ENGLISH AS SHE IS SPOKEN.

North Otago Times, 8 January 1908, Page 2 (Supplement)

ENGLISH AS SHE IS SPOKEN.

Tourists' phrase-books arc over a delightful and humorous study. A phrasc-W, which a Frenchman vtaa making great uso of, contained the following "simple" sentences : "Of rosbif before me, please, a plate put." "Tho train, please porter,' to Waterloo when tho train clears away, at what hour ?"

"I desiro tho Palace of Buckingham the King to find." "Ono pound, please, a half me B ive ' ' ' \. , j "The cottage to find of the Lord Mayor I wish." "Tho train, sho backwards starts at what hour 7"

"The Btrcet;, what natrio has he?"

An Italian phrase-book which a worthy padro was carrying gave a dialogue which would take place if the tourist entered a shop to buy a hat. It ran thus :

"Hatter: 'lt is a lovely fine morning.' ,

"Customer; 'Praise be tq goodness yes.' "Hatter: 'My little shop is bursting with big hats, sir." "Customer: 'Ono I will take with yearning, soft, and unlined with any sort of cloth.'

"Hatter: 'lt is very strenuous to fit as your head is largo exceedingly." "Customer: 'I am pressed much, shop I hurriedly wish to remove.'" And yet wo manage to understand them. Who shall say that Englishmen are dull of comprehension after this 7