English As Taught

Mark Twaiu contributes to the April C' ntury utldei the above title soine cx.iii- pies of the curious auswers made by i'iiiilsin our schools: We quote a few as follnws: "Aborigines, a system of mountains. Alias, n L))(! man in tbe bible. AmendabU, ariythlrtg that ta mean. Aisidudity, state of beinj: au acid. .1 iirih ., pertaining to an oriöce. AmiKOiau, the fooil of the fioils. CapiUary, a liitle Caterpillar. Gorniferoui, rocks in which fossil corn is f mud. l'nwlument, a head stotie to a grave. Jíquettrian, one who asks queations. Bfueharitt, one who plays tuchre. Frunchi,e, anythlng belongiDg to the French. Idohiter, a very idol person. Ipecnc, a man who likesa jiood dlnner. Irrígate, to make fan of. Menducious, what can be niended. Mercenary, one who feels for another. l'iimstte, a kind of iinibiella. Parasite, the murder of an infant. Publican, a ïumi who does hls prayers in public. TiiKieiou, ten acres of land." Here is one where the phrase publicans and sinncrs" has pot mixed up in the ululd'a mind with politics, mul the result i a deUnltton whieii takea one In a sudden and micxpected way : ' liepublican, a sinner mentioneil in the bil Ie." Aléo in democratie newspapers now and tlicn. Here are two where the tttstake has reralted l'rom xminl assioted by reinóte fact : ¦¦ l'nujiarist, e wiiter of plays. "Demagogue, a vesel oonUlnlng beer and other liquids." Here is one which - w 11, now, how ui en we do slaiu right into the trulh wii hout ever snspecting it: "The men employeii by the gas eompany go round and .-pseulate the meter1' And here - with "zuülogioul" and "geoi". ical" In hls mind, but not readv to bis loi gue - the smull scholar has innoceiitly ¦ lie and let out a couple of Secreta H liich ou;ht never to have been divulged n any circunistances: "Tlieie are a good niany donkeys in !' olojrical gardeu. "SoDie ot th.l best fossils are found in tbeological cabinets."