Oddities of English.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXIX, Issue 52, 26 December 1901, Page 29

Oddities of English.

IMAGINE yourself a foreigner striving to master the construction of the English language. Perhaps you may be gazing at a number of vessels on the water and exclaim : ' See what a flock of ships ! ' You are at once told that a flock of ships is called a fleet, and that a fleet of sheep is called a flock. It might also be added for your future guidance that a flock of girls is called a bevy, while a bevy of wolves is called a pack ; yet a pack of thieves is called a gang, and a gang of angels is called a host ; but a host of porpoises is called >a shoal ; and a shoal of buffaloes is called a herd. Still a herd of children is called a troop, but a troop of partridges is called a covey ; a covey of beauties is called a galaxy, while a galaxy of ruffians is called a horde ; further, a horde of rubbish is called a heap, yet a heap of oxen is called a drove ; a drove of blackguards is called a mob, but a mob of whales is called a school ; a school of worshippers is called a congregation, while a congregation of engineers is called a corps ; a corps of robbers is called a band, though a band of locusts is called a swarm, and a swarm of people is called a crowd ; a crowd of pictures is called a collection, but a collection of money is called a hoard, and a hoard of people is called a company ; a company of ministers, however, is called an assembly, and an assembly of soldiers is called a muster. 'Stop, stop ! ' methinks 1 hear you cry. I cannot remember half of it.

Mr. E. W. Cole, the*, well-known bookseller, is close on 70 years old, and has lived in Melbourne for 50 years. He began his business with a hawker's barrow in the Eastern Market in that city, and he now owns the biggest book establishment in Australia — the famous Melbourne Arcade — while he runs branches in Sydney and Adelaide.

The Deaf Hear.— No. 301 of the ' Illustrated World,' of 62G Chiswick High road, London, W., England, contains a description of a remarkable cure for deafness and head noises which may be carried out at the patient's home, and which is said to be a certain cure. This number will be sent free to any deaf person sending their address to the editor, ' Illustrated World,' at the above address. — •**

MYERS AND CO., Dentists, Octagon, corner of George street- They guarantee highest class work at moderate fees. Their artificial teeth give general satisfaction, and the fact of them supplying a temporary denture while the gums are healing does away with the inconvenience ot being months without teeth. They manufacture a single artificial tooth for Ten Shillings, and sets equally moderate. The administration of nitrousoxide gas is also a great boon to those needing the extraction of a tooth. Read advertisement.— ••• THE HOLIDAYS ARE HERE !. What are you going to give your boys and girls for a Christmas present ? If you use ' Book Gift ' Tea you can have your choice from our catalogue of over 500 good and useful books, absolutely free. If you cannot procure catalogues of books from your grocer, send to W. Scoular and Co., wholesale agents, Dunedin, and a copy will be posted you by return mail The following useful books are on our catalogue : — Mrs. Beeton's Book on Cookiery and household management, given with 61b of tea ; The Doctor at Home, a book that should be in every house, given with 101t> of tea ; The Amateur Carpenter, given with 101 bof tea ; The Enquirer's Oracle, or Enquire within upon everything. The money spent by others in extensive advertising and showy labels and tins is given by us to the customer in the form of high class literature. — * # * Doctor : ' I hope your husband followed my prescription.' Mrs. Smith: ' No, indeed. If he had, he'd have >>-oken his neck;.' Doctor : ' Broken ..is neck ? ' Mrs. Smith : ' Yes ; he tiirew it out of the fourth floor window. What he wants is a Daisy Cart from MORROW BASSETT'S, and he won't be happy until he gets one. — *** The efficacy of TUSSICURA in all lung and throat complaint is undeniable ; it ' touches the spot ' every time. Price, 2.s 6d. Kempthorne, Prossor ami Co , agents. — *•* Lost a severe attack of rheumatism by the application of WITCHES' OIL. Experience shows it acts like magic. — ***