def smallest(l):
    """Return the smallest element of the list l
    >>> smallest([1,5,3,7])
    1
    >>> smallest([3,7,2,4])
    2
    """
    counter = 1000000
    letter = "~"
    for val in l:
        try:
            x = val
            if val < counter:
                counter = val
        except ValueError:
            test = val[0]
            if ord(test) < ord(letter):
                letter = val

    return counter
    return letter