Education: Alphabetterer

"A" is for adenoid, the cabbage that

grows

In sickly young children, just back of

the nose.

"B" is for bacillus, a bug that will bite Little oafs who refuse to brush teeth every night.

Etc. to "Z," which, of course, is for a famed five-letter African skunk.

To express the 48 fundamental sounds of the English tongue, the English alphabet has, as every one knows, only 26 letters. Whence it arises that the vocal chords of various parts of the English-speaking world have fallen into various habits of rendering the letter combinations reported...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!