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Show Odd Tally Ways I f I O keep score and to keep tally are common enough phrases; but f?w of the ardent boys and Rirla who keep the score of an exciting game of baseball, and afterward compare score cards to see If i their records tally. hae any Idea whenco these two words are derlod. j Originally they were exact synonyms; a score being a near or notch upon a tally-stick, tally-stick, while tally comes directly from tho French aCZer, to cut, whittle or notch. Tho use of tally-sticks, one would think, must belong be-long either to remolo antiQUlty or to regions beyond civilization and Its accompanying school arithmetic; yet nuch is by no means the cae Tlit it still survives In rural Prance l attested by an American educator ' who has traveled much In that country. Sitting among a group of blue-bloused pcafinLs before the flreplaco of a country inn, the Inndlady of which also conducted the village bakery, he noticed hanging from tho mantel two grest bundles of sticks. Exam- j ining them, he luu..,; ''itit each rod was j about eighteen Inches long and was spilt up j more than three-quarters of Its length, the i split portion being covered with notches. while upon the handle was inscribed a name. The mistress of the Inn observed him puzzling over these mysterious objects and good naturedly explained that they wero tallies and that all tho bakery account were kept in that manner Every customer was provided with a hazet ehek split through tho greater part of lta length and with his name on tho handle rl "he spilt off piece of wood was retained hy tho customer; the principal stick by the baker. When the customer desired a loaf or two he came to the shop with his stick, ii was placed In connection with tho plec from which It had been originally taken and then with a knifo a notch waa cut at the point of contact at one aldu, ao aa to marlC both pieces of wood. When one lde waa thus scored full the score was carried down the other Junction. As soon as the account was paid tho tally- stick waa thrust Into tho flro. The visitor carried away a tally as a curiosity, but on showing it in England ho was surprised to learn that a farmer's wife in that part of the country In which he was staying kept her account for butter and milk on a notched stick, SI |