Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1858-08-07
Monumental Inscriptions.

TO The Editor Of Phonir
lnotcc in the Picnic of recent date description
of the new monument to the memory Of Ethan Allen,
copied from the Burlington Free Press. The writer
says It was the intention to make the inscriptions with
out punctuation, which intention was carried out
three sides, but that the fourth by mistake bad the
usual marks. Regret was expressed at the mishdp,
the writer affirming that the highest authority in such
matters totally cschcw all punctuation In such in
scriptons Now, although it may not be impossible
that such practice may have acquired something of
the force OF law among nrtzans, yet that II should be
accepted and pass unrebuked by public writer whose
profession calls for constant application of the gram
NAUTICAL rules of punctuation seems to me rather
markable fany such custom has obtained the
could scarcely have escaped the editors attention had
he given the matter moments thought. This can
be nothing more nor less than the literary dsqualf
cation of those whose practice created the rule. 1t is
certainly no strange thing to see inscriptions in grave
yards not only without punctuation, but with every
cenceivcable error of punctuation, and of spelling too
ms to that matter. But should wrong spelling by IL
literae letter cutters establish rule that their sue
cessors in NIL time need yield no allegiance to John
son, Webster or Worcester2 Sign painters also are
not always fully initiated into the mysteries Of SPELL
ing and punctuation, and amusing discrepancies with
high authority are noticed by every body, having mn
eye for such things, in almost every village. But
never knew that the rules Of grammar confessed
" thrown overheard ms of authority, If so be, the
printer could but find out what they are
II general custom as to punctuation, in writing
should bind us, imagine printers would have COM
pantvely easy time they can, by great good luck
get piece OF manuscript egbly written and proper
" punctuated and broken into paragraphs, it is un-
doubleday god send to them. To supply these de-
hcences so ms to make anything like sense is often
greater labor by far, than all the head scratching Of
nm who claims the authorship. The following note
was once handed to the minister, the custom was
to be read to the congregation before PRAYER :-"John
Smith having gone to sea his wife desires PRAYERS for
his safe return" AS it contained no punctuation
whatever, the good parson was Obliged 10 SUNNY II
best he could, and accordingly read it with comma
after the words "Smith" and "wife" The pious wo-
man. on hearing this, quite suddenly arrived at due
appreciation ofhe utility of proper punctuation marks
Many professed literary men make use Of scarcely
any punctuation, in manuscript except the dah
which is thrown in where pause Of any kind is re-
quted. But of course they would never forgive the
printer he TO give it as il is written If utaor
men, then neglect the usual punc,u,,ion bo,y ,r,oi
more might we expect uneducateJ .tope cu,,ors aud
sign painters to omit the same marks or 10 ,i,o h.
enoneously. Book binders anita ,,or r,oto ,t,o
omission in lettering the boc ks or hooks n. do o.a
rrnvers in their work and far tho vor, o,,,.;o,,s
those no gave currency to the nractco ware , al
ucatcd up to the proper standard This ;,nor;nr .,
established grammatical rules whether !, no a., ,nnn,,
ments. sign boards. or other exhibition, NJ ,ho
art, lift has the support Of the bicbes, .r,hor;,, J.;
such matters" INNS, reccive tho codo,,,o,;o,, - N
faithful diseples Of Iindle,, Mrrr.r :, a.,a,.i,'
seems strange for scholar. IN r,a,,o. ,r,,,,.
own peculiar domain. IN rc,ire hor,ro ,ho -.
,,,,,. r IT, -. ~ ~ N'"ue At