WILL-O'-THE-WISPS" OR " W ILLS-0'. THE- WISP " ?
[To THE EIHTOE or THE ':len-mon:I
• Eis,—With a little reflection I think " Inquirer " must fall into line with your leader-writer as to the proper plural for hyphenated compound words. The following are all surely sigmated" on their fore and not their latter ends: " Com- manders-in-Chief," " General Officers commanding," " maids- of-all-work," "queens-of-the-may," "men-of-war," " mothers- in-law," "Jacks-in-the-box," "Jacks-in-office." The French language can always point the way for purity and correct- ness, and here we find Aides-de-camp," " chefs-de-gare," "coups d'Etat," "bateaux it vapeur," "chemins-de-fen" " Will- o'-the-wisp" is seldom used in the plural, and the ear and eye are not accustomed to its sound and appearance in that case, which may have caused "Inquirer" to boggle thereat.
am, Sir, 8sc., R. G. Haswean. 23 The Grange, Wimbledon, S.W.
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