MARK TWAIN IN THE SAN FRANCISCO DRAMATIC CHRONICLE
1866
[EDITOR'S NOTE: The author of this item is unknown.]
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VERY SHOCKING
We have for some time past given up correcting Fitz Smythe's bad English, but when he insults the educated portion of the community by publishing such a phrase as the following, we demand that he be mobbed, seized and incontinently crucified:
MULTIPLICITY OF CHARGES. -- Thos. F. Summers, who some time since runaway with a very young melodeon danseuse, known as "Pauline," and went with her to Panama, was arrested, etc.
You poor, miserable benighted wretch, Fitz Smythe, did you not learn during the year and a half's schooling you had at a common school that "runaway" was a substantive, and that "ran" is the past tense of the verb "to run?" Dear, dear! "Mark Twain" is on his way to the Sandwich Islands! How shall we ever keep Fitz Smythe straight during his absence, if he commences in this manner!
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[transcribed from microfilm]
