The weekly intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1891-1901, 1896-11-14
sin MiZZOura.'i

Apropos of the coming engagement OF
Augustus Thomas delightful play In
MiZZoura." it is interesting to note that
the spelling of the title is a fair idea of
the real pronunciation, different from
that generally in use. In explaining his
reason for his departure from the beaten
track. Augustus Thomas, the author,
responds with the following amusing
story {: You know that just south of us
the people of Arkansas annoyed beyond
endurance by the various recommendations
of the name of their state, brought the
subject to the attention of the legisla-
ture, and that body by special enactment
fixed the pronunciation as Arkansaw:
Missourians feel the same way about
Missouri. They detest the eliminate
aspirant that Boston has tried to fix
upon them and the diminutive sound of
the termination. 1 remember well when
I was a schoolboy in Missouri, and
anxious to show my requirement at
home, pronounced the name OF the state,
Miss-sou-ree; my father overheard me,
and told me never to call 1t so again.
Obeying him next day at school. L gave
the real tranS-MiSSissippl sound to 1t IN
recitation and l was promptly called
down by the teacher. l explained that
paw had
But that makes no difference. I'm
teaching this class. Your paw isn't.
You must say M~iss-sou-ree."
/ told my father at supper how the
teacher had f~iguaratively wiped up the
loor with him before the Geography
class. The gov'nor pnshed back his pie
they ate pie for supper owe there-and
went out and chewed tobacco on the
back porch. He thrashed around in bed
all night and when morning came he
was up at daylight trying to push the
time ahead to 8 o'clock when school
opened. Then he took me by the hand,
and we went into school together, a trifie
late. for effect. The gOv'nOr had a good
eye for stage business. He planted his
progency center before the astonished
teacher.
THAT'S my boy!" The young woman
looked us both over and seemed inclined
to grant it. Impressive wait, II the
gOv'nor giving cues. Ill was born IN
| MiZzouraw. Where are you from 7"
The young wOmun said Boston,, ana
gave a drowning man look around for
her diploma that was somewhere under
the map of Asia. but the old gentleman
was setting a faster pace.
What's Boston got to do with it
What do you say the name of this state
is p"
Not at all. Tom Benton said Miz-
Zouraw when he addressed the senate of
the United States. Gen. Shields says
MiZzouraw. Nathaniel p. Lyon, who
died at Wilson creek, said MiZzouraw
and Frank Blair always said it-un-
derstand 7"
She understood.
And years ago on the first survey map
It was printed as the Indians called 1t;
full ST Z's-and the gov'nor hung on to
the tail end of the alphabet like n cross
cut saw. The teacher was winclng as
I'd seen her do when a boy scraped his
pencil edgewise on a slate !; and paw
vent on:
This is my boy. He's going to say
Mizzouri." The teacher nodded. Go.
ing to say it here in school"-she bowed
again. The goy'nOr turned to the class.
And every boy that respects his parents
and the constitution of the United
Statef will say MiZZouraw."
lie went home, and 1 don't think
ever said Miss-sOu-ree again.