West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1903-11-12
BONS[R STICKS TO i.
DIsagrees With Webster Over the Pro-
nuncIation Of Very Common
Word.

and Mr.. Bowser had about finished
his cigar and his newspaper when
he looked up and said.
"Under the regime of 40 years
ago these men who are squeezing
the public with high prices for coal
would be hauled up pretty smartly."
He pronounced the word as If
spelling "reg-i-mees." and, without
thinking what it might lead to Mrs.
Bowser inquired:
"Under the what did you say ?"
"Under the regimee. Wasn't my
pronunciation clear p
"You don, get the word exactly
right. 1t is pronounced "razheem."
"Whatl Why woman, you are
way off. have been familiar with
the word for 80 years, and l think
know how it should be pronoun-
ced. 1t is reg-i-mees, of course.
You have got it mixed up with some
of these French words you come
across in novels"
"But, l haven't, my dear. 1t is
''razheem' and every well-learned
person will say so. / haven't read
novel IN a year, and don't pre-
tend to understand French, or try
TO get off any French words"
"And do you mean to tell me to
my face that am a numbskull and
an ass ?" exclaimed Mr.. Bowser as
he set his jaw and grew red as fire.
"No dear, simply say that you
don't give the word the right pro-
nunciation. 1t is nothing to dis
pute over, however, and we will
drop it. Do you think it will be
colder to- morrow"
"Colder or hotter be hangedl
You have the same as called me a
fool, and propose to have the
matter settled. If it has come to
the point where husband must go
to school to his wife / want to know
it. You have said that the word
was not pronounced reg-i-mee.
Now prove it."
"Won't you let it go, dear ?" she
pleaded, now realizing that she had
been anything but diplomatic.
"Never. Never in this world.
If / am an idiot want to know it
right here and now. Produce your
authority or admit that it was sim
ply specimen of your audacious
cheek"
Mrs. Bowser waited a minute,
and then took dictionary from the
revolving bookcase and hunted out
the word laid the book before him.
Under the caption of ere" he read:
Regime ra-zheem, n. (Fr. regime.
Pr. regisme, regesme, regeme, Sp.
regimen. See mira Mode or style
of rule or management; character
of government; administration.
"Well2" she asked as he looked
up.
"Well, what does this prove7" he
demanded, as he heaved the book
upon the lounge and gave the cat
great scare.
Haven't ] told you a hundred
times over that / was not TO be
bound down by a dictionary ?"
Would / spell frog with two 'gs' be-
cause some idiot of man put it so
in dictionary"
"Then how can we settle it7"
"By what the public says. / can
bring a thousand people here TO
say that the word is pronounced
reg-i-mee. Is one man to be set
up against thousand1 TO come
right down to il, haven't / got Just
as good right to my way as this
internal old mossback Of Webster
has to his1 III bet dollars to cents
that even the tramps on the streets
call il reg-i-mee. I've good mind
70 90 out and"
But he didn't have to. The bell
rang, and he passed down the hall
and opened the door a tramp stood
there humbly asked for dime TO
pay for lodgings.
"Come right in here" replied
Mr. Bowser, as he seized him by
the arm. NOW, then, do you know
beans from pumpkins7"
81 think 7 do" was the reply.
Then tell me how you pro.
nounce the word reg -i-mce9"
I'll don't think I'd call il bee
replied the man after some thought
"Of course not"
"And il can't be buttermilk2"
"Have you got sawdust 10 your
headY"
I wouldn't say u was cold chicken
OF raince pie, but il may be-"