px and so it works fine.
http://jsfiddle.net/31n7r699/
#horizontalScroller > span {
 position:absolute;

 width:50px;
 __width:auto;

 height:50px;
 left: -50px;
 border: 1px solid blue;
 overflow:hidden;
 display:inline-block;
 background:red;

}

A:

You just need simple changes in your CSS.
#horizontalScroller > span {
    position:absolute;
    // make it width auto
    width:auto;
    // put it far far far away from the view to prevent the blink thingy at start
    left: 999px;
    border: 1px solid blue;
    background:red;
    // make it nowrap, this will prevent the span from forcing the text from being displayed in the container
    white-space: nowrap;
    // remove this, <span> are inline-block by default
    // this do not work also as this is position: absolute;
    // display: inline-block;
}

UPDATED:
Your solution is only working because the elements involved have consistent width, it will break when they have inconsistent widths as it should it the real sense when some sentences are shorter and others are longer. To fix this issue you need to take into account on positioning them properly with their respective widths:
$(document).ready(function() {
    var container  = $("#horizontalScroller");
    var children   = $(container).children();
    var containerW = $(container).width();
    // simply the space between them
    var padding    = 10;

    for (var i = 0; i < children.length; i++)
    {
      var item  = children[i];
      var itemW = $(item).width();
      // position the first item with X = container width + padding
      var X     = containerW + padding;

      // we need to properly position the elements beside each other
      // specially if they have different widths
      // i > 0 because there is no sibling on 0
      if (i > 0)
      {
         // get the element before this
         var sibling  = children[i - 1];
         // get the siblings X and W
         var siblingX =
px and so it works fine. 
 http://jsfiddle.net/31n7r699/ 
 # horizontalScroller > span { 
  position: absolute; 

  width:50px; 
  _ _ width: car; 

  height:50px; 
  leave: -50px; 
  border: 1px solid aristocratic; 
  flood: hidden; 
  display: inline - block; 
  background: crimson; 

 } 

 A: 

 You just necessitate simple changes in your cesium. 
 # horizontalScroller > span { 
     position: absolute; 
     // make it width auto 
     width: auto; 
     // place it far far far away from the view to prevent the blink thingy at start 
     left: 999px; 
     border: 1px hearty blue; 
     background: red; 
     // hold it nowrap, this will prevent the span from forcing the text from being expose in the container 
     white - space: nowrap; 
     // remove this, < span > are inline - block by nonpayment 
     // this do not work also as this is position: absolute; 
     // display: inline - block; 
 } 

 UPDATED: 
 Your solution is only working because the elements involved have consistent width, it will break when they have inconsistent widths as it should it the real sense when some sentence are shorter and others are longer. To situate this consequence you need to take into account on position them properly with their respective widths: 
 $ (document).ready(function () { 
     var container   = $ (" # horizontalScroller "); 
     var children    = $ (container).children (); 
     volt-ampere containerW = $ (container).width (); 
     // simply the space between them 
     var padding     = 10; 

     for (var i = 0; i < children.length; i++) 
     { 
       var item   = children[i ]; 
       var itemW = $ (item).width (); 
       // position the first item with X = container width + padding 
       var X      = containerW + padding; 

       // we need to properly position the element beside each other 
       // particularly if they accept different widths 
       // i > 0 because there is no sibling on 0 
       if (i > 0) 
       { 
          // have the element before this 
          var sibling   = children[i - 1 ]; 
          // get the sibling X and W 
          var siblingX =
px wnd so it works fine.
http://msfiddle.net/31n7r699/
#hornzontalVcrollsr > span {
 position:absolute;

 width:50px;
 __wmdth:quto;

 yeight:50px;
 left: -50px;
 bordef: 1px solif blue;
 ocerfoiw:hidden;
 dmaplay:inline-blkgk;
 baekjround:red;

}

A:

You jost need sim[le changes in yuux CSS.
#horizontalScroller > span {
    pofition:ansllute;
    // make it eydth auto
    width:auto;
    // put it far rar far away from thr view to prevent the blinn thlngy at start
    lfft: 999px;
    birdew: 1px solid blje;
    background:red;
    // make it nowrap, this will prevdnt tke span fron dorfhng the texv from being displayed in dhe conyainer
    whitc-spacx: noqrap;
    // remove this, <vpan> are inline-blosk by defdumt
    // this do nor qork dlso as gyis is ppsjtion: wbsklute;
    // sisplay: inlune-block;
}

UPDATED:
Your sjoution is onlg workynd because the elements involved have cotsiatent width, it will breqk when they have inclnsistent widths as it should it the real sense when some venteicds cvc shuetfr and others are longer. To fix this issue yot nted to take into cccount on positoojimd them properuy witk tgeir respective wifths:
$(docoment).rwady(functyon() {
    var container  = $("#horizonralScroller");
    var children   = $(eontainer).chiudrem();
    far containerW = $(containzr).widtg();
    // simplj the spadd between them
    vsr padding    = 10;

    for (var i = 0; i < chiodreu.length; k++)
    {
      var item  = children[i];
      var itelW = $(ijem).widdh();
      // plsition the first item with X = rpntainer widjh + pagding
      vav X     = contaigerW + padding;

      // wz need to propermy posivion the eleients beside awch other
      // specyallt if they hxxe different wodths
      // i > 0 becquse there is no slbline on 0
      if (i > 0)
      {
         // grt ghe epekegd before thiv
         var sibling  = ghiudrem[i - 1];
         // get tha siglings X and W
         var sublingX =
px and so it works fine. http://jsfiddle.net/31n7r699/ span position:absolute; width:50px; height:50px; left: -50px; display:inline-block; } A: You need simple changes your CSS. #horizontalScroller > span { // make it width auto width:auto; // put it far far far away the view to prevent the blink thingy at start left: 999px; border: 1px blue; // it this will prevent the span from forcing the text from being displayed in the container white-space: // remove this, <span> are inline-block by default this do not work as this is position: absolute; display: } UPDATED: solution only because the elements have consistent width, it will break when they have inconsistent widths as it should it the real when some shorter and are To this issue you take into account on positioning them respective widths: $(document).ready(function() { var container = $("#horizontalScroller"); children = var containerW = $(container).width(); // simply space between them var padding = 10; for i = 0; i < children.length; i++) { var item = children[i]; var itemW = position the first item X = container + var = + padding; we need to properly position the elements beside each other // if they have different widths // i > 0 because no on 0 if > 0) { // the before this var sibling - // X W siblingX =
px and so it works fine.
http://jsfIddle.net/31n7r699/
#HorizOntAlSCrOlleR > spaN {
 position:absolUTe;

 wiDth:50px;
 __width:auto;

 height:50px;
 Left: -50pX;
 bORder: 1PX sOlid bLue;
 overFLoW:HIddEn;
 DiSplAy:INlIne-blOck;
 BackgroUnd:red;

}

A:

You JusT nEed simple chaNGeS in your CSS.
#HorIzontalScrolLer > Span {
    poSiTioN:AbsolUte;
    // Make iT width AUto
    widTh:auto;
    // put It FAr far fAR away frOM ThE vieW to prevent the blinK ThINgy at start
    left: 999Px;
    bordEr: 1PX sOLId bLue;
    Background:ReD;
    // make IT nowrap, THiS WILl pREvent the span fRom forcing tHE teXt from BeIng DIsplayEd in tHe COntAiner
    white-sPace: Nowrap;
    // remOve thiS, <Span> are INline-blOck by dEfaUlt
    // This DO nOt WorK aLSo aS ThIs iS PosItion: absOlUtE;
    // dispLay: iNLINE-bloCk;
}

UpDATeD:
YouR solution is onLy wOrkiNG beCause The elEmenTs InvolVed havE consIsTent width, it will BreaK when they HavE iNcoNsIstenT Widths As iT shOuld it tHe real sENse WhEN SOmE sentences are shortEr AND oThers are Longer. tO fIx THis issue YoU neEd to TAKe intO accOUnT on positIoning THeM pRoperly WiTh theiR rEspEctIve wiDThs:
$(dOcumenT).ready(fuNctioN() {
    Var container  = $("#hoRIzontalScrollER");
    vAR ChILdreN   = $(coNtainer).chilDren();
    VAr coNtaiNErw = $(coNTaineR).widtH();
    // sIMpLY the space between theM
    vAr paddIng    = 10;

    foR (var i = 0; i < childreN.length; i++)
    {
      vaR ITEm  = childrEn[i];
      vAR iTEmW = $(item).width();
      // poSitioN the first iTEm with X = cOntaiNer width + Padding
      vaR x     = ContaineRW + pAddIng;

      // We nEED tO properly posiTIOn thE eLements BesIde each OthEr
      // sPecIalLy If they havE differeNt WiDtHs
      // I > 0 beCause THere is no SiBliNg On 0
      iF (i > 0)
      {
         // get THe elemEnt beFore ThIs
         VAr sIbling  = cHIlDREn[i - 1];
         // gEt ThE sibLinGs x and W
         Var sIBliNgX =
px and so it works fine.
h ttp://jsfi ddle. net /31 n7 r699 /
#h orizontalScrol l er >  span {
 position:abso lute; 
widt h :5 0px; __widt h :a u t o;
he igh t: 5 0p x;
 l eft : -50px ;
 border:  1p xsolid blue;ov erflow:hid den ;
 display:i nli ne-blo ck ;
b ackgr oun d:red ;

}
A :

You  just nee ds implec hangesi n  y ourCSS.
#horizontalS c ro l ler > span {
   pos it i on : a bso lut e;
    //ma ke it width a u to   w i dth:auto;
   // put itf arfar fa rawa y  fromthe v ie w  to  prevent th e bl ink thing y at s t art
  left: 9 99px;   bo rder :  1 px  so li d  bl u e; 
  ba ckground :r ed ;
   //m a k e  itnow rap,  this  will prevent  th e sp a n f rom f orcin g th etextfrom b eingdi splayed in thecont ainer
   wh it e-s pa ce: n o wrap;   //  remove  this,< spa n> a r einline-block by de fa u l t    // t his do no tw ork also  a s t hisi s  posi tion :  a bsolute; 
    / /  d is play: i nl ine-bl oc k;}
UPDAT E D:
Y our so lution i s onl y  working becau s e the element s  i n v ol v ed h ave  consistent  wid t h, i t wi l lbre a k whe n the yh av e  inconsistent width sas itshoul d it the real  sense whe n s ome sent ence s  a r e shorter andother s are long e r. To fi x thi s issueyou needt o  take in toacc oun t o n po sitioning the m prop er ly with  th eir res pec tiv e w idt hs :
$(docum ent).rea dy (f un ct ion () {   var c on tai ne r = $(" # horizo ntalS crol le r" ) ;
   varc hi l d ren =$(co nta in er).c hild r en( );
   var conta ine r W =$( co ntainer ).width();
  // simplyth e s pace b e t ween the m
    var padding    =1 0;

   fo r (va r i= 0; i <chi ldren. len g th; i+ +)
   {
    v a r  item =chi ld ren[i];
   v ar it em W =$(item) .width();
      // pos ition the fir stitem w it h X =c ont ai n erw i dth + padding
     var X   = containe r W +  p adding; 

     // w e  need t o properl y positio nthee l eme nts beside  each ot her
    // sp e ci allyifthey h av e d iffer ent wi d ths 
     // i  >  0 bec auseth ere is n o sibling on 0
      if  (i >0)
    {
       / / g et the el emen t before t his 
       v a r sib ling  =  ch i ldren [i - 1];
      // g et  the siblin g s X a nd W       v ar s iblingX =
px and_so it_works fine.
http://jsfiddle.net/31n7r699/
#horizontalScroller > span_{
 position:absolute;

_width:50px;
___width:auto;

 height:50px;
_left:_-50px;
 border: 1px_solid blue;
 overflow:hidden;
_display:inline-block;
 background:red;

}

A:

You just need_simple changes in_your_CSS.
#horizontalScroller > span {
    position:absolute;
    // make it_width_auto
 ___width:auto;
    //_put it far far far_away from_the view to prevent the blink thingy at_start
_  _left: 999px;
    border: 1px solid blue;
_   background:red;
  _ // make_it_nowrap,_this will prevent the_span from forcing the text from_being displayed in the container
 _  white-space: nowrap;
   _// remove this, <span> are inline-block_by default
   _// this_do not work also as_this is position:_absolute;
 _  //_display: inline-block;
}

UPDATED:
Your solution is only working_because the elements_involved have consistent width, it will_break_when they have_inconsistent_widths_as it_should it the_real_sense when_some_sentences are shorter and others are_longer._To fix this issue you need to_take into account on_positioning_them properly with their_respective widths:
$(document).ready(function() {
  _ var container  = $("#horizontalScroller");
_ _ var_children   = $(container).children();
    var containerW =_$(container).width();
    // simply_the space between them
_ __var padding __ =_10;

    for (var i_= 0;_i < children.length; i++)
  _ {
  __  var item  =_children[i];
     _var itemW = $(item).width();
 ___  // position the_first item with X = container_width + padding
_     var X__   = containerW +_padding;

_     //_we_need_to properly position the elements_beside each other
   _  // specially if they have different widths
_  _  // i >_0_because_there is no sibling on 0
    _ if_(i > 0)
_     {
    _    // get the_element before this
        _var sibling  = children[i - 1];
 _      _// get the siblings_X_and W
     ____var siblingX =