The age-herald., 1902-03-23
Welsh Rabbit and 6dt6huD
w. J. DANGAix,
 President

From the Rochester Post Express.
 At a post theatrical luncheon the other night a discussion. characterized by warmth which proved the strength or conviction, arose over two words whose use Is so common that they are probably as often misspoken as any fin the English language. As usual, appeal was taken to the authorities to the satisfaction Of some, the amazement of others, and the doubt of a few. The two words which thus furnished food for argumentative flames were "catchup' and "Welsh rab- bit" The discussion was by no means new In subject or substance, and Is worthy of comment only because the per- sons who took part in it represented, in intelligence, culture and information a | large class of society who would use only the best words.
 Some one had spoken of 'catsup," and was immediately challenged. Ketchup always" declared the challenger. "FCat- ch,p' preferred" cried another. Cat sup" stood ground bravely, when fuel was thrown on the fire by inter1ection or "Welsh rabbit" as an example welsh rabbit is a. corruption of Welsh rarebit." was the vigorous assertion of an objector. Its a .rarebit certainly" said another. And then somebody suggested the dic- tionaries. This Is the judgment they rem der on "catchup vs. catsup!'
 Three authorities unite in declaring pre- ference for "catchup." The origin of the word does away with the radical correct ness of "catsup." Like most sauces cat chup owes It's origin to East Indian gas- tronomy. The original word is 'kitjap." The Standard dictioary says that eat chup'' is preferable, and adds: Written also 'catsup' and ketchup. Webster gives preference to "catchup," with cat sup second and "ketchup' third. The Century declares for "catchup," and then
 "ketchup" and adds"Written also cat sup and 'katsup, Three authorities therefore unite in preferring "catchup" as the proper form in best usage.
 But Welsh rabbit" Is a little different. Origin Is the vital point here The high courts thus gave judgments The Stand ard says that the word had jocular ori- gin, like Munster plums," kind of scrapple. and points out that the "deriva- ton from 'rarebit' given by Grose and other old dictionaries is now considered erroneous" The Century is far more em- phatic. It says: "A term of jocular ori gin, formed after the fashion of Norfolk capon,' a red herring, etc. Owing to an absurd notion that the rabbit in the phrase is a corruption of 'rarebit' Gas If rare bitD. the word is often so writ ten." "Webster'' is little less positive Probably a corruption of Welsh rare bit but perhaps merely a humorous de- signation."
 It Is only fair to state, however, that the best usage, which in the end deter mines the form and correctness of speech and writing favors Welsh rabbit" The reason is obvious. Our language is full of terms, especially those which desig- nate articles of food, whose origin Is pre- cisely like that assigned by the Century dictionary to the word under considera- ton. Any Down Easter will tell you that Cape Cod turkey has nothing to do with the gracious bird of Thanksgiving day, but Is simply humorous name for a delicious dish composed of codfish, red beets, boiled potatoes, and "drawn-bu butter gravy" Sometimes one hears it applied to the codfish alone. Along the same lines, a Yorkshire pudding" is no pud- ding at all in our sense of the word. and a Scotch woodcock'' is never brought down by gun.
 For some unknown reason. perhaps on account of certain forgetfulness in the matter of truces or promises Tn the old days of border fights, anything that was particularly doubtful or ridiculous was branded as "Welsh" The derivation of welsh rabbit" follows obviously. Of course, it may be corruption of rare bit" but as a thousand other delicacies are just as much rare bits" why should this particular one be singled out as a Welsh rare bit?" Why should not the noble plum pudding be an English rare bit?' Or the purely American buck wheat cake a Yankee rare bit tT"Rare bit' will probably be printed on restau- rant menus and used by persons who consided 1t mark of super-refinement but the real lover of honest old English will order his Welsh rabbit with a boldness and straightforwardness which comes alone from knowledge of the right-and q trusty digestion