[lit-ideas] Re: The Devil's Dictionary

 
<<car  after school waiting for your parent-despising teenage son to take 
leave of his  parent-despising cronies after orchestra, etc).>> 
How quickly we have moved from the  cheerios stuck to everything, including 
our desk chairs.  My toddler who  stuck cheerios to everything is now a 
parent-despising (sometimes) child  all grown up but not adult in band, 
orchestra, 
choir, you name it.   I'm no longer a professional cheerio remover, but a full 
time chauffeur.   No one warned me about this.  
Julie Krueger 
indulging in a bit of pathos,  remembering  finding, in the most unlikely 
place,  another soul who  struggled with sticky cereal.....and then reading of 
goats tied to  chairs. 
You guys enrich my life so  immeasurably.  And while I'm at it, Eric, that 
piece of novel was  amazing.  I could hug you both.   


========Original  Message========     Subj: [lit-ideas] The Devil's 
Dictionary  Date: 3/27/05 2:28:09 A.M. Central Standard Time  From: 
_nantongo@xxxxxxxxxx (mailto:nantongo@xxxxxxxxx)   To: 
_lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx 
(mailto:lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx)   Sent on:    
Allow me to recommend Ambrose Bierce's "Unabridged  Devil's Dictionary" to 
those who do not yet possess this valuable reference  work. I myself have just 
acquired it after an extended period (several years) of  meaning to acquire it. 
It is an excellent book to put in any of those places you  have to sit or 
stand around and wait in in your daily life (kitchen waiting for  your 
soft-boiled egg, bathroom, next to your computer if you have a rubbish  dial-up 
connection that takes FOREVER to download anything at all, car after  school 
waiting 
for your parent-despising teenage son to take leave of his  parent-despising 
cronies after orchestra, etc). It is also available online, but  of course has 
only limited applications in this form:  


http://xroads.virginia.edu/~Hyper/Bierce/bierce.html  



Some random sample entries:



DEAD,  adj.



Done with the work of breathing; done
With all the world;  the mad race run
Though to the end; the golden goal
Attained and found to  be a hole!



LIFE, n. A spiritual pickle preserving the body from  decay. We live in daily 
apprehension of its loss; yet when lost it is not  missed. The question, "Is 
life worth living?" has been much discussed;  particularly by those who think 
it is not, many of whom have written at great  length in support of their view 
and by careful observance of the laws of health  enjoyed for long terms of 
years the honors of successful  controversy.



IDIOT, n. A member of a large and powerful tribe  whose influence in human 
affairs has always been dominant and controlling. The  Idiot's activity is not 
confined to any special field of thought or action, but  "pervades and 
regulates the whole."



All best,  Mirembe

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