New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-01-21
THE TALK OF THE DAY.

Because It's employees were frequently late large
London house recently ordered that the tardy ones
should write excuses IN q book provided for that
purpose. But the clerks proved lazy and original
At the top OF a page late would write. Train
delayed" or Omnibus horse died" as the case
might be. and the rest fell into the habit Of making
ditto marks. and letting It go at that But not
long ego one man had new excuse. He wrote
with pride. wife had twins" The second late
person that morning IN a great hurry and d.d
not notice the innovation. but made his customary
ditto marks. and the rest OF the mon on that page
followed suit The excuse book was abolished.
o, You said you weT I: hu3gY and yet whsn gave
straight to public house instead OF TO a bakers"
Yes. guv'nOF. Yer see, It's like this ere wus
scotehu make me forgit I'm 'ungry but three
Pennorth Of food'u never mako me forsit I'm
Sports and pastirnes OF bygons days-and even
Of the present time-have added much to the Eng
iish language says THE Chicago Daily News"
Check" which Is said 20 be "shak." a variation
OF SHAH" has not only come into common speech.
but has been the foundation OF many other words.
philologist traces TO It the checker board"
''the exchequer" and "a checkered career "a
good move Is also probably from chess Stop
to- Is from falconry Take the wind out OF her
sails Is from yachting; Is the wrong tack"
ITO jockey. 'to show q clean pair OF heels'' are
from horse racing Fencing has been very fruit
palpabls hit." 90 parry a question:" fence
with IT, "a hcms thrust" "a counter Ito be OF
ones guard" From pugtlism comes ''to toss up
the sponge" or Ito chuck It up" Put your bach
into it, IL "Reminiscences OF rowing. Cricket has
given many phrases. OF which perhaps ''stumped."
II stumped him that question" Is the COM
monest. Coming up TO the scratch" Is probably
derived from dueling. "Ay there's the rub" 10 de-
rived from bowls. though "a rub on the green Is
akin 10 It.
We don't lynch man often. anyhow remarked
Neither DO we.' volunteered the man with the
southern accent; never. in fact but once
Philadelphia Public Ledger.
For the first time on record electricity appears
article OF import and export The case has
arisen between italy and Switzerland. the italian
government conceding 20 that OF Switzerland the
privilege. behalf OF Stable. c town IN the Tictno
Canton. OF drawing electrical power for Industrial
ana Illuminating purposes from water supplies on
italian territory. and principally from the vizzoIa
torrent The power VIII be distributed not only
IN the town OF Stable itself but In q wide district
around. The amount OF water rent 20 be paid to
Italy Is not stated.
s s da 05s gS use 9 %ou our t
Our hearts grow GUNNER:
Enough TO tempt the bows to skate
But not enough TO make II cheap
washington Star.
Some curious drinks that men call for In saloons
says THE Philadelphia Record" were observed
yesterday by a man who stood at the end OF the
bar and took in everything that happened The
usual whiskeys and beers were frequent. but he
also noticed that a number OF men asked for egg
In milk and egg In sherry. ''Tou sell lot Of eggs
here" he observed 20 the bartender ''You bet we
DO" answered the man behind Hundreds OF men
drink egg drinks only. There are several men who
come in here that order egg in beer. How they get
away with that awful mess cannot understand
but they drink 1t down as though they liked II
Ono man that comes here every day has them all
skinned. He always takes tho most outlandish
mixture OF stout and milk. He's the limit for a
crazy drinker, and heads my list Of curious booze
artists We call his drink the graveyard cock
TALL"
son-in,law Gas the marble clock falls down ana
Just misses his mother-i -laW)-COn found thaf
clock. Always behind timei-Philadalphia In