WORD-TWISTING.
[To TEE EDITOR or THE ”SescrAroa..)
SIR,—There are two curious instances of word-twisting which may have become accepted instead of the originals. The expression common among young men, "as right as a trivet," doss not convey much, for a trivet, or three-legged stool, is more often wrong than right, whereas the possible original, "tight as a rivet," is forcible. Again, what is a butterfly but a flutter-by ?
The confusion does not rest with words, but is not uncommon in ideas. I was once present in a Court of Justice when a prisoner produced a baptismal certificate in proof of having attained a certain age. The learned Judge refused to accept the evidence, not from any informality, but because a person could be baptised at any age. He clearly was regarding the proffered evidence as one of infancy. No harm was done, as after a few words from an officer of the Court, the Judge acknowledged the mistake.—I am, Sir, &c., J. K.
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