The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1896-02-19
AMUSING BLUNDERs.
SOME FAMOUS INSTANCES OF TYPO
GRAPHICAL ERRORS.


Wicked Things--Eunny Mistakes Which
Never Could Have Been Invented.
Ono can find mistakes in all publica-
tions, books, magazines and newspapers
Perhaps tho most perfected system Of
proofroading extant is that employed by
tho London Times. Onco upon time
Lord Winchester wagered that he would
und no less than 30 misprints in six num-
| bors of Tho Times. Tho wager was for
| $500, with $50 additional for every blum
dor, moro or less. Six numbers of The
Times wero taken mt random, and three
misprints were discovered. Lord Win
chester lost nearly $4,000.
Many years ago In Franco a book was
| published which tho author had given
careful revision. He made his boasts that
the volume was free from errors When
mo critically examined tho printed book,
no discovered no less than 800 typograph-
ioal orrors Becoming so onraged over his
discovery, he died in q fit Of anger.
Kingsley once said, after no had been
severely handled by the printer, 1T wonder
that tho Newgato calendar records no case
OF an author being hanged for killing his
| printer"
| There arc said to be but three books free
| from orrors-an American reprint of
| Dante, London edition Of Horace and
the Oxford Bible. When their Bible was
published, tho professors of the University
OF Oxford offered q reward Of a guinea for
every error that might be found The re-
ward was unclaimed until, some years
| after, Keen eyed critic discovered an
error which no pointed out and was given
tho reward. Tho mistake was corrected,
and it is now said that the Oxford Biblo
Is entirely FREQ from typographical errors.
| During tho last century tho professors
OF tho Edinburgh university attempted to
4 publish book which should be O perfect
specimen of typographical accuracy. Ev-
| cry procaution was taken. Six experienced
| proofrcaders were employed They devot-
| ed many hours to the reading Of each page,
which, when thought perfect, was placed
| upon tho walls of tho college and kept
there two or three weeks with tho notice
that $3.50 would BIO paid to any ono who
would find an error. None was found,
and tho professors congratulated them
selves upon their success. The book was
published, and upon examination tho first
thing they found was IN error in the title
pago and another in tho first opening
| chapter.
Tho Mazarin Bible published moro than
400 years ago, was full Of errors In an
edition published 200 years later tho word
mot" was omitted from the seventh com
mandment, from which error tho book re-
oeivod tho namo Of the "Adultorous BIZ
ble." In tho printed directions for con-
| Quoting Catholic services appeared the
| line, "Hore tho priest will take off his Gu
| lotte Tho word cnlotto means an eccle-
siastcal cap or inter. Culotte means in
broad Saxon q mans underolothcs A
Dlundor equally scandalous was made
In roviow of n historical work rs follows:
Z" 1t was vol understood what were the
n tIn ,fA n.
ohemiso." For ''chomise'' read "dcmise."
Tho Rov. DR.. Todd was given some
roles to present to n museum. In present.
| ing them no alluded to 'tho lives of tho
saints" Tho romarks when published
alluded to tho Tics of tho saints" which
SO enragcd tho givcr that no wrote to Dr.
Todd and demanded their return.
AT largo public demonstration in Eng
Iand popular and prominent man arose
to speak and was greeted with enthusiastic
cheering and shouts. In speaking of 1t
the newspaper said:
| Tho vast Concourso rent the dir with
their snouts.''
Some years ago tho PHILADELPHIA Post
published this erratum: Sin our last issue
Il biography OF Newton was said to contain
this, Yes; tho immoral Newton lived Just
liko other men, 1t should havo read tho
Immortal Newton y
| New York editor who wrote an obit
| uary on the death of n man of some celeb
rity said, "f1o began life rs legal prac-
titionor, but was diverted from it by n
lovo of letters" He did not see tho proof
| ana was confronted tho next morning by
this, He began lifo as legal politician.
but he was diverted from it by O loyo of
| bittcrs.'
convivial host onco offered toast to
| woman ut q dinner party He said.
Woman-mnn without her would be q
savage" When the words appeared in
print tho next day, thoy read, Woman
without hor man would be sausage"
| In tho beginning of tho present century
Dr. hunzc, y prominent Lutheran minis
tor OF New York, wrote communication
on vcxcd chronological question. He
spoke Of tho Gregoran style and mon
toned Pope Gregory. They printed it
Tom Gregory. The learned doctor went
to the editor and requested an erratum to
specify instead of Tom Gregory, Pope
| gregory. The correction was made to
Pope Tom Gregory" The doctor made
another attempt, with tho result, "Tom
Gregory, tho pope" Fearing to lose oil
his reputation on tho subject, the doctor
submitted to tho inevitable and asked for
no further correction.
"A newspaper in Wisconsin made ludi-
| cAouo oi"auer through u mistake in pune
tuation, rs follows: "Tho procession at
Judge Orton's funeral was very fine and
nearly. two miles in length, as was tho
beautiful prayer of the Rev. DR.. Swing Of
Chicago"
a few years ago tho journalist who Is
| widely known MS "Gath" wrote q Fourth
of July article. With fervid eloouepce
no told how tho cffcte monarchies of tho
| old world trembled in their boots whom
| they read tho immortal words penned by
Thomas Jefferson. Thrones reoled. y
wrote tho impassioned Gath Tho next
morning ho saw I'm tvnc ttThor,o II, .oo,, >,