"Howlers."

Waiapu Church Gazette, Volume IV, Issue 1, 1 July 1913, Page 5

"Howlers."

In this particular instance the word "howler." is used m the school boy technical sense of something-, rather out of the ordinary m the way of mistakes m examination papers. To an examiner a •" howler " is sometimes fascinating arid suggestive, and at once creates visions arid surmises as to what particular line of thought happened to be running m the mind of the individual responsible for such " howler." Be it said to the comfort and consolation of those who sometimes " howl," that a " howler " may be the outwarid and visible testimony of latent genius struggling to realize itself; or of striking originality waiting to be revealed m due time. In the monotony of correcting examination papers, an examiner gets many side lights on the working of the human mind, as well as on many other subjects'. Thus far by way of preface and excuse for mentioning a few of the " howlers " made m the recent Diocesan examination. They will doubtless afford food for thought m many instances. Question : When and by whomi were the following words spoken, "Go thou and do likewise " ? Answer : The thief on the cross. Question : What is a miracle ? Answer : A miracle is a lie or a thino- done without your mothers or fathers noing (sic)*. Question : What did your Godfathers and Godmothers then for you ? Answer : They did Promise and vow, first that I should learn the pomps and vanity of this wicked world, arid secondly that I should renounce all the things m the Christian life. Question : What does thie word " renounce." mean ? Answer : To renounce the articles of the Christian faith. Question ' What are the chief Festivals of the Christian year ? Answer : Christmas, Boxing Day, New Year, Labour Day, and Show Day. Question : What does the word Christmas mean ?

Answer : When we Have spiorts arid races. A certain conlusiori of thought is observable m the answer to the qiuestion concerning the meaning, of Easter. Answer : On Easter Jesus was nailed to the Cross, to remember it they make hot cross buns. There was certainly a stroke of genius m one answer to the question, What is the meaning of "pomps and vanity " ? Answer : Pomps means full and vanity empty. " Vants and 'pomety" for " pomps arid vanity " has added yet another to the already long list of " Spoonerisms'."