The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1891-04-23
From the Chicago MALL

( rom ltlS Nu4Ss'Soo -'AS'-A'J
"How do you spell 'choir'?' inquired
a short, pudgy drummer as he sat at a
table in the writing room Of the We'd
dell House in Cleveland a few weeks
AGO. There were dozen men buslly
writing at the same table and as many
more who were reading newspapers.
The abruptness of the question caused
the writers to pause in their work, for
the question apparently had not been
addressed to any particular Individual.
The speaker refectiveiy nibbled the
end of q penholder while waiting for a
reply.
A gentleman on the opposite side OF
the table finally blurted out: "What
kind OF choir do you nlean:"
"Why, a lot of singers in church,
YOU know. \ church Choir
"Q-u-i-r-e."
THANK you"
The drummer again dipped his pen
in ink preparatory to resumlng MS
letter-writing. The other gentlemen
could scarcely conceal their mirth.
Again the writer paused to say, halt
apologetically: "Blamed if l could tell
how to spell it. Seemed to me fought
to be spelled with C. I was going
- ,r.;+o - Eobojr't
This was too much for the gravity OF
the crowd, and after a hearty laugh
one of the gentlemen said: "Nell, If l
were in your place I'd spell 1t that way
now, think"
"Well, thought I could hardly be
mistaken about it," said the puzzled
speller.
Meanwhile the gentleman who had
so kindly volunteered to spell the word
became very nervous and seemed IN
clined to get angry.
s'There are different ways tospell the
word 'choir,W he said, land it makos
all the difference in the world whether
YOU are trying to spell the name OF a
body of singers in church or certain
quantity of paper. Ifyou mean a COM
pany of church singers it is 'q-u-i-r-e,
but if a quantity Of paper it -"
"Well, hardly" remarked tiashIly
dressed New York drummer, laying
down his pen. you will pardon me,
NV friend, but you're wrong. You've
cot the two words mixed. 'Q-u-l-r-e'
spells a paper quire, and choir spells a
church choir"
"Not by long shot, stoutly insisted
the speller. 'Q-u-i-r-e' spells church
choir-or it used to do it when l went
to school-and I've got money right
here in my clothes which says that II
spells it now"
The speaker was decidedly angry,
while the rest of the crowd were rather
amused at his discontinue.
"Oh WE'LL" remarked the New York
er. airilv, 'it isn't worth while quarrel
ing about anyway, especially since 1t
can be settled so easily. If you are So
sure that 'q-u-i-r-e' spells choir, sup
pose YOU back up your belief by a little
wager-say the cigars for the crowd
and we'll look in the dictionary over
wonder and end the controversy"
I'm agreed" was the hot rejoinder;
"or III bet you $, or SO, or S23 that
I'm right, and prove it by Webster, 5
Unabridged Dictionaryin ten seconds" "
AS he spoke he pulled out roll of bills
and the New Yorker quietly laid so
bill on the table, which was promptly
covered.
The dictionary was brought forward.
The Gotham drummer opened the big
hook and smiled like q man who @nows
that he has u ':sure thing" in sight as
he turned to the word 'Quire" and
commenced reading the detinition-"a
BODY of singers in q shurch. See choir" "
The silence that fell upon that room
was unrelieved save by the rustic OF a
s2o bill as it was quietly folded and
slowed away in the spoilers vest pock-
ct.
\ week latcr, as WAS enjoying CT