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An Explanation of Tardiness In some Government offices the clerks, upon arrival in the morning, have to sign their names in an "attendance book". This book provides space for signature, time of arrival, and "remarks." Ten minutes after the hour and official draws a red line under the last arrival's name, and all those coming subsequently are expected to furnish an explanation of their tardiness in the "remarks" column. When a real "London particular" occurs the number "below the line" is legion; the first of them writes: "Delayed by fog," and the rest scribble a "ditto". One morning -- a foggy one -- Mr. Jones became a proud father; but even this only caused him to be about eleven minutes late. Proudly he wrote in explanation: "Wife had twins," which was followed in due course by the usual string of "ditto's". Notes:
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