National Bank of York, was organized May 22, 1883, with N. F. Burnham as president and J. V. Giesey as cashier. The first board of direc- tors were Samuel Lichtenberger, Edward Smyser, H. J. Gresly, Dr. B. F. Spangler, W. H. Bond, George F. Shive, Israel F. Gross, Frederick Grothe, Jacob Brodbeck and George W. Holtzinger. Edward Smyser has since died; H. J. Gresly and Dr. B. F. Spang- ler have resigned, and Frank Loucks and Samuel Rutter have taken their places. A glance at the names shows that all the officers except the president, and all the directors ex- cept perhaps, one, are Pennsylvania Ger. mans.
THE DIALECT.
This is made up, chiefly, of words from several of the foreign German dialects, such' as the Allemannisch, the Pfälzischehe Sch- wäbisch, etc., as well as some from the Ger- man proper, or south German; and, as spoken here, with a rather free admixture of English. Its mixed character is, of course, owing to the mixed character of the original German settlers; people, as we have seen, from all parts of Germany. It is sometimes claimed to be a true dialect of the south German-a language more prolific of dialects than, per- haps, any other-but strictly this claim is hardly well-founded, inasmuch as the term dialect would seem to imply a somewhat nearer relationship to the parent language than the Pennsylvania German does to the south, or high German. It might, perhaps, not inappropriately be ranked as a collateral
rather than a lineal relation of the pure Ger- man. Or, if lineal, then a descendant in the second, rather than the first degree. With this single qualification (somewhat reluct- antly introduced), there can be no more faith- ful description of the real character of Penn- sylvania German and its relation to south German than that given by Prof. J. H. Stahr, in a very ably written article on the subject, and printed in the Mercersburg Review, Octo- ber, 1870, from which (with his kind permis- sion) the following quotations are made:
It might naturally he supposed that the Pennsyl- vania dialect would undergo important changes during the lapse of so many years, so as to vary considerably from its original form or forms. Dia- lects change rapidly, particularly when there is no written language to keep them in proper bounds, * * * But that the type of Pennsylvania German is south German, and that no changes of any im- portauce except the introduction of English words, have taken place, is put beyond all doubt, by the fact that there are now dialects spoken in south Germany, which, not only bear a striking resem- blance to Pennsylvania Germau, but are really almost identically the same, particularly the Pfälzer dialect. * * * We find these different dialects throughout the entire bistory of the German nation. from the earliest period down to the present time. * * * Pennsylvania German, as a High German dialect, having its origin and history altogether sep- arate from the Dutch, gives expression to a partic ular phase of German life, molded by the plastic hand of culture, custom, soil, climate, etc. As such it has, perhaps, elements of strength, advantage and excellencies not now found in the literary High German; whilst it is no doubt also deficient in many of the best traits of the cultivated High German. * * * If we ask, now, What is the literary value of Pennsylvania German? it is not difficult to find an answer. As its construction is simple, and less involved and its words shorter, it is, of course, more fluent than High German. It flows easily and naturally, so that it seems to be the easiest thing in the world to talk on the part of Pennsylvania Ger- mans, whilst High German is rather precise and cumbrous. * * High German may be com- pared to a well-trained horse, saddled and bridled, moving regularly, according to the most approved principles of horsemanship; whilst Pennsylvania German reminds us of an unbridled steed careering over the fields, for his own gratification, in joyous freedom. High German bears us along with the stately step of the regular soldier, in close ranks, according to the drill of some famous sergeant, whilst Pennsylvania German allows the freedom of the route step, and puts us more at ease. The straightforwardness of the Peunsyivania Germans, their honesty and want of ceremony, are all ex- pressed in their dialect; must be expressed there if the principles above laid down are correct. Let it be borne in mind that these people are Germans. among whom "vows bind less than clasped hands;" people who bate hypocrisy, deceit and pride of every kind. If some of them have degenerated, "the more's the pity." (He might have added but such degeneration is not peculiar to them.) * * * Now, just as we find the people do we find their language, and neither can be understood without understanding the other.
But is Pennsylvania German adapted or qualified, if we may use that word, to become a literary lan- guage? We do not hesitate to answer in the nega- tive; and yet we do not wish to be classed with
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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY.
those who sneer at Pennsylvania German poems and call them mere jargon. The dialect has now its literary language-High German-and this answers every purpose as fully as if Pennsylvania German itself were exalted so as to become a literary lan- guage. It must, therefore, remain a dialect. but as such it is not excluded from the domain of literature. It has its office as a dialect, a work, a mission to which we have already referred. It is to give expression to a particular phase of German life; to serve as the organ or mouth-piece of feel- ings and states of mind which lie deeper, become more special than those expressed by high German philosophy, theology, and the loftier themes of poetry lie beyond its domain; but it claims, and has a right to claim, a domain of its own, within which popular songs, lyric poetry in different forms may appear from time to time, manifesting a poetical power in the bosom of a single community which sings what is peculiar to it in strains as sweet as those in which Goethe expressed the consciousness of the whole German nation. It has always been thus. Popular songs and popular poetry are made, not for the people, but by the people; whether this be done by the whole community, so that poetry grows insensibly, as was the case in the first clas- sical period of German literature, or whether one individual becomes the organ of the rest, and thus expresses what all teel. * *
* There are ele- ments of feeling, phases of life, which appear only in a certain sphere, and these can best be expressed in particular dialects. Thus we find Scotch poetry, than which none can have charms more sweet to the native of fair Caledonia, or to him who has learned to understand and appreciate this dialect. We find in German literature a Hebel and a Clau- dius, who labored in similar fields; and we have to-day Fritz Reuter and others who make use of particular dialects, and carry the hearts of the peo- ple with them as they could in no other way. It is not surprising, therefore, that the attempt should be made here in America. Indeed, the only wonder is that it was not made much earlier."
The reason would seem obvious enough. High German scholars, as a class-the regu- lars, those who mount and ride the "well- trained horse, saddled and bridled, according to the most approved principles of horseman- ship," or who move along "with the stately step of the regular soldier, " have always been influenced by a prejudice (against the dialects, and especially the Pennsylvania German), similar to that cherished by the soldiers of the regular army against the "homespun militia," and, consequently, they not only refrained themselves, from speaking or writ- ing in the despised "mongrel," but sneered at every attempt to do so on the part of others, until finally, Dr. Harbaugh, whose heart was ever with the common people; who never be- came ashamed of his rustic origin, nor forgot the debt of gratitude and reverence he owed to his plain, honest and faithful Christian parents, and who, though he commenced his studies in the rugged furrow, attained to the first and highest scholastic honors, boldly defied the ridicule and narrow-hearted con- tempt of many of his learned contemporaries, and gave vent to his feelings on his homely
harp while singing to us, "'S Alt Schulhaus an der Krik " and "Heemweh" in the dear old dialect he had learned at his mother's knee. In the production of these and other poems in the dialect he became at once the pioneer in Pennsylvania German literature, as well as an inspiration to all others who have since attempted or produced anything worthy of the cause.
It may not be deemed out of place here, to give some illustrations showing the similarity of our Pennsylvania German (when properly written) to several of the foreign German dialects, and first the Allemannisch, a dialect which is spoken in that nook or corner of the Rhine between Frickthal and what was formerly Sundgau and beyond, even as far as to the Alps, throughout Schwarzwald and a great part of Swabia. Take, for example, a few stanzas from Hebel's "Der Wegweiser."
" Weisch wo der Weg zum Mehlfass isch, Zum volle Fass im Morgeroth?
Mit 'Pflneg und Charst dur's Weizefeld Bis Stern und Stern am Himmel stoht."
Whilst there are some strange words and forms of expression here, we readily recog- nize the familar Pennsylvania G. " zum " for the H. G. zu dem, and our broad "isch " for the polite German ist.
" Me hackt se lang der Tag eim hilft, Me luegt nit um un blibt nit stob; Druf goht der Weg dur's Schürtenn Der Küche zu, do hemmer's jo!"
Here we have "hackt " for hanet, " druf " for darauf, and, " do hemmer's jo!" instead of the stilted H. G. "da, (or hier) haben wir es, ja wohle! "Isch," is peculiar to certain lo- calities and even families; in others they use iss.
" Doch wandle du in Gottesfurcht! I roth der, was i rothe cha; Sel Plätzli het e gheime Thür Und's sin no Sachen ehne dra."
In this last stanza we find our familar "sel," for the German solches; and "s'sin " for es sind. In the three stanzas there are, say, eighty-four words, about thirty of which are Allemannisch, and the rest High German.
In Alt Bayerisch we find such words as bissel, ebbes, glei, hi (for hin), is (for ist), kumma, mei, nimma, nix, raar, rari, sell, sell'n, thu, etc.
In the Schwäbisch we meet with many quite as familar to the Pennsylvania German reader: e. g. Allabot (every whipstitch), bitzla (biss- ili), Hutzla, Krotteschinder (a cheap pocket knife for urchins), Schtoffel (Christopher), freyli, Freed, derbey, nix, Bix (gun), Bua, drumm, Hanswurst, Jammerthal, knitz (mis- chievous), Briefle, Alleweil, Schnee, Got-
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THE PENNSYLVANIA GERMANS.
ziger, 'n Gotziges, etc. Gascha (Gosch), Kotz (mouth), Luder, namma, nemma, nau, sott (for solt), Schlag (a whipping), Mad, Mädchen, etc.
Plattdeutsch bears, perhaps less resem- blance to our dialect than any other; and yet in one of Fritz Reuter's latest works (in Plattdeutsch) are found not a few words and phrases in very common use among Pennsyl- vania Germans: such as Fedder, Knewwel, krigt, so seggt er, kum, Frede (n), Dochter, Döchter, Anner, sin, hadd, grad, un, de, Brill, Wohr (heit), Deuker (Deuhenker, the mild for devil), woll, kinner, Latern, Johr, Kop, Ver- stännig, iss, Scharmant, Wunner, Disch, Kirl, (Kerl), Kleder, Jeder, Wedder, Lewen, gewen, dorwedder, etc.
The Vienna dialect also abounds in words substantially identical, both in spelling and pronunciation, with those of similar signi- fications in the Pennsylvania German, e. g., abg'schafft, abg'ledert, abg'legt abg'rennt ; a'lege, ablege, a'schaffe, a'g'schafft, a'schpinne, a'g'schpunne ; allerweil, allzeit, allemol, allebuff ; a'narre, a'g'narrt ; a'stelle, a'g'stellt ; balwirn, Bed'l, Bagaschi, Bett- brunzer, Bind'I, bred, breder, Brennessel, Deck'l, desmal, derweil, Dreck, dreckig, Drecksau, Dunner; ebba, ehnder, Fid'l fid'In, fix, fixunfertig ; Gaff gaffen, Gänzhautig, Ge- plapper ; Hack, hacken, Hemad, heund, heundigs-dags ; is; kaput, kitzlich ; Laab, Lauskerl, Lis'l (Lisi) ; maustott, Mich'el, Miirschaam ; Nix (Mir nix un dir nix), Aud'l, Nud'1 ; drucker ; Ox, Ox' kopf ; pfutsch, Pud'l, Pud' lerei, Purzelbam, Rapp'lkop, rapp'lköpf- isch. Rudi (Rudolph), Rumm'1; Sack, Saper- ment; Sau, Saukerl, Schib'I, Schinder, Scluck- er, Schliffel, Schleck, Schlecker ; Schmier- käs, Schmunzler, Schnaderganz, Schnauz- bart, Schneeball'n, Schnitz, Schunk'n, Sun, Summer, Ald weibersummer; Tapper, Tripps- trill ; umschmeise, umschnappe, umadum, umbatzle, unhaspel'n, umkumma, Unkraut.
It is to be observed that neither in the Ger- man nor any of its dialects, does the digraph, sh, occur (as in the English). The intermedi- ate c is always present ; thus, sch. The Ger- man sound of h is hah (or haw), and that of s is the same as in English, and the two will no more combine than those of s and f. Authors who attempt to force such a combination by writing such words as Schuul, "Shuul," Schnee, "Shnee," Schö, shay, etc., are in error. They constitute what is known as the "Pit Schweffelbrenner" school, of whom E. H. Rauch is the leader. But even he (like the rest of us), is, as yet hardly consistent with himself ; for, although he spells scho, shay, schnee, shnay, and so on, when he comes
to write his own (sulphurous) nom-de-plume, he spells it Sch(weffelbrenner). But using the Latin letters ay as German letters, s-h-a y, must be pronounced shoy, S-h-n-a-y, shnoy, than which nothing could be much more absurd.
It is much to be regretted that Prof. Horn, and probably a few other German scholars, who have written and published more or less in the dialect, should have followed this mode of spelling, which seems to be done rather for the purpose of bringing the dialect down to the reading capacity and limited compre- hension of the most illiterate (half-English- half-"Dutch ") mongrel, than of keeping it up where it really belongs, among the hon- ored dialects of the pure German.
As practical illustrations of the Schweffel- brenner style, specimens are given below from Prof. Horn's otherwise excellent chapter on the Pennsylvania-Germans in the recently published history of Lehigh County.
"Ducter in der kronke shtoob. Well, was is letz mit der Annie ?
"Mooter om side fum bet. Eei ich wais g'wiss net wo's failed. Se hut gaclang'd geshter der gons dawg un aw die letsht naucht, hut kupwae un fever, un es coomd mer aw fore era hols waer g'shwulla. Ducter (Feeld der pools). Yaw, se sheind a wennich fever- ish tzu si. Annie, weis mer amohl dit'zoong. Yaw, so is 's. Hut de Annie ebbas g'essa den morya?" etc .- Rauch.
It would be "love's labor lost" to criticise the above further than to point out one ab- surdity in it as a sample of at least a score. It will be observed that the Duc -- (why not Duck?) ter, is represented as inquiring of Moot -- (why not Moott) er, what is the matter with Annie. And that "Mooter" in her an- swer is represented as trying to say (among other things) that she thinks Annie's throat is swollen. But by misusing o for a (aw) in Hals, (throat), we have Hols, (Holz, wood), instead of throat; so that literally, the mother is made to tell the doctor that she thinks Annie's wood is swollen. And, further on, that she is afraid from this, Annie has diph- theria!
From Prof. Horn's "Pensilfawnish Deitsh Buch" (Part II, p. 70), the following is taken :
DIALOGUE IN THE PALATINATE DIALECT.
In order to show how much the language spoken in the Palatinate, the section of country from which the Pennsylvania Germans came, resembles the Pennsylvania-German, we make the following brief extract from "Pälzishe G'schichte," a book written by Franz von Kobell, and published at Mu- nich in 1863.
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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY.
Goost'l is a young lady using the Palatinate dia- lect. Philip speaks high German.
Des shtik is do gewa zu baweisa, dos se in d'r Pols 'aw so shwetsa, os we mer do in Pensilfawni. *Goost'l .- 'Och Philip, mit d'm goota Sems'r hob ich de dawg'n shpos g'hot. des mus ich d'r arzala. 'Er hut m'r wid'r fum heirawta forgebob'lt; un um 'n los zu wara, sawg ich, a olti baws' de Kot'ren, het m'r g'sawcht, won ich heirawta wil. sul ich yu d' farshtond prefa fuh mein'm zookinf- tiga mon. don won m'r do nit goot zomashtima data, war's niks. D'rnuch'r frocht 'r, we ich don des awfonga wul. Yetst hawb ich g'sawcht, de baws het m'r rats'l gaba, de sul ich rota lusa, un on dem det ich 's kena, un sawg 'm de rats'l, de hut awch de Kotrin warklich selb'r gemocht.
Philip .- Noon daw bin ich begerig, awber ich bita dich, zal nicht dorouf, dos ich se herousbringa. Goost'l .- Ei bewawr. Yets geb ocht. 'S sin drei. Des arshta is, wos is des?
Zoo Weisaborg im Dum Do wochst 'n gali blum, Un war de gal blum wil hoba Dar mus gons Weisaborg farshloga.
Gel is hibsh?
Now, in order to show how much the lan- gnage (the Pfälzer dialect) spoken in the Palatinate, as given above by Prof. Horn, does not resemble the dialect as found in the very book from which he professes to have correctly quoted, the corresponding part from Franz von Kobell is here given liter- ally :
Gust'l .- Ach Philipp, mit dem gute Semser, hab' ich die Tag'n Spasz g'hat, desz musz ich der erzähle. Er hot mer wiedder vum Heurate' vorgebablt un, um 'n los zu werre', sag ich, a alte Bas', die Katrin, hätt mer gsacht, wann ich heurate will, soll ich jo de' Verstand prüfe vun mein'm künftige' Mann, dann wann mer do nit gut zamestimme thäte, wär's nix. Dernocher frocht er, wie ich dann desz a'fange woll. Jetz't hab ich gsacht, die Bas' hätt mer Räthsl gebe', die sol ich rothe'losse, un' an dem thät ich's kenne', un sag'm die Räthsl, die hot aach die Kathrin werklich selber gemacht.
Philip .- Nun da bin ich begierig, aber ich bitte dich, zähl nicht darauf, dasz ich sie herausbringe. Gustl .- Ei bewahr. Jetz geb, Acht, 's sin drei. Desz erschte is, was is desz ?
Zu Weiszeborg im Dum, Do wachst e' geeli Blum, Un' wer die geel' Blum will habe, Der musz, ganz Weiszeborg verschlage. Gel' is hübsch ?
The intelligent reader will instantly ob- serve how the spelling of almost every word in Prof. Horn's quotation, has been
*Gust'l tells Philip Berger about the fun she had with Cas- per Semser (a wine-merchant) who had been talking matrimony to her; and how, to get rid of him, she had told Semser that old Kathrin had told her, if she contemplated such a step, she should be sure to first test the good sense (smartness) of her future (kunftige) husband; and if he didn't stand the test, then "war's nix " (no good). That Semser had asked her how she was going to go about that. To which she had replied, that Kathrin had given her three riddles, which she should propound to her suit- or, and from his answers to these she would know; and further, she had told Semser that Kathrin had made these riddles her- self. The first riddle was the above :
At Weishurg in a dome, There grows a yellow flower ; He who would pluck that flower, Must break the Weisburg-dome.
Answer .- An egg; the yolk is the flower, the shell the dome.
changed from the original to make it corres- pond with that of the "Schweffelbrenner" school. Even so with the part spoken by Philip which, as he (Prof. H.) says, was in High German. The truth is, even the part spoken by Gustl, as written by Kobell, is much nearer High German than the writings of Nadler, also an author and poet in the same dialect. It may be that to write the Pennsylvania dialect as written by Rauch and his school, is much easier than to write it as here contended to be the proper way, but that can be no excuse for writing it in such a manner as to bring it into contempt and reproach. It may be, too, that in some respects the "Schweffel- brenner style approximates more nearly the ordinary style of speaking and pronouncing the dialect, but what of that? What good author would, for a moment, think of writing any language or dialect literally, as it may be commouly spoken ?
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