Rensselaer Union, Volume 2, Number 48, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 August 1870 — Which was Right? [ARTICLE]

Which was Right?

A party of grammarians in a Cincinnati restaurant were arguing for half an hour over the question “ Is it right to say six and seven is eleven, or six and seven are eleven ?’’ Some were certain is whs the proper term to employ (on the principle, perhaps, that whatever is is right), while others were equally strenuous that are was tho right word. “Doyou mean to say, sir,” said one distinguished grammarian, very much excited, to another distinguished grammarian, “ that six and seven are cloven ?’’ “It arc;’’ replied the other, equally excited. Much confusion ensued, and it was feared .that a collision would ensue between the distinguished gramfuarians. In fact, after conjugating eech other pretty sharply and working themselves up to the superlative degree of wrathful mood, they did make a few parses at each othei’s heads. In the present tense of affairs it was agreed to leave the question to the decision of the Teutonic gentleman who brought the lager Said ono of them—- “ Hans, which is right, to say six and seven is eleven, or six and Bcven are eleven ?” “ Vich is rccht ?" “ Yes ” "Sex unt seben ish eleven, or sex unt seben are eleven ?” “Yes, yes, that’s it.” “ Vy, you tarn fools, sex unt seven pese dirteen /”