Evening star., 1928-10-27
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL.

respect for them. are so heavy physical
ly that many shrink from consulting
them. even when they are placed on
neat stands. which too often are clumsy
and difficult to open.
Then, too, the mere mass of words
under any letter tends to hold of him
or her who has leanings toward knowl-
edge, yet who realizes full we'll at the
same time that perhaps no one else
knows how to spell any better than he
does.
There are any number of words
which one may misspell and get away
with it," even in the most polite cir
cles An ordinary trick. especially when
using pen. Is to write carclessly. thus
making it difficult. IL not impossible,
for the most critical to tell whether
one meant to write the word with an
"a" or an 20" There are tricks in
all trades, and this is one which may
be recommended when one is in doubt
and in haste.
Too much cannot be said in favor of
the dictionar" habit. The dictionary
not only tells how to spell words cor
rectly, and their meanings, but it con-
tains fund Of information on many
subjects. The largest ones are veritable
encyclopedias. From them may be
secured much information scarcely to
be found in other reference works For
instance. we do not know of an en-
cyclopedia article on the flower. the
zinnia. which gives the plain informa-
tion that it is named after DR.. zinn,
German botanist. yet this informa-
ton many be found in the dictionaries
y v
The greatest single objection any one
can have to consulting the dictionary
is that 1t Is a nuisance No doubt this
depends upon the individual tcmpera-
merit, but 1t must be confessed that
most persons are strangely alike In this
regard Most men will take chance
on misspelling word rather than paw
over dictionary. Call it laziness If
you will. To us 1t seems rather justi-
fed. If one could turn instantly to
the desired combination, no one would
mind it. but to be forced to turn over
pages and pages when all the time one
is anxious to go ahead with that train
of thought---well, that is something diff
ferent. Trains of thought wait for no
man. Often If one does not hop on
the platform just as the observation car
is passing he misses the train altogether,
and the sad part of 1t Is that most of
these mental trains. unlike the real ones
on tracks never come back again. but
pursue their journeys into outer space,
evidently.
The same reluctance is often mani
tested in consulting city directories ard
telephone books. One hates to do it.,
just as he may shrink from riding on
street cars or In crowded elevators. II
one is honest with himself. he cannot
blame another for this reluctance. It
will do no good to call 1t laziness. for
1t is based Solidly on human nature. No
man, having secretary, would look
up word for himself, or manhandle
a telephone book in search of a given
call combination. He would let Ger
trude do 1t. and he would be sensible
to do so. Looking up numbers and
words is a part of Gerty's job, whereas
the busy man of affairs can properly
put his attention to more profitable and
more pleasant use.
A final word of warning: When con-
sulting a dictionary, especially large
one, do not become offended If you
cannot find what you want. Remem-
ber that the fault Is not In the die
tionary, but In yourself; that there are
only a certain number of ways 1t can
be spelled, so try them all, one after
the other; that If you can't find it
after all, ask an associate, who may
have in his head the exact bit Of knowl-
edge you require,