"What's in a name? that which we call a rose,By any other name would smell as sweet,"
"What's in a name? that which we call a rose,By any other name would smell as sweet,"
"What's in a name? that which we call a rose,
By any other name would smell as sweet,"
and argue therefrom that the pronunciation of a word should make no difference so long as its meaning was understood. Amongst professional men, it has been observed that physicians and dentists are by far more prone than others to orthoepical errors. Attention is requested to a few of the more common of these in addition to those found in the preceding vocabulary connected with words that are alike used by the professional and the unprofessional, such as:abdomen,acclimated,albumen,animalcula arabic,citrate,embryo,excrescence,fetid,fetor,forceps,homeopathy,hydropathy,jugular,jujube,nasal,pharmacopœia,purulent,spasmodic,sulphurous,tragacanth, etc. The authorities appealed to are Dunglison, Thomas, Webster and Worcester. Notwithstanding the superior merit of Dunglison's Medical Dictionary, as far as the comprehensiveness and reliability of its definitions are concerned, it is evident that it is almost useless as an orthoepical guide. The principal accent is in many cases marked, but the pronunciation of preceding and succeeding syllables can not be determined, and there is no attempt at syllabication.
Dr. Thomas' dictionary, though less comprehensive, is equally reliable in its definitions, and is excellent authority in regard to orthoepy; though it is to be regretted that in some words important syllables are not sufficiently marked. For instance, take the wordsas-bes´tosandbis´muth; how can it be determined whether the first should be pronouncedăs-bĕs´toss or ăz-bĕs´tōz or the latter bĭz´muth or bĭss´muth? Webster and Worcester are undoubtedly good authorities for the pronunciation of the medical words they give. In the following vocabulary all of the authorities that mention the words may be considered as agreeing, unless notice is made of their disagreement.
[In Latin and Latinized Greek words, the English sounds of the vowels are given as those used by the majority of professional men. If any one, however, prefers to adopt the continental method, soundingaas infather,yandiaseinveto, etc., and consistently applies it to all such words, no one, of course, has a right to object.]
[In Latin and Latinized Greek words, the English sounds of the vowels are given as those used by the majority of professional men. If any one, however, prefers to adopt the continental method, soundingaas infather,yandiaseinveto, etc., and consistently applies it to all such words, no one, of course, has a right to object.]
Adipose—ăd´i-pōse, not ad´i-pōze.Ala—ā´la, not ăl´a.Alæ, plural.Alis—ā´lĭs, not ăl´ĭs. This as a termination of many words, such asabdominalis,digitalis,frontalis,lachrymalis,transversalis, etc., is often erroneously pronounced ăl´is.Alumen—al-ū´men, not ăl´u-men.Alveolus—al-vē´o-lus, not al-ve-ō´lus. Plural,alveoli(al-vē´o-lī).Alveolar—(al-vē´o-lar). Alveolus is the name given to thecavityin the jaw that is seen upon the removal of the root of a tooth, and it possesses no more tangibility than a pinch of air; almost daily, however, we hear dentists speak of extracting a tooth with a piece of thealveolusattached. What a curiosity for preservation in a museum is a tooth with a piece of a little hole fastened to the root! What is meant is a piece of thealveolar process, or portion of bone around the alveolus.Anæmic—a-nĕm´ĭk, not a-nē´mĭk. Dunglison gives the latter.Andral—ŏng-dräl´, not ăn´-dral.Aphthæ—ăf´thē, not ăp´thē.Aqua—ā´kwa, not ăk´wa.Arcus Senilis—se-nī´lis, not sĕn´i-lis.Areolar—a-rē´o-lar, not a-re-ō´lar.Aris—ā´rĭs, not ăr´is in the termination ofangularis,medullaris,palmaris,orbicularis,pulmonaris, etc.Asarum—ăs´a-rum, not a-sā´rum.Asbestos—ăs-bĕs´tŏss, not ăz-bĕs´tōz.Attollens—at-tŏl´lenz, not at-tō´lenz.Azygos—az´y-gos, not a-zy´gos.Bagge—bäg´geh, not băg.Bimana—bī-mā´na, not bī-mā´nĭ-a.Bismuth—bĭz´muth, not bĭss´muth.Bitumen—bĭ-tū´men, not bĭt´u-men.Cadaver—ka-dā´ver, not ka-dăv´er.Caries—kā´rĭ-ēz, not kā´rēz nor kăr´rēz.Carminative—kar-mĭn´a-tive, not kar´mi-nā-tĭve.Caryophillus—kăr-ĭ-o-phĭl´lus, not kăr-ĭ-ŏph´ĭl-lus.Cerebral—sĕr´e-bral, not ser-ē´bral.Cerebric—sĕr´e-bric, not ser-ē´bric.Cerebrum—sĕr´e-brum, not ser-ē´brum. Dunglison gives both.Cerumen—se-rū´men, not sĕr´ū-men.Cheyne—chān or cheen, not shāne.Choledochus—ko-lĕd´o-kus, not kŏl-e-dō´kus nor ko-lĭd´a-kus.Cicatrix—si-kā´trix, not sĭk´a-trix nor si-kăt´rix. Plural,cicatrices(sĭk´a-trī´sēz), not sĭ-kăt´rĭ-sēz.Cimicifuga—sĭm-ĭ-sĭf´u-ga, not sĭm-i-sĭ-fū´ga nor sĭm-ĭs´i-fū´ga.Cochlea—kŏk´le-a, not kōk´le-a.Conein—ko-nē´ĭn, not kō´ne-ĭn.Conium—ko-nī´um, not kō´ni-um.Cranium—krā´ni-um, not krăn´i-um.Cynanche—sĭ-năn´kē, not sī-năn´chē.Diastase—dī´as-tāse, not dī-as´tāze.Diastole—dī-as´to-le, not dī´as-tōle.Diploe—dĭp´lo-e, not dip-lō´e.Dulcamara—dul-ka-mā´ra, not dul-sa-mā´ra. Webster gives dul-kam´a-ra also.Duodenum—du-o-dē´num, not du-ŏd´e-num.Dyspnœa—dĭsp-nē´a, not dĭs-nē´a.Emesis—ĕm´e-sis,not em-ē´sis.Epiploon—e-pĭp´lo-on, not ep-ip-lō´on.Facial—fā´shal, not făsh´i-al.Foramen—fo-rā´men, not fo-răm´en.Fungi—fun´jī not fun´gī. Plural offungus.Galbanum—găl´ba-num, not gal-bā´num.Gingiva—jĭn-jī´va, not jĭn´ji-va.Glenoid—glē´noid, not glĕn´oid.Glutæus—glū´tæ-us, according to Webster. The rest give glū-tæ´us.Helleborus—hel-lĕb´o-rus, not hel-le-bō´rus.Hyoscyamus—hī-os-sī´a-mus, not hī-os-sy-ăm´us nor hi-os-sy-ā´mus.Hyoscyamine(hī-os-sī´a-mĭn).Impetigo—ĭm-pe-tī´go, not ĭm-pĕt´i-go.Incisive—ĭn-sī´sĭv, not in-sĭs´ive.Iodoform—ī-ŏd´o-form, not ī-ō´do-form. Dunglison gives ī´o-do-form.Itis.According to Webster and Worcester this termination is pronounced ī´tĭs inbronchitis,pleuritis,gastritis, etc. Thomas and Dunglison do not specify, but the inference is that they intend the same. It is, however, so generally pronounced ē´tis, that many would object to the attention attracted by calling it ī´tis.Jejunum—je-jū´num, not jĕj´u-num.Juniperus—ju-nĭp´e-rus, not jū´ni-per-us nor ju-ni-pē´rus.Laudanum—law´da-num, not lŏd´a-num.Lentigo—len-tī´go, not lĕn´ti-go.Lepra—lĕp´ra, not lē´pra. Dunglison gives the latter.Leuwenhoek—lōō´en-hŏŏk or luh´wen-hŏŏk (U as in fur), not lōō´wen-hōke.Levator—le-vā´tor, not le-văt´or.Liquor(Latin)—lī´kwor, not lĭk´ur as in English.Magendie—mä-zhŏng-dē´, not mā-jĕn´dē.Malic—mā´lic, not măl´ic. Thomas gives the latter.Matrix—mā´trix, not măt´rix.Mistura—mĭs-tū´ra, not mĭs´tu-ra.Molecule—mŏl´e-kūle, not mō´le-kūle.Mollities—mol-lĭsh´ĭ-ēz, not mŏl´lĭ-tēz.Molybdenum—mŏl-ĭb-dē´num, not mo-lĭb´de-num.Nasmyth—nā´smith, not năz´mĭth.Nicolai—nee´ko-lī, not nĭk´o-lā.Nucleolus—nu-klē´o-lus, not nu-kle-ō´lus.Oris—ō´rĭs, not ŏr´is.Ovale—ō-vā´le, not ō-văl´e.Panizzi—pä-nĭt´see or pä-nēt´see, not pan-ĭz´zy.Pepys—pĕps, not pē´pĭs nor pĕp´ĭs.Pes Anserinus—pēz an-ser-ī´nus, not pĕz an-sĕr´i-nus. I once heard a professor describing the facial nerve to his class, and he dwelt upon this plexus for some time, calling it the "Pons Asinorum."Podagra—pŏd´a-gra, not po-dā´gra. Worcester gives po-dăg´ra also.Podophyllum—-pŏd-o-phyl´um, not po-dŏph´yl-lum.Process—prŏs´ess, not prō´sess.Prostate—pros´tāte, not prŏs´trāte.Purkinje—pŏŏr´kĭn-yeh or pŏŏr´kĭn, not par-kĭn´jē.Pylorus—pĭ-lō´rus, not pī-lôr´us.Pyrethrum—pĭr´e-thrum, not pī-rē´thrum.Quadrumana—quad-rū´ma-na, not quad-ru-mā´nia.Rubeola—ru-bē´o-la, not ru-be-ō´la.Sacrum—sā´krum, not săk´rum.Sagittal—săj´it-tal, not sa-jĭt´tal. Danglison gives the latter.Sanies—sā´nĭ-ēz, not sā´nēz nor săn´ēz.Scabies—scā´bĭ-ez, not scăb´ēz nor scā´bēz.Seidlitz—sīd´lĭtz, not sĕd´lĭtz, unless spelledSedlitz.Sinapis—si-nā´pis, not sĭn´a-pis.Squamous—skwā´mus, not skwaw´mus.Systole—sĭs´to-le, not sĭs´tōle.Tinctura—tinc-tū´ra, not tinct´u-ra.Titanium—ti-tā´ni-um, not ti-tăn´i-um.Trachea—tra-kē´a or trā´ke-a, not trăck´e-a.Tremor—trē´mor, not trĕm´-or. Webster allows the latter also.Trismus—triss´mus, not trĭz´mus.Umbilicus—um-bĭ-lī´kus, according to Worcester, Thomas and Dunglison. Webster gives um-bil´i-kus.Variola—va-rī´o-la, not va-ri-ō´la.Veratrum—ve-rā´trum, not ve-răt´rum.Vertebral—vĕr´te-bral, not ver-tē´bral.Virchow—fĭr´ko, not vïr´chow nor vïr´kow.Zinci—zĭn´si, not zink´ī.
Adipose—ăd´i-pōse, not ad´i-pōze.
Ala—ā´la, not ăl´a.Alæ, plural.
Alis—ā´lĭs, not ăl´ĭs. This as a termination of many words, such asabdominalis,digitalis,frontalis,lachrymalis,transversalis, etc., is often erroneously pronounced ăl´is.
Alumen—al-ū´men, not ăl´u-men.
Alveolus—al-vē´o-lus, not al-ve-ō´lus. Plural,alveoli(al-vē´o-lī).Alveolar—(al-vē´o-lar). Alveolus is the name given to thecavityin the jaw that is seen upon the removal of the root of a tooth, and it possesses no more tangibility than a pinch of air; almost daily, however, we hear dentists speak of extracting a tooth with a piece of thealveolusattached. What a curiosity for preservation in a museum is a tooth with a piece of a little hole fastened to the root! What is meant is a piece of thealveolar process, or portion of bone around the alveolus.
Anæmic—a-nĕm´ĭk, not a-nē´mĭk. Dunglison gives the latter.
Andral—ŏng-dräl´, not ăn´-dral.
Aphthæ—ăf´thē, not ăp´thē.
Aqua—ā´kwa, not ăk´wa.
Arcus Senilis—se-nī´lis, not sĕn´i-lis.
Areolar—a-rē´o-lar, not a-re-ō´lar.
Aris—ā´rĭs, not ăr´is in the termination ofangularis,medullaris,palmaris,orbicularis,pulmonaris, etc.
Asarum—ăs´a-rum, not a-sā´rum.
Asbestos—ăs-bĕs´tŏss, not ăz-bĕs´tōz.
Attollens—at-tŏl´lenz, not at-tō´lenz.
Azygos—az´y-gos, not a-zy´gos.
Bagge—bäg´geh, not băg.
Bimana—bī-mā´na, not bī-mā´nĭ-a.
Bismuth—bĭz´muth, not bĭss´muth.
Bitumen—bĭ-tū´men, not bĭt´u-men.
Cadaver—ka-dā´ver, not ka-dăv´er.
Caries—kā´rĭ-ēz, not kā´rēz nor kăr´rēz.
Carminative—kar-mĭn´a-tive, not kar´mi-nā-tĭve.
Caryophillus—kăr-ĭ-o-phĭl´lus, not kăr-ĭ-ŏph´ĭl-lus.
Cerebral—sĕr´e-bral, not ser-ē´bral.
Cerebric—sĕr´e-bric, not ser-ē´bric.
Cerebrum—sĕr´e-brum, not ser-ē´brum. Dunglison gives both.
Cerumen—se-rū´men, not sĕr´ū-men.
Cheyne—chān or cheen, not shāne.
Choledochus—ko-lĕd´o-kus, not kŏl-e-dō´kus nor ko-lĭd´a-kus.
Cicatrix—si-kā´trix, not sĭk´a-trix nor si-kăt´rix. Plural,cicatrices(sĭk´a-trī´sēz), not sĭ-kăt´rĭ-sēz.
Cimicifuga—sĭm-ĭ-sĭf´u-ga, not sĭm-i-sĭ-fū´ga nor sĭm-ĭs´i-fū´ga.
Cochlea—kŏk´le-a, not kōk´le-a.
Conein—ko-nē´ĭn, not kō´ne-ĭn.
Conium—ko-nī´um, not kō´ni-um.
Cranium—krā´ni-um, not krăn´i-um.
Cynanche—sĭ-năn´kē, not sī-năn´chē.
Diastase—dī´as-tāse, not dī-as´tāze.
Diastole—dī-as´to-le, not dī´as-tōle.
Diploe—dĭp´lo-e, not dip-lō´e.
Dulcamara—dul-ka-mā´ra, not dul-sa-mā´ra. Webster gives dul-kam´a-ra also.
Duodenum—du-o-dē´num, not du-ŏd´e-num.
Dyspnœa—dĭsp-nē´a, not dĭs-nē´a.
Emesis—ĕm´e-sis,not em-ē´sis.
Epiploon—e-pĭp´lo-on, not ep-ip-lō´on.
Facial—fā´shal, not făsh´i-al.
Foramen—fo-rā´men, not fo-răm´en.
Fungi—fun´jī not fun´gī. Plural offungus.
Galbanum—găl´ba-num, not gal-bā´num.
Gingiva—jĭn-jī´va, not jĭn´ji-va.
Glenoid—glē´noid, not glĕn´oid.
Glutæus—glū´tæ-us, according to Webster. The rest give glū-tæ´us.
Helleborus—hel-lĕb´o-rus, not hel-le-bō´rus.
Hyoscyamus—hī-os-sī´a-mus, not hī-os-sy-ăm´us nor hi-os-sy-ā´mus.Hyoscyamine(hī-os-sī´a-mĭn).
Impetigo—ĭm-pe-tī´go, not ĭm-pĕt´i-go.
Incisive—ĭn-sī´sĭv, not in-sĭs´ive.
Iodoform—ī-ŏd´o-form, not ī-ō´do-form. Dunglison gives ī´o-do-form.
Itis.According to Webster and Worcester this termination is pronounced ī´tĭs inbronchitis,pleuritis,gastritis, etc. Thomas and Dunglison do not specify, but the inference is that they intend the same. It is, however, so generally pronounced ē´tis, that many would object to the attention attracted by calling it ī´tis.
Jejunum—je-jū´num, not jĕj´u-num.
Juniperus—ju-nĭp´e-rus, not jū´ni-per-us nor ju-ni-pē´rus.
Laudanum—law´da-num, not lŏd´a-num.
Lentigo—len-tī´go, not lĕn´ti-go.
Lepra—lĕp´ra, not lē´pra. Dunglison gives the latter.
Leuwenhoek—lōō´en-hŏŏk or luh´wen-hŏŏk (U as in fur), not lōō´wen-hōke.
Levator—le-vā´tor, not le-văt´or.
Liquor(Latin)—lī´kwor, not lĭk´ur as in English.
Magendie—mä-zhŏng-dē´, not mā-jĕn´dē.
Malic—mā´lic, not măl´ic. Thomas gives the latter.
Matrix—mā´trix, not măt´rix.
Mistura—mĭs-tū´ra, not mĭs´tu-ra.
Molecule—mŏl´e-kūle, not mō´le-kūle.
Mollities—mol-lĭsh´ĭ-ēz, not mŏl´lĭ-tēz.
Molybdenum—mŏl-ĭb-dē´num, not mo-lĭb´de-num.
Nasmyth—nā´smith, not năz´mĭth.
Nicolai—nee´ko-lī, not nĭk´o-lā.
Nucleolus—nu-klē´o-lus, not nu-kle-ō´lus.
Oris—ō´rĭs, not ŏr´is.
Ovale—ō-vā´le, not ō-văl´e.
Panizzi—pä-nĭt´see or pä-nēt´see, not pan-ĭz´zy.
Pepys—pĕps, not pē´pĭs nor pĕp´ĭs.
Pes Anserinus—pēz an-ser-ī´nus, not pĕz an-sĕr´i-nus. I once heard a professor describing the facial nerve to his class, and he dwelt upon this plexus for some time, calling it the "Pons Asinorum."
Podagra—pŏd´a-gra, not po-dā´gra. Worcester gives po-dăg´ra also.
Podophyllum—-pŏd-o-phyl´um, not po-dŏph´yl-lum.
Process—prŏs´ess, not prō´sess.
Prostate—pros´tāte, not prŏs´trāte.
Purkinje—pŏŏr´kĭn-yeh or pŏŏr´kĭn, not par-kĭn´jē.
Pylorus—pĭ-lō´rus, not pī-lôr´us.
Pyrethrum—pĭr´e-thrum, not pī-rē´thrum.
Quadrumana—quad-rū´ma-na, not quad-ru-mā´nia.
Rubeola—ru-bē´o-la, not ru-be-ō´la.
Sacrum—sā´krum, not săk´rum.
Sagittal—săj´it-tal, not sa-jĭt´tal. Danglison gives the latter.
Sanies—sā´nĭ-ēz, not sā´nēz nor săn´ēz.
Scabies—scā´bĭ-ez, not scăb´ēz nor scā´bēz.
Seidlitz—sīd´lĭtz, not sĕd´lĭtz, unless spelledSedlitz.
Sinapis—si-nā´pis, not sĭn´a-pis.
Squamous—skwā´mus, not skwaw´mus.
Systole—sĭs´to-le, not sĭs´tōle.
Tinctura—tinc-tū´ra, not tinct´u-ra.
Titanium—ti-tā´ni-um, not ti-tăn´i-um.
Trachea—tra-kē´a or trā´ke-a, not trăck´e-a.
Tremor—trē´mor, not trĕm´-or. Webster allows the latter also.
Trismus—triss´mus, not trĭz´mus.
Umbilicus—um-bĭ-lī´kus, according to Worcester, Thomas and Dunglison. Webster gives um-bil´i-kus.
Variola—va-rī´o-la, not va-ri-ō´la.
Veratrum—ve-rā´trum, not ve-răt´rum.
Vertebral—vĕr´te-bral, not ver-tē´bral.
Virchow—fĭr´ko, not vïr´chow nor vïr´kow.
Zinci—zĭn´si, not zink´ī.
The following extract is from the letter of a friend, to whom were sent some of the advance pages of this work: "I am absolutely filled with astonishment to see how many simple words I have been mispronouncing all my life, and would have kept on mispronouncing to the end of my days if my thoughts had not been directed to them. If I were in your place I would end the book with a story in which all the words would be used in the course of the narrative. I can imagine no amusement more instructive or interesting than for a social party to read in turns, under some penalty for each mistake."
I had myself conceived the idea of presenting the words untrammeled with explanation of the orthoepy, or marks of accent; but the form was not decided upon.
The effort to compose a narrative was abandoned after a fair trial; for to have a plot and also bring the words in natural position would require a large volume; otherwise, it made senseless jumble. In the trial sentences given the objects are gained in small space. Those objects are to allow readers to exercise the memory and test their friends; and at the same time to use the words syntactically. It is hoped that the reader will pardon any absurdities of context; as they can not be avoided where one is compelled to use so many selected words, and is obliged to force them into a small compass.
The invalid came fromBremento America and hoped to be soonacclimated, but was stricken down with a disease that was notamenableto treatment, although he had many physicians:allopathists,hydropathistsandhomeopathists. He said that the aim ofallopathywas to poison him; ofhydropathyto drown him; and ofhomeopathyto let him die unaided.
One of thecombatantsstruck hisopponentin theabdomenwith a club, cut off analdertree; he was carried under the shade of anailantusand immediately expired.
Sophiafound the egg under apionynear theshumactree; but she broke it in carrying, and spilled thealbumenall over heralpacadress.
The dose for anadultis adessert-spoonful.
It was a plain supper—nothing butaeratedbread,Bolognasausage andradishes.
He told hisdemonstrative disputantthat he did not wish togetinto analtercation, but it only appeared to arouse hiscombativenessstill more.
Why do you accent theantepenultofespionage?
Heillustratedhis proposition by cutting off theapexof the figure, and then exhibited hisapparatusfor the production ofstaticalelectricity.
Two-thirdsgum-arabicand one-thirdgum-tragacanthmake a good mucilage.
Thearchbishopdreamed that anarchangelcame to him and told him to have hisarchitectsend to an island in the GrecianArchipelagofor white marble for thepilasters.
Search thearchivesof history and you will not find another suchprodigyas AdmirableCrichton.
When, aftertraversingthe ocean, you find yourself in theariddesert ofSahara, where there is noaromaof sweet flowers, or anythingat allto regale your exhausted energies; where there is noherbnorherbaceousplant near you; where you are almost famished for want of somepotablefluid; where you are in constant fear of beingharassedbytruculent nomads—then will you realize that there are no joyscomparableto those that exist around thehearthstoneof your humble home.
When the contents of themuseumwere sold byauction, the antiquary bought a roll ofpapyrusfilled withhieroglyphics, a kind ofbellowsused by the ancients for starting their fires, and a fine collection oftrilobites.
The attempt at areconnoisancein force had been unsuccessful; immediately afterreveille, the commander of thefortressputit to vote amongst his officers, whether or not they should surrender. Theayescarried it, although somevehementlyopposed on account of the excellentmoraleof the garrison.
Theheroineof themelodramasent to herbetrothed Seignioranexquisite bouquet, composed ofcatalpaflowers,dahlias,marigoldandthyme, and prayed his forgiveness for not allowing him the promisedtête-à-têteat thetrystingplace; she had been suffering with thetic-douloureux, she said. He generously forgave her and sent her asonnet, in which he said that her voice was sweeter than that ofPiccolomini, or any othercantatrice; that nohouricould be more beautiful than she; he called her a fairflorist, and afterextollinghernaïveté,roseatecheeks andnympheangraces, he swore eternalhomageand that he would love her forever and foraye.
The judgebadethedesperadocease hisbadinageand answer hisinquiries, and threatened that if he did not, he would punish him for hiscontumacy.
Thevicarwas one of thenotablemen of his day; his wife was a pattern ofindustry, anotablehousekeeper. While the birds were chirping theirmatinsong, she might be seen with herbesomin her hand.
Is this abona fidetransaction, or is it aMachiavelianattempt toinveigletheprelateinto animbroglio?
Aboothwas erected at the fair where theprettyMissesAgnesandRosalindwith muchcomplaisancedispensedgratisto the visitors,soda-waterflavored withorgeatorsarsaparilla.
GeneralSilvesterand hisprotégé,Reginald, met with acasualtythat nearly cost them their lives. The horses attached to theirBroughambecame frightened at ayachtand made atremendousleap over a high embankment into acreek.
At thezoologicalgarden was found nearly every animalextant, from a mouse to acamelopard.
Therendezvousof thetopographicalsurveyors was at the camp of some hunters on aknollnear the banks of acañon.
The monk concealed his features with hiscapochand would have beenirrecognizableif hisdiscoursehad not betrayed him.
Theétagèrestandscater-corneredin arecessand contains many beautiful ornaments that hispredecessorgatheredwithin the lastdecadeof years; amongst which may be mentioned the heads ofBeethoven,Béranger,Goethe, PercyByssheShelley, and many other celebrities, cut inonyx.
TheCaucasianraces obtained their name on account of originating near MountCaucasus.
Themischievouschildren gotcayenneall over theirchaps, by which they were sufficiently punished without any furtherchastening.
ThechivalricDon Quixote, having become amonomaniacon the subject ofchivalry, bestrode hisRosinante, and, attended by his squire, started out to performchivalrousdeeds.
Lord C. has been absent sinceFebruary, 1870; it is said that he has been travelingincognito, but it is certain that in Italy he has retained hiscognomen. He is now atModenaawaiting the recovery of hisCicerone, when he intends to visitGenoaandMilan.
Theobesityof theflorid-faced prebendary is observed to increase with hisprebend.
I have heard much of thegaminsofGotham, but I never realized what thegallows-deserving rascals were till I settled in New York City. I opened business as apharmaceutiston a corner that was a favoritehauntof theirs. Such a crowd oftatterdemalionsas stood in front of my show-window the first day I made my display ofParisianfancy goods, baffles description. One had thehoopingcough, and every now and then would hoop till theperspirationrolled down his face; then he would shriek out the dailynewspapers, in a voice like acalliope. Onedirty-facedgourmandatepapawstill he had togapefor breath, and would shoot the seeds and throw the skins at hishundredcomrades, half of them coming in my front door. Another, dressed in raggedjean, his face covered withsoot, played thejew's-harphour after hour, with as much pride in his ability asPaganiniat his violin. Another, a tall,jaundicevisaged youth with anembryobeard of about a dozen hairs, covered nearly to his heels with his great-grandfather'ssurtout, in thelapelof which was pinned a death's-head, danced upon the iron cellar door till it roared like distant artillery.
Then there were many other "partners" bearing suchsobriquetsas "Sore Snoot," "Pig Eye," "Limpy," etc.,improvising irrationalsongs, boxing,wrestling, indulging inrailleryandribaldjests, pitchingquoits,meawinglike cats, howling at mypatronsand driving reputablepatronageaway. Every now and then they would send in little,saucy,precociousurchins, who offered topatronizeme by asking for two cents' worth ofjujubepaste,toluorlicorice, or someSamaritansalvefor Jim Biles' sore nose. At last, when the sun had reached thehorizon, as afinaleof the day'sprogress, one of the young villains hurled a bowlder through my French plate-glass, which, after its flight through a lot ofcitrateof magnesia,cochinealandquinine, finally spilled a large bottle of red ink all over my newpharmacopœia. Springing over thedébris, I rushed to the door withimplacableanger flashing from my eyes. But one glance at thatimperturbablecrowd showed me howimpotentI was. One of them withplacidcountenance andstolidindifference simply accosted me with, "Say, Mister, are you going to see the 'NaiadQueen' to-night?"
I left that store in less than afortnight.
Thecomptrollerwas appointed by thegovernmentupon the supposition that he wasconversantwith the details offinance; but he was only amediocre financierand was not aware of thedeficitin thefinances, until the conscience-strickendefalcatingofficer acknowledged hisdefalcation.
The emigrants to thefrontierchose a beautiful spot for their settlement; but they found that the wells dug there and on thecontiguous prairieshad asalinetaste; so they were obliged to bring water from themountainousregion beyond, by means of aconduit.
From thecongeriespresented to the professor, he, at hisleisure,isolatedeach genus and gavegenericnames to each; and at the next meeting of thelyceum, he solicited attention to hisdataand thetruthshe had deduced.
The handsomecontourofMadameG's face has been spoiled by anexcrescencelike araspberryon hernasalorgan.
YoungPhilemonafter readingLalla Rookh,Lara, DonJuan, TheGiaour, the productions of Mrs.Hemans, and a few others, was seized with the determination to become a poet; but he has only succeeded in becoming apoetaster, without any ideas ofprosody. Moremetricalexcellence and sense can be found in thedistich:
"Mary, Mary, quitecontrary,How does your garden grow?"
"Mary, Mary, quitecontrary,How does your garden grow?"
"Mary, Mary, quitecontrary,
How does your garden grow?"
than in any of theproductsof his brain that he has given us. His brothers,EbenandPhilander, have become stage-struck, and expect to excel in theProteanart. Theirguardian, himself a great lover ofdrama, having foolish confidence in their success, grants themplenaryindulgence in all their whims. They arehabituésof thetheatre, and have fitted up asuiteof apartments next to asuitof rooms occupied by some stock actors, with whom they are bound inindissolublebonds of friendship. There they spend the day in practice, and if you should call at any hour, there is no telling what will present itself to you. Perhaps Macbeth with theglamourof his eyes, viewing the imaginarygoutsof blood; orBanquowith his gory locks; or some knight with hiscuirasson and hisvisordown, plunging, without aqualm, his carmine-stainedponiardinto thejugularof somepatriot. Possibly, Othello theMoor, King John with theMagna Charta, or alegendarywarrior of frightfulmienwith hisfalchiondrawn, will admityou. Or you may see aviscountwithfalcon, arampantvillain, ajocundhost, or anirate,spleneticold man withspectacles, pronouncing withsenile vehemencea curse upon somefragilefemale innegligeebefore him, who beseeches the aid of animmobile statuein anichein the wall. You may get there in the nick of time to save Desdemona by anexposéofIago'so villainy, to rescue Pythias whom Damon holds by thenapeof the neck on thethresholdof eternity, or to restrain thesuicidaldesign of theMontagueby informing him that the fair Capulet is only under the influence of asoporific—not dead. You may arrive soon enough to arouse the womanhood in thedocileKate, making her lessdocible, and talk woman's rights toPetruchio, making him morelenient.
And you will find the guardian of these promising youths, sitting there all day shoutingencoreto their absurdities, and notrationalenough to see hisindiscretionin permitting theirfrivolity.
Theennui, recently complained of, was relieved by an invitation to a party given by theMesdamesB., the same you met at theconversazioneof the churchguild. The ladies received their guests with their usualsuavity. Their niece,Rosamond, recently fromMadrid, was the attraction of the evening; she wore an elegantmoireantique with a profusion ofvalenciennes; she had a beautiful set of jewelry—opaland diamonds. It was marvelous how hertinyhands flew over thepiano-forte. She sings very sweetlytoo; her voice is a sort ofmezzo-soprano. ThenaïveMissUrsulawas present, nearly smothered in black silk andguipure. She looks much prettier indishabille. The littlepiquantMissIrene, with herplaitedhair, sang with a voice like aparoquether favorite, "Tasselson the Boots." That disgusting youngLeopoldwas there, feeling as important as aRothschild, making hissalams, andpalavering sotto voceto all the girls, circulating hismonogramcards and sporting his paste pin with its dazzlingfacets. He thinks he cuts a wideswath.
Late in the evening those that were fond ofTerpsichoreanamusement were ushered into a room where thetapestrywas covered and there spent several hours inminuets, waltzes, quadrilles, etc.
The topics of conversation amongst the more sensible during the evening were the object of the visit of the newprelate, and the recent speeches ofDisraeliandThiers.
Madame B. caused a good deal of merriment by describing an improvement in hercuisinethat had been introduced that day. Bridget, a late importation fromBelfast, who had charge of theculinarydepartment, was told to send for somevermicellito put in the soup, but she orderedspermacetiinstead.
There was an old superstition that when thesacristancaused the bell in thecupolato toll itsdolorousfuneral notes, themanesof former friends joinedin the solemncortege, and gathering around the grave moved their lips in inaudiblerequiem, and wrote in invisible letters upon the tomb,omega.
The greatdesideratumin the successful argument ofdisputablepoints, is the possession of anequabletemper.
Alphonso, while out huntingpartridges, fell into aslough. Being clothed only innainsook, he took a severe cold, which soon resulted infebrilesymptoms.
Dr. Mastiff'sposthumous monographon "Rabies" will soon appear. Thefrontispiecerepresents a group of dogs. Next to theprefaceis amemoirof the author. It was his own design to have "Finis" placed upon a cut of a tombstone. It almost seems that he had apresentimentof his death.
Sufficeit to say that the dentist gave the patient enough letheon to produce unconsciousness, and then applied hisforcepsto the offending tooth. Letheon, accented on the first syllable, andletheanare derived fromLethe, the name of a river described in mythology, a draught from which caused forgetfulness.
Sulphurousacid isgaseous, not liquid.
It is reported in thePall MallGazette thatBasilS., whom you met several years ago atLeipsic, is dead. He lived the life of arouéfor some years in Paris and London, and turned out to be a mostperfidiousvillain. In the latter city he committedmanyheinousoffenses and acts ofsubtleknavery that were almost withoutprecedent. He was engaged for a long time in the manufacture ofspuriousmoney by a newprocess, in which dies were taken fromgutta-perchaimpressions. He had purchased the services of an experienced professor ofmetallurgy, and theproduceof their crime would have been immense, if some of his other crimes had not been betrayed.Placards, offering a large reward for his arrest, were posted all over the city. He fled to Venice where he was soon afterward drowned by falling from agondola, thus cheating thegibbetof its dues.
The foolish lover,Ivan, rendered desperate because his rivalDariushad gained theprecedenceinMarion'sesteem, resolved to commit suicide and rushedtowardthequayand plunged into the water. Some fishermen rescued him with theirseine, poured somepotheendown his throat, and carried him home on a piece oftarpaulin. Hissousingcured him of his folly, but was a poorguerdonfor his faithfulness.
TheSaracens, taking advantage of thestrategicpoint, made a sudden dash into the territory of theusurper; while a detachmenthoughedthe horses of the enemy'scavalry, the rest proceeded on apredatoryraid characterized byrapineand terror, and after thespoliationof the villages, and the burning of thegranaries, returned to their own possessions.
Lionel,prejudicedagainst the world on accountofonerouscares, concluded to make asacrificeof his wealth and position and become arecluse. His littlehovelon theheather, whitened with lime which he himselfslaked, and the little flower gardenredolentof spring, present a strange contrast with his former mansion and magnificent grounds.
Evaanswered theinquiryof the French gentleman, "Parlez-vous français?" with a "Oui;" but when she came to converse with him, he understood about as much of herpatoisas he did ofHindoostanee.
There is a fabulous report that theupastree exhales asubtilevapor that is fatal to animal life.
SinceJoshuahas obtained his lucrativesinecure, he spends his time in riding about in hisphaetonand readingromances. He islothto acknowledge that he was ever aplebeianand did all kinds ofservilework. He is confident that hisgenealogy, if known, would show that he was unto amanorborn, and that somesupposititiouschild robbed him of his rights.
The knight dropped hiswassail cupand sprang to the assistance of the ladies. "Gramercy,"quoththey,simultaneously.
Theveterinaryphysician said that the disease wasmurrain.
Aninfinitesimalquantity ofyeastexcited the fermentation.
Augustinestudiedmicroscopyjust long enough to learn that amonadis one of the simplest kind of minuteanimalcules; he then tried chemistry andmineralogy, but he could not master thenomenclature; he then took a fancy fortelegraphy, but soon abandoned the idea of becoming atelegraphist. At last accounts, he apprenticed himself to a druggist, but was told tovamossoon after making up a lot ofSeidlitzpowders with oxalic instead oftartaricacid.
Artemashas applied for apatenton an improvedturbinewheel.
Mr. B., recollecting theprecedentservices of his servant, advanced him money enough to lift thelienon his dwelling.
Thelithographerhad only a poormelanotypeto copy from, but he succeeded in making an excellent print.
"Thou shalt destroy them that speakleasing," is found in the sixth verse of the fifthpsalm.
At the examination inorthoepy,Deborahhad the following words given to her:contumely,crinoline,feudal,fetid,fetor,gerund,gneiss,gyrfalcon,harem,Hawaiian,hygiene,lariat,leverage,nonillion,obligatory,platina,platinum,psalmody,psychical,purulent,pyrites,recherché,résumé,sacerdotal,sacrament,schism,shekel,stearineandtroches.
The objective, me, isoftenerroneously used instead of thenominative, I, in answer to the question—"Who is there?"
In thedramatis personæof "Midsummer Night's Dream,"OberonandTitania, king and queen of the fairies, are introduced.
At the examination in geography,Adawas required to draw a map ofAsia, which would have been well done, if she had not drawnPersia,AfghanistanandBeloochistannearly twice their proper size. She was then asked to give the location and length of theAltaiandVosgesmountains, and the height of their principal peaks; a description of theAral,AdriaticandCaribbeanseas; the course and length of theAmoorandYang tse-kiang; and the location and population ofValparaiso(Chili),Bantam, (Java),Norwich, (Eng.),Pesth,Quebec,Valenciennes,Neufchatel,NantesandAix-la-Chapelle.
Her sister,Frances, was told to draw maps ofBuenos AyresandOtaheite, and to boundVenezuelaandArkansas; to give the length and direction of theAraguay,Juniata,Kankakee,BarbadosandSan Joaquin; the location of CapeAgulhas; the situation and population ofBingen,Calais,Canton,Acapulco,Chuquisaca,Delhi,Dubuque,Jeddo,Quereturo,Truxillo,LeicesterandVevay, and a description ofSumatra,Zanzibar,Barbadoesand theAntilles.
Sigismundhas just returned fromYosemiteValley.
Cecily,ChloeandViolahave just passed their examination in biography. The names presented to them were the following:N. S. Adam(Fr.),G. Adam(Ger.),Beatrice Cenci,Blucher,Boccaccio,Anne Boleyn,Marco Bozzaris,Joseph Buonaparte,D'Aubigné,Daubigny,Drouyn de Lhuys,Juarez,Lavater,Marat,Marion,Catherine de Medici,Moultrie,Ovid,Pliny,Ponce de LeonandRichelieu.
Many, who claim to be good grammarians, are occasionally guilty of the violation of certain important rules. Attention is solicited to a few of the more common errors of this nature.
Certain compounds change the form of the first word in pluralizing, as:court-martial,brother-in-law,sister-in-law. Plural,courts-martial,brothers-in-law, etc. "John has three brother-in-laws," then, is incorrect.
Buttea-spoonful,table-spoonful,cupful,pocketful, etc., are not considered such compounds; therefore, "two tea-spoonsful of medicine" and "two-cupsful of flour," should be, "two tea-spoonfuls of medicine," and "two cupfuls of flour."
When name and title are given, with a numeral adjective prefixed, thenameis pluralized. "Are the two Misses Wilson at home?" should be, "Are the two Miss Wilsons at home?" But when the numeral is omitted thetitlemust be pluralized. "Were the Dr. Browns there?" should be, "Were the Drs. Brown there?" The rule has been given that thenameonly of married ladies is pluralized, but there appears to be no reason except that of euphony: theMrs. Clarkscertainly sounds more agreeably than theMistresses Clark. In giving the plural of such titles as:Hon.,Rev.,SquireandCapt., euphony is also often considered; but in such cases it would doubtless be better to add the numeral, as: thethree Hon. Jacksons.
Each otherapplies to two;one anotherto more than two. "The three witnesses contradicted each other," and "the two men accused one another," are incorrect.
Neitherandnotare followed bynor, notor. "Neither James or Charles will come," and "it is not white or black," are incorrect.
Words united byto be, referring to the same person, must be of the same case.
"It is me," "It may have been him," "It couldnot be her," and "It was not them," are not correct:it, in each of the sentences, isnominativeand the other pronouns should beI,he,sheandthey. "I took it to be he," and "I understood it to be they," are also wrong; foritis objective in both instances, and the following pronouns should behimandthem.
Thanandasimplying comparison, have the same case after as before. "He loses more than me," "John knows more than him" and "James is not so tall as her," should be, "He loses more than I" (lose), "John knows more than he" (knows) and "James is not so tall as she" (is tall).
Errors connected with the use of this word are very common, even amongst good speakers.
"Who did you see?" "Who do you know?" and "Who did you hear?" are wrong:whomshould be used, for it is the object of the transitive verbs,see,knowandhear.Whoin such sentences as: "Who are you looking at?" and "Who are you writing to?" should likewise be changed intowhom, for it is theobjectof the prepositionsatandto.
Adjectives are often erroneously used for adverbs in sentences like the following: "This is an uncommon good portrait," "It is a miserable poor painting."Uncommonly goodandmiserably poorare right.
Adverbs are still more commonly used for adjectives. "Mary lookedbeautifullyat the party," and "Janauschek lookedmajesticallyon the stage," are incorrect, for it is intended to describe the appearance of Mary and Janauschek, not their manner of looking; therefore the adjectivesbeautifulandmajesticshould be used.
Whentwoobjects are compared, thecomparativedegree should be used. "William is the heaviest of the two," and "Which is the most desirable—health or wealth?" ought to be, "William is the heavier of the two," and "Which is the more desirable—health or wealth?"
The plural demonstrativestheseandthoseare often erroneously used with singular nouns, as: "I don't like these kind of people," and "Those sort of things are very embarrassing."Kindandsortare singular and should havethisandthat.
Into, notin, is used to show the relation between verbs expressing motion, entrance, change of state, etc., and an objective case, as: "Come into the house," "Step into the carriage," and "Look into the room."