Rensselaer Republican, Volume 19, Number 1, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 September 1886 — Somewhat Paradoxical. [ARTICLE]

Somewhat Paradoxical.

The English language is an enigma to the uninitiated. A foreigner recently arrived in this country, ami looking out upon the harbor at New York, said: “See what a flock of slpps.” He was told by a newspaper reporter that a flock of ships was called a fleet, and that a fleet of sheep was called a’flock. And it was added, for his guidance in mastering the intricacies of our language, that a flock of girls was called a bevy, that a bevy of wolves is called.a a drove, and a drove of thieves is called a gang, and a gang of aimels is called a host, and a host of porjwises is called a shoal, and a shoal of buflaloes'is called a herd, and a herd df children is called a troop, and a troop of patridges is called a pack, and a pack of swansis called a whiteness, anti a whiteness of ,; geese is called a gaggle, and a gaggle of brant is called a gang, and a gang of ducks is called a team, and a team of widgeon is called a com]>any (or trip), and a company of teal is'called a flock, and a flock of snipe is called a wisp, and< a wisp of bitterns and herons is called a sedge, and a sedge of plovers is called a flock, and a flock of of larks is called an exaltation, and an exaltation, of beauties is called a galaxy, and a galaxy of ruffians is called a horde, and a horde of rubbish Is called a heap, and a heap of oxen is called aLdrove, and a drove of blackguards is called a mob, and a mob of whales is called a school, and a school of worshipers is called a congregation, and a congregation of soldiers is called a corps, and a corps of sailors is called a ci-ew, and a crew of robbers is called a "band, and a band of bees is called a swarm, and a swarm of people is called a crowd. The Del Rio (Texas) Dot is edited by a young lady. She remarks: “Man proposes, but it sometimes takes a great deal of encouragement to get him to do so.” ■ The worth of a State in the long run is the worth of the individuals composing it.