The philanthropic hostess entertained a party of children from the slums at her home. She addressed one particularly pretty and intelligent-looking little girl, who listened shyly. She urged the child to speak without embarrassment. The little one complied, aspiring:
"How many children have you?"
"Six," the hostess answered, in surprise.
"What a big family! You must be sure to look after them properly, and be very careful to keep them clean."
"I'll try to, certainly," the lady declared, much amused.
"Has your husband got a job?" the girl demanded crisply.
"Well, no," the hostess admitted.
"How unfortunate! You know you must keep out of debt."
"Really, you must not be impertinent," was the reproof.
"No, ma'am," the child responded simply, "mother said I must talk like a lady, and that's the way the ladies talk when they come to see us."
SPANKING
Back in those days when corporal punishment was permitted to teachers, a minor teacher named Miss Bings complained to one of her superiors, Miss Manners, that she had spanked one particular boy, Thomas, until she could spank him no more for physical fatigue.
"When you want him spanked again, send him to me," Miss Manners said.
Next morning, Thomas came into the presence of Miss Manners, displaying an air that was downcast. The teacher regarded him with suspicion.
"Did you come from Miss Bings?" she asked sharply.
"Yes, ma'am," Thomas admitted.
"I thought as much!" On the instant, she skillfully inverted the youngster over her lap, and whacked him in a most spirited manner. This duty done, as the wailings of the boy died away, she demanded sternly:
"And now what have you to say?"
"Please, ma'am," Thomas answered brokenly, "Miss Bings wants the scissors!"
SPEED
In the business college, the instructor addressed the new class concerning the merits of shorthand. In his remarks, he included this statement:
"It is a matter of record that it took the poet Gray seven years to write his famous poem, 'Elegy in a Country Churchyard.' Had he been proficient in stenography, he could have done it in seven minutes. We have had students who have written it in that length of time."
The young lady interested in botany inquired of the gentleman who had been traveling in the South.
"What sort of a plant is the Virginia creeper?"
"That is not a plant," was the answer, given wearily; "it's a railroad."
SPELLING
Some time before Mr. Taft became President of the United States, he took an extended trip in the mountains of West Virginia. On one occasion, he was conveyed along the mountain roads in a buggy driven by a native of the region. As they came to a small stream, Mr. Taft, without any particular interest, inquired concerning the brook's name. So far as he could understand, the answer was:
"This here are Swum-swum Crick."
"What?" Mr. Taft demanded.
In the repetition, the words sounded like:
"This here are Swoovel Crick."
The questioner was so puzzled that he asked the mountaineer how the name of the Creek was spelled.
The native spat tobacco juice reflectively over the wheel, and then spoke judicially:
"Waal, some spells it one way, an' some spells it another way; but in my jedgmint thar are no propeer way."
The clerk of the court directed the witness to spell his name. The man started his reply thus:
"_O_ double _t_, _i_ double _u_, _e_ double _l_, double _u_, double----"
The clerk interrupted:
"Please, begin again."
The witness complied glibly:
"_O_ double _t_, _i_ double _u_, _e_ double _l_, double _u_, double _o_----"
The clerk groaned. The judge himself intervened: "What is your name?"
"Your Honor, it is Ottiwell Wood. I spell it: _O_ double _t_, _i_ double _u_, _e_ double _l_, double _u_, double _o_, _d_."
SPINSTERHOOD
The old colored mammy took advantage of a wedding announcement to question her mistress, who remained a spinster still though approaching middle age.
"When is you gwine to git married, missy?"