[To THE EDITOR OP THE " SPECTATOR."] SIR, —The blunder of
the English school-boy is only a blunder, more or less amusing, as more or less wide of the mark. It has been reserved for his American cousin to make up for want of knowledge by ingenuity. Many years ago, as a master in a Canadian school, I heard the following examples of the above, both from American boys. This was from prose (if I remember rightly, from the " Principia Latina, Part II.," of the ingenious Dr. Smith) :—" Nuntius, the messenger, fessus exspe,ctando, not knowing what to make of it." And this was from Ovid's description of a Scythian Winter :—" Tanta- -que via commoti Aquilonis," " and so great is the rigour [understand of the winter '1 that even the eagle is obliged to move." When pressed for further details he explained, in that superior way that only an American school-boy can assume,—" You see, the eagle was a hardy bird in general, and -could stand most winters : but this particular one was kinder too rigorous for him, so he had to put.' "—I am, Sir, &e., A. WENTWORTH POWELL.
Glanhowey, Radnorshire, September 5th, 1889.
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