The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1869-04-14
X q 9 a i TT e. M 3 .

semi -colons, etc., were invented to puzzle
honest people, and that they have no ser-
Gus meaning in practice The following
verse (which may be either simple state
ment OF commonplace truths or tissue of
quaint lies, according to the manner of
punctuating) ought to disprove any such
erroneous notion. We will give the lying
version first:
I've seen the sun all on IL blaze OF fire;
I've seen house high AS the moon. op,l
higher;
I've seen the sun ut twelve o'clock at night.
I've seen the man that saw this wondYo,,s
sight"
Now alter the punctuation:
I've seen the sun; all on blaze of fire
We seen house; high as the moon, and
higher
Eve seen the sun; at twelve O'Clock Mt night
Eve seen the man that saw this wondrous
sight,
A celebrated will Case in England all
tnrned upon tho question, whether there
WIS dash between two words. A certain
nobiernan had left will, provid;ng that A.
B. should have oil the black and white
horses owned by the testator. Now If the
legatee was to have an the blnck hcrses, and
all the white horses, he would inherit a
handsome fortune; fog the nobleman was
horse-fancier, and had many very valuable
black, and many valuable white horses But
II the legatse was to have only the black
nd-white borsos, ii. e. she piod horses, he
would get only two or three spotted ponies.
So the whole matter turned npon the exist
ence Of one or two dashss in the Instrument
OF writing. We suspect thelcgatee thought
that punctuation was important.
A mau WAS walking along in Loudon ono
morning, and was anxious for drink, snd
equally anaious for shave; but as he had
only foErpence- -half-penny, he was at loss
to know low he was to be accommodated.
when suddenly he saw bnrbers s:gN,
which seemed to read as follows:
What do you think?
James McIlhcny
Shaves for penny,
And throws in y drink
tic entered the shop Mt once, got shay s,t, |
took drink, and called for his change. Mt
the same lime handing his fourpence- half
penny to tho barber ''Change!" said the
barber; there's no change due you. You
have not paid half yous bill" The man
protested that the sign informed him that
shave and drink could both be procured |
there for penny. "OhH' said McIlheay,
'you'vo read it wrong; come and SEQ it |
again" The examination was made. and it |
WAS discovered that the sign read thus:
@'What! do you think
James McIlheny
Shaves for q Eenny
And throws IN u cirink?"
Which IS The same rs saying: eff yor DO
think so, you're vastly mistaken"
Few people have any idea of how aluch |
tho pzinter has to do in the way of pune
tuation for many of our very best writer's.
A student at college once wrote theme
without punctuating it at all; and at the
bottom he put great many periods. eo!onss,
buted at the professors pleasure"
-O
Peters Musical Revie,c for April, is to |
hand, and, in addition to fifteen pages of
select reading matter, contains the follow
ing new music: CANT I Sweet? Rest, Oar
ling, Rest; I'm Still Friend to You; He
Wipes the Tear from Every Eye; Forest
Glade March; Damask Rose Waltz; Golden1
Sunset Mazui "a" Music is generally con-
sidcred expensive, but when such quantity
is furnished for the small sum of thirty
cents, it ceases to be II luxury, and even the
poorest may sing, play, and be happy. Our
musical friends will do we'll to examine this
work, and we feel confident that thirty cents
sent 10 the publishers for a sample copy
will yield them larger return for their in
vestment than any similar outlay they can
make. Send for n copy, or get your news
dealer to get one for you, and we will qua