University of Virginia Library

SOM-ET-I-MES.

The other day, at a dinner, Jack Hammond appealed
to several well-known lexicographers as to the meaning
of the word som-et-i-mes.

“How is it spelled?” asked Mr. Coe. “Perhaps it
is a musical term.”

“Why, s-o-m som, e-t et, som-et, i som-et-i, m-e-s
mes, som-et-i-mes,” replied Jack, holding up the word
on a piece of paper.

Nobody could guess it. Three or four Harvard and

[ILLUSTRATION] [Description: 627EAF. Page 186. In-line Illustration. Image of a man in a soft hat. The caption reads, "NO, SIR!"] Yale men went searching after the Latin root, and the
young ladies said, “We give it up.”

“It is very simple,” said Jack; “it means occasionally.
Webster says, `sometimes, adverb; occasionally—
now and then!”'

There was a scattering among his guests, and Jack
finished his dinner alone.