Ixxvi PROCEEDINGS. 
somewhat alike in sound but totally different in meaning. Sometimes 
these are as ludicrous as any that have appeared under the name of ‘irs. 
Partington. Dr. Pilot has given a number of instances of this kind, as 
bigamous for bigoted, meaning obstinate in his opinions, circus court for 
circuit court, commodation for recommendation, as for example, a 
servant’s character. And we have heard a good janitor of a church 
having his feelings hurt by being obliged to use antichrist (anthracite) 
coal. Then there are words variously mangled in the pronunciation by 
the ignorant, as désmolish for demolish, and nons/cal for nonsensical. 
Such a use of words is generally very limited, perhaps not extending 
beyond a single individual. In any case they are simply the blunders 
of the ignorant, and unless commonly adopted are of little interest to the 
student. Sometimes a word does thus come into use, as may be seen in 
the word expensible for expensive. 
Like all uneducated people they have idomatic phrases or a sort of 
proverbial expressions. often based on the circumstances of their daily 
life, which are frequently expressive. Thus they will describe a simple- 
ton or greenhorn as not well baked or only half baked. They will also 
describe a similar character as having a slate off, indicating the same 
that is meant by aman having something wrong in his upper story. 
This saying was doubtless brought with them from the old country ; but 
as slates are not used among them for the covering of houses, they have 
adapted the saying to the country by speaking of such a man as having 
a shingle loose. An increase of cold may be described as the weather 
being a jacket colder and when feeling its severity they speak of being 
nipped with cold. Again, a man describing his poverty said he had 
nothing to eat but a bare-leqged herring, meaning a herring without 
anything to eat with it. So stark naked tea is tea without milk or sweet- 
ening, or sweetness, as the fishermen call it, molasses being known as 
long sweetness and sugar as short sweetness. To put away a thing 
too choice is to lay it aside so carefully as not to be able to find 
it. To pay ones practice is to pay the accustomed dues to the 
minister or doctor. Over right is for opposite or against. To put 
your handsignment is to sign your name. When a fisherman has 
a good catch of fish he has taken a smart few, but if he has met 
with only partial success he has only caught a scattered few, and if 
fish have been very scarce he will describe himself as_ getting 
only a scattered one. Quite an expressive phrase is getting into 
