Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1885-08-22
THE FATE OF A coRRECToR.

Rr,a~H for n. Register.
am rot learned man and never pre-
tended to be; suchirstrrction as is given at
a little country school is all that | can
boast and that is not much. But was al
ways fond of reading ard have wandered,
perhaps aImlessly through many fields OF
literature. One tavorite lettering place Of
mine is the dictionary, and once the war1 of
Dean Afford and G. W. Moon or of WOi'e
and Hall, or those Of other mighty verbal
SITS, interested me very much Wnen one
of those doughty warriors would tell me that
the use of superlstives was the sign OF a
weak mir believed him; aud when the
same warrior would fly into violent pas
sion, such passion as only 'purist ia Ca
pable, and ssy that the use of certain
word in certain sense was the "quintes.
seuce of popinjsy vulgarity' l failed to see
how roundly be was bersting himself and |
think he did, too.
Though have termed myself correct
or" am not one, neither by nature nor
choice; experience has taught me that one
of the best of the lower rules of life is
mind your own business" Ii is often said
that man who has no enemies does not
amount 10 much. l shall not dispute it
here, but merely remark that if any one
wishes to become great by making enemies
know of no better mesus than to become
q correcror. | was forced into the Office
once for a brief period, and the remem-
brsrce of that time causes me to grow mel
ancboly, though my story may not seem so
to others, for as the cynical Frenchmsn
says, there is something not displeasing to
US in the misfortunes of OUT friends.
called one evening in the long ago on
Alice. She was all the world to me then,
and as dainty a little creature as ever
loving eyes rested upon. Her hair
had the sheen Of gold aud was worn
not smooth and prim, nor built up srchItec,
turaly, but to show the shape OF her head
without dishguring it; her teeth were clean
ar d white, her face fair and her garments
draped her person gracefully ana did not
call attention to it by bold eolors or gro
tesuue cut. The evening in question was
beautiful; the month was June, and the
balmy air was sweet with the fragrance OF
roses. asked Alice if she would take
walk with me, and she consented Arm in
arm We sauntsred along the moon-lit street,
and was happy, very happy. We mel
Miss Sally Hopton and stood conversing
with her q few minutes. Alice told Miss
Hopton that she expected two young ladies
from another town, her cousins to arrive on
~ ell a. VaaNk
HORTON invited Alice aud me to call on her
soon, and added: Be sure and bring then
cousins Of yours with you when you come:
As we resumed our walk dainty little
Alice shuddered and said: sally is nice
gi,l, but her grammar and language is
shocking-positiveiy fightful.'
The Hoptons we're not always rich, l
rephed land Sally had MOI many sdvan.
tages when young. And after all, added
in large, benevolent way, the substance
of what one says is OF more importance than
the form. We all, continued, making
nv speech broad, because did not wish to
point out the slip she had made in her own
grammar while exclsimiug against Miss
Hopton's, I'VE all misuse words and abuse
grammar at times, even the most highly
educated of US.
why, Sam" (my name is SsmueD do
you mean to say that ever make mis-. .ke3
of that nature2' She was graduate from
Madam Celestine's Female Institute tt-
male institute!) and prided herself on her
accomplishments
Sometimes" vas my mild reply.
Sam" she solsmnly exclaimed, when
ever Won detect ne in mistake you must
correct ne at once.
But. Alice q corrector IS q common nut
ssnce, and do not want TO be nut
ssnce."
you must, though" she answered, giving
me little shake and charming look that
was set to the music of her laugh as she
added, 81 command that you be my correc'
TORN. chief; you are such an old antigua
rian; have read so many musty books, thst
! shall feel safe in trusting you.
With blind honesty took her at her
word. Perhaps, too, was proms ted by the
desire innate in man of showing of. |
replied, at shall be as you command. You
called me an antiquarian when you meant
sntiauarY,' for the first is an adjective. 1t
ia true that Webster sanctions the word as
YOU have used it, but educated people speak
of'ne man as an 'antiquary and his work
As antiquarian Furthermore, you spoke
of me as such an olo sntiq usriau. II you
will transpose that you can see your error
An antiquarian such old. HoWeyer," | con-
tinued, wishing to take the edge of little,
though the purists pounce on this use OF
such, think that they are wrong, or. at
least. this use is too convenient to be sbsn-
doned."
Alice laughed as she replied "How nice
Il Is to have 9 walking dictionary at ones
side"
'Your use of nice, though quite com,
mon, is--qpestionsbls. The word, when
properly used, signifies delicate exsctness
sun" prosed on, - new meaning, or .
dozen Of them, does no, matter much, for
the word has strsyed far from its original;
in old French it was tool and back Of that
again the Latin nsSeiuS 10 ignorant. /
was enjoying the conversation very much
but Alice, after suppressing yssn, said:
"Just look at that bed of flowers, Sam; it
! Is literally blazing With colors
my Toody mel" / exclaimed fron Q
"lst us turn in FIRE alarm" epta L
what do you meanT els "
why you said the bed vas literslfor 1
/ ine' and Il - z must Be burning; rex- .
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