The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1840-11-03
From the ". o. Picayune.

RECORDERS COURT-SEcoND MUNICIPALITY
The School Master Abroad. Alexander Persse, a
who looked like long used, badly bound edition
Of Essays on lntemperance, was found on the Shelf
rather on the banquette, in Philippa street on
Wednesday night. He was livery well, thank YOU !"
Persse teaches the young idea how to shoot but find
ing that he could not keep pace we suppose with the
march Of intellect he lay himself down on the ban
quette either to store his mind with new inspiration
or to arrange the ideas with which his mind was al
ready stored and prepare for another start off in the
"Who is here I" said the Waterman when he came
up to Persse, stirring him up with his long pole
"Who is here 2"
launching at once into the Of his vocation, and
| taking the tone of his language from the "shop"
"You is high" said the watchman.
81 deny sir, that am high said Perssc-"All our
authors, sir, who have written the language agree
in saying that high is adjective because sir il ex-
presses condition quality now sir, am Alexan-
der Persse, nouna noun proper, sir, of the first
person. masculine gender singular number-see here,
old fellow, let US drink-and AMI am, sir nomna-
tive case to the verb drink. Now, sir confess your
error whom you say I am high--am mere adjective.
"Come along to the watch house, said Charley
aNo, sir said Persse, II shall decline it, and in
ctymoogy thus sir, come, came, come Now, sir, the
conjugaton is equally simple thus-I come thou
CONTEST, he, she or It cometh or comes"
"This here's all nonsense" said Charley, who was
getting out Of patience with the learned grammarian.
Eyes, sir" said Persse, 'you are perfectly right
nonsense is compound word, combining both ne
gave and afirmative-ths, sir one of the idoms
peculiar to our language"
| Il wont hear no more Of it," said Charley; and
making lever Of his right arm he raised Persse and
put him on his legs in perpendicular position.
/ "That-that," said Persse has been done with
out violating in the slightest degree the recognized
rules Of grammar; per example, rise, thou risest'
| Charley, without saying another word, placed his
arm around that Of Persse's retainer and walked
him of to the watch house.
"Your actions sir" said Persse TO Charley, "are
those of scholar, and if mistake not are agreeable
to the second rule in Syntax which says that
nouns Of the singular number joined together by
one or more copuative conjunctons--your arm and
mine as in the present Case, for insance-must have
VERBS and pronouns agreeing with them in the
plural number-so that instead Of you Co. it is
go. You understand, don't you2 know you do"
Yes, understands, you're blamed fool, said
Charley; and In minute or two more Persses
was on the books Of the watch house.
"Persse said the Recorder to him yesterday morn
ing "you were found lying the banquette.h
Yes may it please the court" said Persse, was
illustrating the neuter verb to e."
What business do you follow, Mr. Persse - said
the Recorder.
II professor, sir of the polite languages" said
Persse.
"Your language was any thing but polite in the
watch house last night" said the Recorder.
81 may have been thou maycst have BEEN he, she
it, at period Of their lives may have been in
subunctive mood represented under certain con-
dtion," said Persse.
~ shall let you 70 this time said the Recorder.
"Verbum sat sapienti, the vulgar translation
has it, N S. said Persse, and he left the Office.