EDITOR'S WALLET.
Arrah, Why Don't You Spake Plain
English !
In AugUßt last I formed one of a Swiss touring party, and, being Irish, I " chummed " with three other Irish fellows, who were, like myself, strong in tho Irish accent, but nothing to boast about in French.
All four of us went to a tobacconist's shop in Geneva, where a pretty girl served. One of the party blundered out his request in atrocious French, but with an unmistakably Irish brogue.
The girl smiled and astonished us by replying in a broad accent : " Arrah ! why don't you speak plain English ; shure, we're all from Cork !"
This phrase became a classic amongst us, and was repeated when a waiter or any person should say something in French we did not understand
On our way home the same four were travelling in Paris by the railway which connects the Gare de Lyon with the Gare dv Nord, and one ol the 'party had th-., impudence to commence femoking in a non-smoking compartment. The conductor happened to come in, and commenced denouncing us in approved French fashion.
I was so tickled by his gesticulations that I slung at him the phrase: " Arrah ! why don't you bpake plain English? Shure," etc.
In a moment he seemed electrified, and, giving a hearty laugh, he exclaimed : " Arc ye, bedad? If ye are, shure ye may slunoke where yo like,,"
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/OW18990413.2.291
Bibliographic details
Otago Witness, Issue 2355, 13 April 1899, Page 60
Word Count
231EDITOR'S WALLET. Otago Witness, Issue 2355, 13 April 1899, Page 60
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