Короли и капуста
“Fox-in-the-Morning”
"’Tiswhattheycallliterature,andthat’sasystemoflanguageputinthemouthsofpeoplethatthey’veneverbeenintroducedtobywritersofimagination.Themagazinesinventedit,butIneverknewbeforethatPresidentNorvinGreenhadstampeditwiththesealofhisapproval.’Tisnownolongerliterature,butlanguage.Thedictionariestried,buttheycouldn’tmakeitgoforanythingbutdialect.Sure,nowthattheWesternUnionindorsesit,itwon’tbelongtillaraceofpeoplewillspringupthatspeaksit."
"You’rerunningtoomuchtophilology,Billy,"saidGoodwin."Doyoumakeoutthemeaningofit?"
"Sure,"repliedthephilosopherofFortune."Alllanguagescomeeasytothemanwhomustknow’em.I’veevenfailedtomisunderstandanordertoevacuateinclassicalChinesewhenitwasbackedupbythemuzzleofabreech-loader.ThislittleliteraryessayIholdinmyhandsmeansagameofFox-inthe-Morning.Everplaythat,Frank,whenyouwasakid?"
"Ithinkso,"saidGoodwin,laughing."Youjoinhandsall‘round,and—"
"Youdonot,"interruptedKeogh."You’vegotafinesportinggamemixedupinyourheadwith‘AllAroundtheRosebush.’Thespiritof‘Fox-inthe-Morning’isopposedtotheholdingofhands.I’lltellyouhowit’splayed.
