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Goodbye To All Cats
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DonH
Oct 9, 2011, 12:40:36 AM10/9/11
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Such is the title of a short story in the collection, "Young Men in Spats".
Wodehouse wrote quite a few tales about cats, and dogs, even making the
animal the narrator.
While Bludleigh Court ("Mr.Mulliner Speaking") is a country house where
animals are slaughtered constantly in the name of sport, the house in GTAC,
namely, Matcham Scratchings, is infested by Animal Lovers who dote on them -
as hapless Freddie Widgeon discovered, when invited there by potential
girlfriend, Dahlia Prenderby.
The majority of the menagerie are cats, with a sprinkling of dogs, and
even a chimp.
My emphasis on this story is because, at one point, PGW reaches a climax
of mirth, at the expense of Freddie, where his every move results in
disaster - barging into one cat, backstepping on another, and sitting down
on a third. Culminating in an attempted explanation, where his wild
gesticulation "sloshed another...in the short ribs. Dahlia caught the
animal as it flew through the air." Yes, a very funny episode.
Wodehouse wrote quite a few tales about cats, and dogs, even making the
animal the narrator.
While Bludleigh Court ("Mr.Mulliner Speaking") is a country house where
animals are slaughtered constantly in the name of sport, the house in GTAC,
namely, Matcham Scratchings, is infested by Animal Lovers who dote on them -
as hapless Freddie Widgeon discovered, when invited there by potential
girlfriend, Dahlia Prenderby.
The majority of the menagerie are cats, with a sprinkling of dogs, and
even a chimp.
My emphasis on this story is because, at one point, PGW reaches a climax
of mirth, at the expense of Freddie, where his every move results in
disaster - barging into one cat, backstepping on another, and sitting down
on a third. Culminating in an attempted explanation, where his wild
gesticulation "sloshed another...in the short ribs. Dahlia caught the
animal as it flew through the air." Yes, a very funny episode.
Calvin
Oct 20, 2011, 6:36:56 PM10/20/11
to
On Sun, 09 Oct 2011 14:40:36 +1000, DonH <donlhu...@bigpond.com> wrote:
> Such is the title of a short story in the collection, "Young Men in
> Spats".
> Wodehouse wrote quite a few tales about cats, and dogs, even making the
> animal the narrator.
[snip]
> Such is the title of a short story in the collection, "Young Men in
> Spats".
> Wodehouse wrote quite a few tales about cats, and dogs, even making the
> animal the narrator.
> Yes, a very funny episode.
Ditto Archmbald and the Masses.
--
Pip pip!
Uncle Woggly
DonH
Oct 24, 2011, 4:24:15 PM10/24/11
to
"Calvin" <cal...@phlegm.com> wrote in message
news:op.v3n83...@04233-26jz62s.staff.ad.bond.edu.au...
# "Archibald and the Masses" was published (in "Young Men in Spats") in the
pre-war year of 1936, and we may wonder if PG felt the need to make some
kind of political statement?
Not that he was noted for any involvement in politics, but doubtless had
some private views.
The Masses may be not be quite the "martyred proletariat" of propaganda
leaflets, as Archibald found out, but personal encounters do not go to the
crux of the matter - which is institutionalized "wage slavery" inherent in
corporate structure ("There are those who do the work, and those who get the
profit" - ie. employees versus external shareholders).
Bertrand Russell may have been guilty of similar superficiality, in his
essay "The Superior Virtue of the Oppressed" (in "Unpopular Essays").
Industrial Democracy is the solution to this lack of franchise, and is
independent on the virtues or vices of bosses or workers, collectively or as
individuals.
As Winston Churchill put it : "It is not that democracy is ideal, but
that the alternatives are worse" (or words to that effect).
And while Plum and Bertie may not like it, they were both literary
workhorses, and thus qualified to be Proles - living by sale of their
labour.
news:op.v3n83...@04233-26jz62s.staff.ad.bond.edu.au...
pre-war year of 1936, and we may wonder if PG felt the need to make some
kind of political statement?
Not that he was noted for any involvement in politics, but doubtless had
some private views.
The Masses may be not be quite the "martyred proletariat" of propaganda
leaflets, as Archibald found out, but personal encounters do not go to the
crux of the matter - which is institutionalized "wage slavery" inherent in
corporate structure ("There are those who do the work, and those who get the
profit" - ie. employees versus external shareholders).
Bertrand Russell may have been guilty of similar superficiality, in his
essay "The Superior Virtue of the Oppressed" (in "Unpopular Essays").
Industrial Democracy is the solution to this lack of franchise, and is
independent on the virtues or vices of bosses or workers, collectively or as
individuals.
As Winston Churchill put it : "It is not that democracy is ideal, but
that the alternatives are worse" (or words to that effect).
And while Plum and Bertie may not like it, they were both literary
workhorses, and thus qualified to be Proles - living by sale of their
labour.
Calvin
Oct 24, 2011, 6:12:28 PM10/24/11
to
On Tue, 25 Oct 2011 06:24:15 +1000, DonH <donlhu...@bigpond.com> wrote:
> # "Archibald and the Masses" was published (in "Young Men in Spats") in
> the
> pre-war year of 1936, and we may wonder if PG felt the need to make some
> kind of political statement?
> Not that he was noted for any involvement in politics, but doubtless
> had
> some private views.
> The Masses may be not be quite the "martyred proletariat" of
> propaganda
> leaflets, as Archibald found out, but personal encounters do not go to
> the
> crux of the matter - which is institutionalized "wage slavery" inherent
> in
> corporate structure ("There are those who do the work, and those who get
> the
> profit" - ie. employees versus external shareholders).
Given Plum's well known apolitical views, I felt it was more a comment on
> # "Archibald and the Masses" was published (in "Young Men in Spats") in
> the
> pre-war year of 1936, and we may wonder if PG felt the need to make some
> kind of political statement?
> Not that he was noted for any involvement in politics, but doubtless
> had
> some private views.
> The Masses may be not be quite the "martyred proletariat" of
> propaganda
> leaflets, as Archibald found out, but personal encounters do not go to
> the
> crux of the matter - which is institutionalized "wage slavery" inherent
> in
> corporate structure ("There are those who do the work, and those who get
> the
> profit" - ie. employees versus external shareholders).
the liberal do-good-to-others ethic than corporate structures. Archibald's
comment that he would hold some prole youth with one hand and shove bread
down his throat with the other if necessary is suggestive (not to mention
hilarious).
What do others make of it?
--
cheers,
calvin
DonH
Oct 25, 2011, 4:43:11 PM10/25/11
to
"Calvin" <cal...@phlegm.com> wrote in message
news:op.v3vmm...@04233-26jz62s.staff.ad.bond.edu.au...
published initially in 1953, in a post-war Europe, and in which a struggling
landed aristocracy was trying to make ends meet.
Jeeves figures, not too prominently, while Bertie has gone to a special
school teaching just that, and "in case the social revolution sets in with
even greater severity."
Indeed, The Welfare State "means - broadly - that everyone is completely
destitute."
Yet PGW was somewhat on the side of the proletariat, as Jeeves is smarter
than Drone Wooster, and "Lord Emsworth and the Girl Friend" shows the
resourcefulness of the lower classes - until Lord Emsworth himself gets some
backbone in her defence.
DonH
Oct 28, 2011, 3:49:02 PM10/28/11
to
"Calvin" <cal...@phlegm.com> wrote in message
news:op.v3n83...@04233-26jz62s.staff.ad.bond.edu.au...
Code of the Mulliners" - in which you get to learn what "QX" means. Is the
Mater mad?
The final tale in this book is about "The Fiery Wooing of Mordred", and
how an unconscious pyrotechnic habit is turned to good advantage.
("the dentist...said with a rueful sigh that there didn't seem to be
anything to do this time")
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