h more tolerance; but as the definitions and the orthoepy
might be so readily learned together during those years of daily
reference to books that are required before one should be considered
competent to stand as a guide to others, it certainly seems that they do
not properly appreciate the dignity of their position by thus laying
themselves open to public criticism.

Many a student, in order to become instructed in certain branches, has
been compelled to reluctantly sit for months or years at the feet of
those that he felt were far inferior to him in common school
education, hearing hourly such violations of orthoepy and syntax as
would be a discredit to school children. And, doubtless, many such
students have had such a charity for their teachers that they have
wished to direct their attention to their faults, but have been
restrained on account of the fear of enmity, expulsion, or of
lessening the chances for passing the final examination.

The bare thought of being so criticised should be so galling to any
one bearing the dignified title of "professor," that he ought to be
stimulated to endeavor to make himself an authority concerning the
proprieties of speech.

The study of orthoepy was held in such high esteem by the accent
Greeks, and their delicate ears were so offended by any violation of
its rules, that if an orator mispronounced a single word, the entire
audience immediately hissed him.

During the present state of pronunciation it would indeed be
embarrassing to the public speaker, if such a custom existed in this
country. Let us imagine, for instance, our friend Professor Abdominous
Gynaecophonus, with his face ebullient with smiles of self-conceit,
arising to address such an audience. "Gentlemen: I have listened
patiently to this op'po-nent (_hisses_) of al'lo-path-y (_hisses_) and
now arise to make a few remarks and in'quir-ies (_hisses_). In answer
to his objections against hy-os-cy-[=a]'mus (_hisses_) as an anodyne
and s[=o]'por-if-ic, (_hisses_) I would say that in cases of cough and
sleeplessness, I have long used hyoscyamia combined in tr[=o]'ch[)e]z
(_hisses_) without any of those effects that the p[)a]t'ron (_hisses_)
of h[=o]'me-o-path-y (_hisses_) mentions. And having made almost a
specialty of the treatment of f[)a]c'i-al (_hisses_) neuralgia or
tic-d[)o]l-o-r[=o][=o]'" (_hisses_)--and it would certainly be time for
him to dolorously sit down, although he might raise the question--

"