ON THE USE OF FOREIGN TONGUES.

Observer, Volume 7, Issue 334, 2 May 1885, Page 15

ON THE USE OF FOREIGN TONGUES.

"If Braider Shindig WatMns am in de hall to-night, he will please step dis way," said Brother Gardner, as* everybody except Bed-Eock Taylor drew in his feet and ceased coughing. Brother Watkius made his way to the President's desk with a look ,of keen expectancy on his face. " Brudder Watkiias," continued the President, " I now want to spoke to you indiwidually. On seberal oceashuns I has heard you wind up an observashun wid cum dig soils. Has you got any diggin' to do ? " "N— no, sah." " Ain't gwine to dig a cellar or a well ? " "No sah." " Do you know anybody named Solis ? " " I reckon not, sah." " Den why did you call on Solis to come an' dig?" " I dunno." * "Urn! on odder occasions, Brudder Watkins, I has heard you speak of aqua 2>ura, lias you much of a winter's stock on hand?" "I— l— no, sah," " Dats too bad ! I war' gwine to buy a ton or so of you. All out, eh ? Now, Brudder Watkins, what did you mean one day last week when you told Giveadam Jones dat you felt en dishabille «" " I doan remember, sah." "Doan, eh! Doan happen to have any m dishabille in your pocket to-night, do you?" " No, sah." * " Dats sad — werry sad ! At de oyster pa'ty de odder ebenin' you told de widder Callforth dat you nebber went, out at nights widout your slmilia simiUbus curantur wid you. How many iinies does it shoot, Brudder Watkins ?" ''I — l dunno, sah." " Which pocket do you carry it in ?" " None of 'em." "Brudder Watkins, look me in de left eye ! De man who has looked in at de back doah of a college am not speshually called upon to give the fack away. An', too, de English langwidge am so plain an' easy dat anybody kin make hisself understood widout breakin' his back. When de President of a Eepublic like dis sends fo'th an annual message in sich simple English dat skule boys kin swailer ebery word, dar hain't much call -fur de likes of us to stand on de hind platform of a street-kyar and call Out *. ' Ad interim a miens luimani generis ante helium comme jefus \ ' We know it widout his givin.' hisself away. Take yer seat, Brudder Watkins, an' let me hope dat you will hencefo'th use de langwidge of de kentry in irnpartiii T de infurmashun dat you went to bed wid cold feet an' got up wid a backache."