[lit-ideas] Re: There was the Bow'ry ablaze with lights
- From: david ritchie <profdritchie@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Sun, 17 Apr 2016 16:51:49 -0700
On Apr 17, 2016, at 1:05 PM, (Redacted sender "Jlsperanza" for DMARC)
<dmarc-noreply@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
The last event in Queen Victoria's reign was the Borewore, or, more
correctly, Boerwoer (Dutch), which was fought against a very tiresome Dutch
tribe
called the Bores, because they were left over from all previous wars.
Put “Borewore” into your search engine and you may get, “Phoney War.” Thinking
this baloney, you may go, “No! I know my '1066 and All That.’” Read on and
you’ll find references to Evelyn Waugh, who was not himself actually a war, but
who wrote (in a letter to Randolph Churchill) that “Put Out More Flags”
describes “that odd, dead period before the Churchillian renaissance which
people called at the time ’the Great Bore War.'”
Winston Churchill himself (he *of* the renaissance, not the son,
Randolph…follow me here) called it the “Twilight War.” British newspapers
called it the “Sitzkrieg.” The French called it “funny” or “strange” (drôle),
the Poles “strange” (Dziwna Wojna). In spite of the usual spelling, Wikipedia
attributes the term “Phoney War” to an American, Senator William Borah. In his
head it was probably, “phony.”
I suppose, as the song from that other war goes, I could conclude, “Let's All
Be Americans Now.” (Even Boris Johnson, who was born in Manhattan and pays,
says the New York Times, American taxes).
Here’s Irving Berlin’s song, sung by Adolph J. Hahl, both Americans.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4LFKotgmmY0
I’ve worn out my welcome, which is the wurst. Or words to that effect.
Carry on,
David Ritchie,
Portland,
Oregon------------------------------------------------------------------
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