ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS

New Zealand Tablet, 7 August 1919, Page 17

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS

“Tohunga.” —Certainly the “George” to whom our correspondent last week referred was Lloyd George —or if you prefer it, Mr. George. “E. U. M.”— rosary beads does not lose its blessing if lent to another person. Either the owner, or the person to whom it is lent may gain the Indulgences attached to it. “Waimai.” —No less than nine members of the Am- , erican Peace Commission Staff resigned as a protest against the betrayal of America by Clemenceau and Mr. George. They made it very clear to President Wilson that in their opinion he had been fooled and browbeaten by the European prospectors, and that he would have been truer to himself as well as to his word had he fought openly for the terms to which Americans were pledged. Our press of course did not tell us of all this. But be sure much will be heard of it in America one day soon. ,W. G. O’C.—Surely it is not our business to teach the editor of the Otago, Daily Times English. As you say only ignorance of English and of manners could enable him to call Mr. de Valera a “notorious” person. The word may have an indifferent meaning when used with reference to facts, but when predicated of persons it is surely opprobrious. Cfr. Oxford Dictionary designation of persons, conduct, etc., that imply condemnation) undisguised, talked of, generally known to deserve the name (//. smuggler, offender , vice); unfavorably known (for some quality or conduct, or abs. ; a ship n. for ill-luck; the n. Titus Oates). Of course in the eyes of champions of small nations and of their satellites a man who asks that English Ministers keep their war-pledges is undoubtedly notorious ! A proper application of the word would be to call a forger (“Givis,” for example) notorious.