He was understood as saying, _A capital pun is meant_, which
led to an investigation and the relief of the greatly excited public
mind.
The Superintendent showed some of his old tendencies, as he went round
with us.
"Do you know"--he broke out all at once--"why they don't take steppes in
Tartary for establishing Insane Hospitals?"
We both confessed ignorance.
"Because there are _nomad_ people to be found there," he said, with a
dignified smile.
He proceeded to introduce us to different Inmates. The first was a
middle-aged, scholarly man, who was seated at a table with a Webster's
Dictionary and a sheet of paper before him.
"Well, what luck to-day, Mr. Mowzer?" said the Superintendent.
"Three or four only," said Mr. Mowzer. "Will you hear 'em now,--now I'm
here?"
We all nodded.
"Don't you see Webster _ers_ in the words cent_er_ and theat_er_?
"If he spells leather _lether_, and feather _fether_, isn't there danger
that he'll give us a _bad spell of weather_?
"Besides, Webster is a resurrectionist; he does not allow _u_ to rest
quietly in the _mould_.
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