The proprietor of a Chicago hotel tells of an eccentric guest who registered with him about the time of the simplified spelling flurry, and who undertook, in an ingenious way, to show his contempt for the opponents of the proposed reform.
When the newcomer spread his signature on the register, it was at once observed that the name was a most unusual one—“E. K. Phtholognyrrh.”
“Beg your pardon,” said the clerk, “but how do you pronounce it?”
“Turner,” was the reply, “and spelled in approved fashion, too.”
“Will you kindly explain?”
“Simplest thing in the world,” said Turner. “First, we have ‘phth,’ the sound of ‘t’ in ‘phthisis;’ then, ‘olo,’ the sound of ‘ur’ in ‘colonel;’ thirdly, ‘gn,’ representing the sound of ‘n’ in ‘gnat;’ and finally, ‘yrrh,’ the equivalent of ‘er’ in ‘myrrh.’ If the combination doesn’t spell ‘Turner,’ what does it spell?”—Harper’s Weekly.