The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-11-18
IN THE GossIp,s CORNER.

This really happened In a very WELL
known boarding house, not so far from
University Place. The conversation at the
dinner table had turned to literature, and
finally to Shakespeare. A young commits
sion merchant was leading the CONVERSE
ton, and he asked the prettiest young
woman present (who really has a pretty
bright mind in some lines) If she had read
Romeo and Juliet. 'It seems to me- she
said, that 1 read Romeo two or three
years ago, but / have never read Juliet
Xxx
I've been renewing my youth by reading.
after the lapse of years, some of the books
which stirred my boyish heart, and which
find, inquiring at the library, are
just as prime favorites with the boys Of
to-day they were with us of several
decades ago. The phase which strikes
me most in reading them is the utter dis
regard of grammatical rules observed by
most of the writer's. In five books, by as
many authors. 1 find the most grievous
offense centers around this phrase, There
was no danger but what" 1t is used
negatively and Observation-Disclosures
ably for There was no danger that
and There was danger that In second
rank the division of the infnitive is a very
close second to the foregoing, and then
follow had ought" for should and the
various forms of ''have got" had got"
to do this or that or to go to this or that
place for must and going 20 go" for
going" and a host of lesser errata. There
are few of us who are purists of diction.
but children learn more by imitation than
by precept, and next in value TO hearing
good language at home is reading good
language in books. Every book put
the market for perusal by children under
sixteen years of age should be revised to
grammatical perfection. A good story does
not lose in the telling because it is phrased
in choice English.
The costliness of word in jest, the
effectiveness of a scare and the arbitrari-
ness of municipal sanitary control were
alike exemplifed in a recent occurrence in
Indianapolis. A well7known South-side
woman was much worried over the ap-
pearance of two large boils on her little
sons arm. Before calling in a physician
she thought she would call on the neigh
of the family. He examined the arm and
Mrs. P" Smallpox, indeed" calculated
the lady, "tell me what ii is, and If it is
serious enough to call in physician He
assured her the eruptions were nothing
worse than boils, and advised her what to
do. A neighbor, who was in the store, had
heard the joking reference to smallpox
and bolted for the health office. Mrs. P
was hardly safely home with her son when
the health Office attaches arrived, put up a
smallpox sign and quarantined the house.
with guard at the gate. When the man
of the house arrived he was allowed to
enter, but was not allowed to leave again
The members of the family were allowed
to enter the backyard. but were not allowed
in the front yard. After ten days or so of
quarantine, during which the boys two
boils got well. the health officials sealed up
the house and fumigated it, Mrs P had
removed her birds TO the barn, so they
were safe, but the familys pet cat was
shut in, and died from the fumigation.
Then the quarantine was removed and the
informant was paid reward for his serv-
ices. THE GOSSIP.