Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1882-07-21

his honor the expression that he sympa-
thized with his depraved wife and family,
which rival print dwelt on with salts
faction rs "a melancholy instance OF nd
vancing imbecility" History does not
record whether this modification was due
to the unconscious ingenuity of the re-
porter or printer. Sometimes, however,
the mistakes which occur nre 30 clearly
the work of the compositor that denial
will not avail, and he will then, too
often Justly, pass on the blame to the
abominable caligraphy of the writer. If
n certain pressman, for instance, hau
written "copper-plate' hand daily
paper in its obituary notice of distin-
guished continental character, referring
to the time at which the subject OF the
notice left his alma mater, would not
have informed its readers that at the age
of nineteen he left his "alum water.
Nor, under similar circumstances, would
London daily, in m advertisement OF
the recent International Temperance Ex-
hibition at the Agricultural Hall, have
informed the public that by visit to
the teetotal show they could see 'strong
drink from the foreign countries, in
stead of "strange drinks" etc. 1t is, on
the other hand open to question whether
the best caligraphy ever produced, would
have prevented reverend gentleman,
who in sermon at Cardiff spoke of "wo-
men clothed with sanctity,' being re-
ported, owing to an unfortunate trans
position of single letter, as alluding to
women clothed with "scantity" Young
member of the British House OF Rep--
resentatives, much addicted to the use OF
inflated diction, expressed at a meeting
Of his constituents wish that he had
window in his bosom that they might see
the workings of his heart, Among other
blunders which hastily composed
report of his address contained was a
substitution of "widow" for window. y
Nowhere are more ludicrous blunders
to be met with than in the compositions
of advertisers, due, no doubt, in some
measure to the restraint imposed by
limited space, and it is scarcely possible
to look through the columns devoted to
these in any of the principle daily papers
without meeting numerous instances
of the inability of many persons to state
exactly what they wish to announce, and
OF very loose Use OF words and phrases,
frequently giving rise to amusing am
bguity. Thus the Times announces,
"fwo sisters want Washing" and the
VI pupiAN
propriety are evidenced by his adyer-
tisement, "Twenty boys wanted to strip.
We are aware, too, of the existence of the
enfant terrible for whom was required
"a handsome Shetland pony suitable fol
a child with long name and tail, and
we have heard of the lady whose idea OF
her own physique is ingeniously con
veyed in the intimation that she has fol
disposal "a splendid lady's gold watch.
Women OF peculiar personal appearance
too, occasionally engage in barter of this
class, for recently purchaser was want
ed for 'a black highly-ornamented lady'f
fan" When the vender is of the othel
sex we have for sale ga massive gentle
mans gold chain, "a most reliable gen
tleman's gold watch" or ''a rich gentle
mans gold chain" No doubt some o
these who adopt this style of expression
are ready to enter into defence of it b!
an argument respecting adjectives an'
their relation to nouns. But what excus
will be advanced by the author of thu
, following, which appeared Il few month";
ago in the Times, showing on the part o
r the advertiser some extraordinary idea
I respecting horsetiesh "For sale, four
wheeled covered business horse an
car ?''-AU the Year Round.