[52] How much depends upon punctuation is well illustrated in a story told, I believe, by the late G. A. Sala, once a writer in the Daily Telegraph, about R. B. Sheridan, dramatist and M.P. In the House of Commons, Sheridan one day gave an opponent the lie direct. Called upon to apologize, the offender responded thus: ‘Mr. Speaker I said the honourable Member was a liar it is true and I am sorry for it.’ Naturally the person concerned was not satisfied; and said so. ‘Sir,’ continued Mr. Sheridan, ‘the honourable Member can interpret the terms of my statement according to his ability, and he can put punctuation marks where it pleases him.’—H. H.
[53] Below is a puzzle passage from the Daily Chronicle, first with no points, and then with proper marks of punctuation: ‘That that is is that that is not is not is not that it it is.’ ‘That that is, is; that that is not, is not; is not that it? It is.’—H. H.
[54] De Vinne, Correct Composition, p. 244.
[55] Beadnell, pp. 99, 100.
[56] Nevertheless the reader is not to be commended who, being told that the word however was usually followed by a comma, insisted upon altering a sentence beginning ‘However true this may be,’ &c., to ‘However, true this may be,’ &c. This is the late Dean Alford’s story. See The Queen’s English, p. 124, ed. 1870.—H. H.
[57] Beadnell, p. 101.
[58] Id., pp. 95-107.
[59] Beadnell, pp. 109, 110.
[60] Id., p. 111.
[61] Id., p. 112.