Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1899-04-24
SMART AT SPELLING.
A LESSON IN ORTHOGRAPHY THAT
WAS DEARLY BOUGHT.

Il
Won Thousands of Dollars by
/ working the Dictionary For Game
| Until They Were Brought TO Grief.
"How do you spell choir p - asked a
man in the bookstore.
| What do you meau-paper or mu-
sicf" inquired a smart young man who
poses as an authority on all topics.
| Music, singing, of course, replied
the man in search of orthographical in
formation.
"C-h-o-i-r." responded the smart
young man decisively.
"Q-u-i-r-e. chimed in red bearded
man who was busy looking at some
| books.
"You are referring to paper" said
the smart young man. looking sadly at
the interrupter. I'VE were speaking
about music.
II mean music. too said the red
bearded man calmly; ''q-u-i-r-e. TO sing
in concert. 81"
The smart young mans expression
changed from sadness to contempt
"You had better consult your diction-
ary." he said with sheer.
Never mind, retorted the red
bearded man. MY way of spelling may
be little old fashioned. but you will
find it correct according TO Webster.
You will also find it correct according
to the Century Dictionary. and if 1 am
not mistaken it is likewise given in the
Standard. Your way is all right too. -
The smart young man gave a sniff of
scorn. Josh Billings and you should
have elaborated ON phonetic spelling
book.
Look here" said the red bearded
man. IN bet You So that Webster's
latest spells it 'q-u-i-r-e.
Make it So, said the smart young
man, pulling out roll
mo; don't want to rob you. Get
the dictionary.
The money was put up and Webster's
International brought out. There it
was, ''q-u-i-r-e. to sing in concert.
Il didn't mean verb. said the
smart young man. growing white
around the ears Where is the nounP'
They found that. too. although it was
marked obsolete. Then the smart young
man wilted.
81 won't take your money" said the
red bearded man. handing back the
bills. MY name is Bell. George T.
which you probably never received. and
l spent several months learning the
different ways TO spell that word. Sew
eral years ago / was on the secret serv
ice. My partner and l had been on the
trail of pair of sharpers who had a
repertory of con games that would
have made the ordinary bunko man look
sick. They were men of far more than
int bn1 10
ners of cultured men of the world. The
way we happened to get them was a
pure accident.
my partner and 1 were going down
from st. Louis on Mississippi river
packet. There were about 90 of us in
the smoking room talking and trying to
pass the time comfortably. Just as n
lull came in the hum of conversation a
young man seated at 4 table writing
some letters looked mp with troubled
air and said. Could any of you gentle |
men tell me how to spell ''choir ?"
am little puzzled over it.
"'What kind of Il one do you meant
asked several.
a. Choir, to sing in concert. chirped |
the young man. wrinkling his brow as
if to recall the proper photography.
och dir said a scholarly looking |
man with glasses on.
"'Q-u-i-r-e. sang ont a big. well fed |
old man off in the corner.
"'C-h-o-i-r,' repeated the first man |
with some emphasis. Il thought every |
fool knew that
"'That's all right, said the old man |
off in the corner. Money talks. III bet |
you $50 that Webster spells it
''q-u-i-r-e" too.
I'm raise you so. said the first |
man. who was a cotton buyer at Mem
phis-
IAN right. said the big old man
coolly. Then the others Joined in and |
bet him to a standstilL They put up
about $500. Then they got the diction
airy. and. as just now. the man who bet
on 'q-u-i-r-e' won.
MY partner and / waited till the |
money had changed hands. and then i |
said. Come on. ST.
Il walked mp to the young man and |
said; Gene with me; want you. Ill
show you how to spell choir. 81 col
Jared the big old man and we waltzed
them down below. You never saw two
fellows look quite so cheap. They had
cleaned up over $4,000 ON that one
II n Odh e4itg 81 AOhA y anu a
apiece That is one spelling school /
have attended that not every man goes
to. That game is one which will catch
nina educated men out of ten. You are
all right. but you may still have some
thing TO learn
Then the smart young man offered !
the usual invitation in payment fer the
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