Evening star., 1942-08-10

each day, find q word he didn't
know, study 1t, and then use 1t
in daily conversation until it became
his and was as much a part Of his
speech as cat, rat. chicken, mar
TIM, thanks, nuts, trolley car and
jerk.
So started reading the diction-
ary. I never should have done it.
After all. my old vocabulary had
stood ME In pretty good stead. 1t
was not q very impressive one, to
be sure, but through the years I had
learned 70 pad 1t out with gestures,
erimaces and by pointing, and was
getting along all right.
People at least knew what I was
talking About when I talked Now.
with a raft of new words st my
tongue-tip. they look upon me as
one either possessed Of devils and
babbling in strange language, or
as a show-off. Neither Is helpful
toward popularity.
Opportunity Knocxa
Yesterday "wameful" happened to
be the word that I had set cut to
use IN conversation and make my
own. When I went to sleep the
night before "wameful' was ring
ing In my ears. repeated It to
myself couple Of times while
shaved in the morning, just TO get
1t rolling easily and naturally of
my tongue.
All day waited for = spot In
which to use "wamefui," but 1t
never came. 1t was not until that
evening during a dinner party at
the home Of friend that oppor.
tunity Knocked on my vocah:,lary's
door. My host turned to me and
graciously asked:
VIII you have some more steak7"
l looked him square. in the eve.
my heart leaping. and answered:
I have wameful."
You have what7" he said.
I have wameful," answered,
ignoring the stares Of the other
guests.
What are you talking about7" nv
host came back. 'Whatta you mean
you got 'wameful.'"
explained.
The word s'wameful,'" said,
means "a bellyful' II you don't
believe me, why 60 and look it up
in the dictionary"
Later that evening the taIk turned
to the war and the Nazis. Every one
WAS giving the Naxis the devil when
casually dropped In this question:
How About swaxis?
We all hate the Naxis, but how
DO you people feel about tho
swaxis?"
This provoked An almost unani-
nous question-vho are the Svaxis?
Why" said, q Swan il q Bantu
OF An Intelligent, industrious tribe
OF Zulu origin Of Swaziland In South
Africa
That was my word q week aso
Tuesday, and I wanted to find out
If still remembered.
My friends gave me q dirty look
and started talking about some
thing else.
An argument arose as to whether
. second front should be opened
BY air or land. The argument rev
pretty hot. watched the arru.
ment increase, and could hardly
wait to say:
There Is more than one make.
bate In this room"
"Oh, all right" one Of the make
bates said, redgnedly. what "a
'makebate?'"
"A makebate," explained, Ii one
who excites contentious and QUAR-
rels. You'll find it on page 7o4
Of Webstefs Collegiate Dictionary"
A couple Of the fellows wanted
to tight me now. but avoided f,sti-
Guns by getting up. slipping on nv
haik dook 1t up YOURSELF and
saying:
Good night. must 70 home and
feed my messan."
No one said anything 1T all. They
acted as II they were awfully glad
to see me 60 home and feed nv
messan, and as If they knew that
messan" Is lap dog.
My host accompanied ne 10 ths
door.
I've q vamsful OF you and your
learning Of new words" hs said %
he bowed me into the night.
Distributed By McNausht eyndisataA mel