ARRAH WHY DON'T YOU SPEAK PLAIN ENGLISH.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11402, 20 April 1899, Page 7

ARRAH WHY DON'T YOU SPEAK PLAIN ENGLISH.

1 in August last I formed one of a Swiss touri'lig party, and, being Irish, I " chummed " | i with threo other Irish follows, who were, like j i myself, strong in tho Irish accent, but nothing !_, to boast about in French, 'i"* I All four of us went to a tobacconist's shop "5 ' in Geneva, whero a pretty girl served. One J i of tho party blundered out his request in r' ' atrocious French, but with an unmistakably » I liish brogue. A ' Tho girl smiled and astonished us by roplyj I ing in a broad accent: "Arrali! why don't tf I you speak plain English; shure, wo'ro all J fiom Cork'" *J' \ This phrase became a classic amongst us, ) nnd whs repeated when a waiter or any person bliould say something in French we did not j i understand. *j ' On our way nomo the nnmo four woro tra(l % tiling in Paris by the railway which ooni noets the Garo di< I.yon with the Gare dv Nord, and ono of the parly had the impii- ( ' ilence to commonce smoking in a non-smoking I 1 compartment. Tho conductor happened to j j como m, and commenced denouncing us in ' j approved French fashion, jj I was so tickled by his gesticulations that A I slung at him the phrase: "Arrali! why h don't you spake plain Knglish? Sluiro," J etc. . In a moment he seemed electrified, and, i giving a hearty laugh, ho exclaimed: "Aro ye, bedad? If ye aro, shuro ye may sbmoke I whero yo like."