Concerning the American Language -- by Mark Twain

[Being part of a chapter which was crowded out of "A Tramp Abroad. " -- M. T.]

There was as Englishman in our compartment, and he complimented me on -- on what? But you would never guess. He complimented me on my English. He said Americans in general did not speak the English language as correctly as I did. I said I was obliged to him for his compliment, since I knew he meant it for one, but that I was not fairly entitled to it, for I did not speak English at all -- I only spoke American.