0 [To THE EDITOR or ma .Sracrsroul
Sin,—Here is another story for the friendly consideration of those who are discussing the advisability of dispensing
with that useful little aid to clarity, the comma. In IBM Harrow School celebrated its tercentenary, and in the official programme of the day's proceedings as originally printed it was stated that after the luncheon there would be " speeches; interspersed with songs, by three hundred of the boys." Imagine three hundred speeches from boys! As the boy of to-day would say, if he heard of the proposal—" Help!"
Happily the peccant comma was detected in time. •
While I am writing on this subject allow me to ask why it is almost universal for people when they rehearse the Lord's Prayer to say the words, "Thy will be done, in earth as it is in Heaven," as though the comma came after " earth " and not after "done." The mistake is even more common than the reading of the words " Onr most gracious Sovereign Lord, King George" as though "Sovereign" were a substantive and "Lord King George" a composite title in apposition to it. Only the clergy err here of course. But it is curious how often they do ern—I am, Sir, 8tc., •
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