17 OCTOBER 1896, Page 15

MISQUOTATIONS.

To THE EDITOR 07 THE "SPECTATOR.") Srit,—Is it possible to trace the origin of a constant misquota- tion, for which there is no very obvious reason In the article by Cecil de Tbierry quoted by you from the Contemporary Review in the Spectator of October 3rd, there is an instance of this error. The American women, says the article, "are luxuries for which man must pay with the sweat of his brow." The reference is, no doubt, to Genesis iii. 19, which runs

thus :—" In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread." But it is rare indeed to find the phrase correctly quoted, authors of every kind apparently conspiring together to perpetuate a misquotation.—I am, Sir, &c..