The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-04-26
AN oRGHoGRApH1C SNAP.
Making Pretty Fair Wages Out OF q
Wrinkle Not Everybody Knows.

From the CHICAGO Maj.
chow do you spell 'choirfh inquired a
short, pudgy drummer as he sat at a table
in the writing room of the Weddell house in
Cleveland few weeks ago. There were a
dozen men busily writing at the same table,
and as many more who were reading news
papers. The abruptness of the question
caused the writer's to pause in their work,
for the question apparently had not been
addressed 20 any particular individual. The
speaker rehectively nibbled the end of a
penholder while waiting for reply.
A gentleman upon the opposite side Of the
table finally blurted out: "What kind Of
choir do you meanp
"Why, a lot Of singers in church, you
know. A church choir"
"Q-u-i-r-en
THANK you.n
The drummer again dipped his pen In ink
preparatory to resuming bis letter writing.
The other gentlemen could scarcely con-
ceal their mirth. Again the writer paused
to say, half apologetically: "Blamed If l
could tell how to spell it. Seemed 10 me it
ought to be spelled with a C. was going
TO spell 1t 'choir.'n
This was too much for the gravity Of the
crowd, aud after hearty laugh one Of the
gentlemen said: "Well, If were In your
place I'd spell it that way now, think"
"Well, thought could hardly be mis-
taken about it, said the puzzled speller.
Meanwhile the gentleman who had 30
kindly volunteered to spell the word boz
came very nervous and seemed inclined to
get angry.
There are different ways to spell the
word choir, ~ be said, land it makes all the
difference in the world whether you are try
ing TO spell the name Of a body OF singers in
a church or a certain quantity of paper. II
you mean company Of church singers it is
'q-u-i-r-e,' but If quantity Of paper it"
"Well, hardly" remarked q hashily
dressed New York drummer, laying down
his pen. "You will pardon me, my friend,
but you're wrong. You've got the two
words mixed. 'Q.u-i-r-e' spells a paper
quire, and 'c-h-o-i-r' spells q church
choirn
mot by long shot" stoutly insisted the
spaller. "'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 it spells it now"
The speaker was decidedly angry, while
the rest of the crowd were rather amused
at his discontinue.
son we'll, )" remarked the New Yorker
airily, at isn't worth while quarreling
about anyway, especially since 1t oan be
settled so easily II you are so sure that
your belief by a little wager-say the
cigars for the crowd--and we'll look 10 tto
dictionary over yonder aud end the con-
troversy."
"Im agreed" was the hot rejoinder; ''or
I'll bot you b or $40, or s25 that I'm right,
and prove it by Webster's Unabridged
Dictionary in ten seconds" As he spoke he
pulled out roll Of bills, and the New
Yorker quietly laid 800 bill on the table,
which was promptly covered.
The dictionary was brought forward. The
Gotham drummer opened the big book AMI
smiled like man who knows that he has q
"sure thing" In sight as he turned to the
word "quire" and commenced reading tie
detnition-"a body Of singers In a church.
See choir"
The silence that fell upon that room was
unrelieyed save by the ustle of $50 bill as
it was quietly folded and slowed away in the
speller's vest pocket.
A week later. as was enjoying cigar
In the lobby of the Riggs house at Indian
apolis was startled by hearing familiar
voice exclaim: "How do you spell choir r.
CHANGING hastily around / was surprised c.
sec at one Of the writing tables the Identical
gentleman whose igno auce had caused sucL
a connection at Cleveland concerning tina.
very word. Looking closer was equally
W Hu0 mar nun bub Dbu6VOlBni
gentleman who bad kindly volunteered 10
spell the word for him at Cleveland, and
who gained $50 by doing so. Approaching
the scene Of battle, | took a seat where /
could observe the subsequent proceedings.
and Within one minute the Cleveland per.
Torrance had been duplicated, the spello-
pocketed $25 this time as the result Of his
acumen.
Accosting the winner, said, quietly: al
see that you spell choir now in just the
same way thar you did the other day at
Cleveland
Eyes" he replied, that's a pretty good
way to spell it anywhere. 1t has melted my
partner here and me about $50 a day fol-
the last two months. 1t works nine times
out OF ten, and we take no risks, you sec.
1t is the best snap ever struck and used
to work with some Of the slickest boys IN
the country, too.
But" he added. confidentially, 'ff you
ever try it you'd better keep both eyes
open, or you'll miss connection with the
dictionary. You can find choir spelled
aud defined under the word 'qulre' in Web.
ster's unabridged only. Even Wsbster has
an edition Of 1891, called the international
Unabridged which reads, 'quire-see
chair without giving auv deanftinu