Королі та капуста

           "’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.