Black Beauty
On the morning before the election, Jerry was putting me into the shafts, when Dolly came into the yard sobbing and crying, with her little blue frock and white pinafore spattered all over with mud.
“Why, Dolly, what is the matter?”
“Those naughty boys,” she sobbed, “have thrown the dirt all over me, and called me a little raga—raga—”
“They called her a little 'blue' ragamuffin, father,” said Harry, who ran in looking very angry; “but I have given it to them; they won't insult my sister again. I have given them a thrashing they will remember; a set of cowardly, rascally 'orange' blackguards.”
Jerry kissed the child and said, “Run in to mother, my pet, and tell her I think you had better stay at home to-day and help her.”
Then turning gravely to Harry:
“My boy, I hope you will always defend your sister, and give anybody who insults her a good thrashing—that is as it should be; but mind, I won't have any election blackguarding on my premises. There are as many 'blue' blackguards as there are 'orange', and as many white as there are purple, or any other color, and I won't have any of my family mixed up with it. Even women and children are ready to quarrel for the sake of a color, and not one in ten of them knows what it is about.”
“Why, father, I thought blue was for Liberty.”
“My boy, Liberty does not come from colors, they only show party, and all the liberty you can get out of them is, liberty to get drunk at other people's expense, liberty to ride to the poll in a dirty old cab, liberty to abuse any one that does not wear your color, and to shout yourself hoarse at what you only half-understand—that's your liberty!”
“Oh, father, you are laughing.”
“No, Harry, I am serious, and I am ashamed to see how men go on who ought to know better. An election is a very serious thing; at least it ought to be, and every man ought to vote according to his conscience, and let his neighbor do the same.”
Based on this extract, explain the meaning of the words 'ragamuffin' and 'blackguards' in the context of Dolly and Harry's experience. What do these words, along with the references to 'blue' and 'orange', tell you about the atmosphere surrounding the election?
💡 Writing Tips
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When defining words, always look at the surrounding sentences for clues. Think about who is speaking, who they are describing, and the specific situation (in this case, an election). The colours 'blue' and 'orange' are often used to represent political parties or factions, so consider how this adds to the insults exchanged.
📝 Sample Answer
In this context, a 'ragamuffin' (as used to describe Dolly) means a scruffy, dirty, or dishevelled child, often one who is poorly dressed. The boys called her a 'blue ragamuffin' because she was wearing a blue frock, aligning her with one political party and using it as an insult.
'Blackguards' refers to disrespectful, rude, or dishonourable individuals. Harry uses this term to describe the boys who attacked Dolly, specifically calling them 'orange blackguards,' indicating they belong to the opposing political faction.
The use of these words, combined with the 'blue' and 'orange' colours, suggests a tense, partisan, and volatile atmosphere during the election. It implies that political divisions run deep, even spilling into children's behaviour, leading to name-calling, physical aggression, and a general lack of civility based merely on perceived political allegiance.
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