MALAPROPS AND PORTMANTOLOGISMS.
[To THE EDITOR Or TEE "1316CTATOR..1 Sca, Will you allow me to add a couple of examples to the Amusing specimens of lapsus ling= that have recently appeared in your pages P Many years since, when, as a young curate, I had been delivering a sermon on the "Forgiveness of Injuries" in Hurstmoncenx Church, and, as I flattered myself, with consider- able power, on returning to the vestry my dear old rector, Julius Hare, said to me, with the well-known queer smile on his rugged face,—" Do you know what yon have been saying to the people ? I only hope they won't follow your advice." " Why, what ?" I -asked with some surprise. " Why, you've been telling them over and over again to be sure always to return evil for good." Need I say that my good opinion of myself and of my sermon was seriously and wholesomely lessened ?
The other example occurred at a well-known watering-place. Sitting next to a lady resident at table, the name of a gentle. man also resident there having been mentioned, some conversa- tion arose which showed that I was well acquainted with him. -"Dear me I" said the lady; "I did not know that Mr. P— was such a friend of yours." "Yes," I replied, "we have known one another for years. We are both antiquarians, you know." " Oh, yes," was the reply ; "have you heard that we are going to have an aquarium here ?" I need hardly say that I speedily, and I hope skilfully, changed the subject. —I am, Sir, &c., The Precentery, Lincoln, May 2nd. EDMUND VENABLES.
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