The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-01-26

Bowen-who lie the legless marvel-was
very emphatic about the word they all
deprecate and he added, 1T is used much
more in England than in America"
Have you thought of a substitute"
was the question asked. No. Mr.. Bowen
had not, nor had MIR. Trip. who, though
armless, is of a very genial and good
humored disposition. Although he has
thrown himself heart and soul into the
discussion, freak appeared to sit most
lightly on his shoulders. 1t was Mr.. Sol
Stone, who can calculate almost quicker
tnan any living creature, who was about
the only one to suggest another word.
Il think insists might apply, though
even then it doesn't fit all of us. l am
not misfir, nor is the tattooed man.
1t is very difficult problem. There are
some real freaks of nature here, but
some are not. 1t is not right to cali
person freak because he or she is clever
or different from the ordinary run of peo-
pie. There was Mr.. w. e. Gladstone a
great man at figures. He wasn't called a
freak. James G. Blaine was also quick
az figures. They didn't call him a freak
We might be termed natural curiosities.
or something like that Some of us are
thinking over words which will be brought
forward at the next meeting. to be he'd
in a few days" The task. however. of
relinquished for the main part TO Mr.. Tody
Hamilton, who is considered a very apt
conner" of words. It. is, however, a prob
lem which deties easy solution. I'VE don't
want 20 be called freaks but we want
some nice, pretty word which exactly hits
of our peculiarities," are the freaks"
thoughts roughly summarized.
While considerable exception may be
taken to the use of the word freak" It
N n INF heanS ffuagn
again, it is time-honored word, and used
by the poets. The old English word
''freke" meant bold mana warrior eager
for the fray. In Piers Plowman we read
the line, las a freke, that FIRE were forth
gan l Wake" 1t was In Sponsors time
that its meaning changed, and was made
20 denote a sudden and causeless change
OF mind, wilful within Of vagary. "Ohi
but l feare the tickle freakes of fortune
1aise! quoth Spenser in the "Fairie
Queene." Moreover, the dictionary dis
tinctly states that a freak In the varie
ty show business is a person or an animal
ON exhibition as showing some strange
deviation from nature, as a bearded wo-
man or an albino. Here is Miss Jones
described most infinitely and carefully.
and yet she objects
Perhaps, however, a favorite reception
might be accorded to the botanical! term of
SPoIts, Whlch Illustrates a striking coSls
trast of body or a plant from the true
course of natures paths Or, again. per-
maps the classic may solve the puzzle.
though, perhaps, some may experience an
EFFORT in calling a freak" a "Iusus ma
turea," besides which 1t would look funny
on the advertisement bill Sports would
be infinitely preferable. Physical or men
tai ALTERATION" is coarse and cumbersome:
'whimsicality" will hardly do; but
"anormality'' sounds better, and could be
easily shortened. Step up and see the
Anormals' would fan well from the show
mans lips. Sun. however, it Is to be
feared that, whatever word does displace
the existing unfortunate one. the great ma
jority will still be inclined to say, "A
freaks freak for all that"