Now a "foreigner" can call molasses whatever he pleases; we do not feel that he has taken any liberty with our mother-tongue; his tongue has a different mother; he can't help that; he's not to be criticized for that.

But we and the English speak a tongue that has the same mother.

This identity in pedigree has led and still leads to countless family discords.

I've not a doubt that divergences in vocabulary and in accent were the fount and origin of some swollen noses, some battered eyes, when our Yankees mixed with the Tommies.

Each would be certain to think that the other couldn't "talk straight"-- and each would be certain to say so.