River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1886-11-11
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Common Mistakes In Language.

Common Mistakes In Language.
''My dear nephew and nieces, you
charming inhabitants of glass houses,
don't throw any more stones"
why, Uncle Phil, you don't mean
to say that we speak incorrectly?"
Uncle Phil showed lis speetacles up
to the middle of his forehead. and pro.
ceeded as follows:
"It's all very well for self-suflicient
graduates of colleges and seminaries
to find fault when Uncle Joshua wants
the we'll bucket n isted, when Debby
'renses' the clothes, Aunt Maria
'ketches' cold, COachman John doc
tors Dobbin's huff. Pete feeds the
creeters.' the cook biles the cram ber-
ries, Bridget asks for 'joulip, Farmer
Gray reckoHs' its 'ruther cold f1r
plantiI but concludes to 'resk' il -
Now, Uncle Phil, you know we
wero not talking about such mistakes.
1t was when Annie Hughes asked the
clerk for these kind of gloves, and
then informed us that DIR. Burton al
ways preached extempore, that Nav
and l began TO wonder how people
who pretended to be educated could
be guilty of such blunders. "
That's nothing girls. this from
Jack, graduate of Harvard II ask
ed one of the teachers at the high
school, this morning, if he ever played
base ball. and he said he used to
could. Fancy THAR
ITupla Phil TocE-aJ Oox-ora,I,- dr,,,,,, -,
on the group of critics assembled in
front of the fire.
80 you really think, young people.
that YOU are exempt from the weakness
of misusing the English language.
What will you say if call attention
to no less than six mistakes made by
you three in utter Inconsistencies,
since you entered the room this morn
ing?"
TRY it, uncle, try it. We haven't
been studying rhetoric and grammar
this last four years for nothing. Re-
member you are to find six mistakes
made by the three of US within three
hours.
.'Ahemi'
Uncle Phil INDUCED in something
that was almost, but not quite, wink
as he looked at Jack.
Wen begin with you. Jack First,
This last four years. .
''Ohl that's too mean.
lis it? Then won't call attention
to the three of US. p"
You mean. Uncle, that Jack should
have said these last four years, and
us three?'
Il do, my dear. And also have in
mind young lady who criticised her
friends way Of asking for gloves, and
then when She handed me an orange
asked mo to cut it in half. ="
al should have said in halves. -
Yes, or in two One can scarcely
cut a thing in one-half."
What else did / say?'
well, whose dress was 10 be
trimmed 'lengthways instead of
lengthwise?' VINO discovered. that it
was very cold last February and not
last 'February?' OF whose class
at Sunday school did | hear that
every one was to have their, and not
his or her reward?'
Stop, Uncle. That is three for me,
and of the six mistakes you have only
left one for May"
Perhaps haven't made snyP.
Uncle Phil smiled.
Where did you 90 this morning.
May?"
ITO the depot
"Ah! DO you know that depot is q
French word. and means simply store
house or place of deposit, and has
nothing whatever to do with 3 Struc-
ture for the shelter of passengers,
built at points where a railroad train
stops. You never hear tire word depot
used in any such connection in Eng
land. Our language supplies the word
station, or 'station-hOlse,' and only
a very cultivated CD American. who
prefers foreign language he doesn
understand to his own better supplied
tongue, would ever replace it 10y a
French word that is entirely a misno-
mer."
Il wonder how many more mistakes
are current among US, Uncle PHILIP"
Il won't call your attention to any
more TODAY. Think over these, and
I'll see how many more | find you
guilty of some other time. Harry B.
Vdndync tie Good Cheer.