History Corner: Strangers messing with his bailiwick

[lazy_hoor]

I have just read Bray and Environs  a book written circa 1903 by Arthur L Doran; a man who appears to be the bastard son of Mr Logic and Victorian Dad:

STATELY HOMES AND THEIR OWNERS.
INTRODUCTORY REMARKS.
A great deal of rank nonsense is often promulgated anent the exclusiveness of noble owners, and their meanness in charging for admission to their

Comments

[ideealisme]

"Odi profanum vulgus et arceo"

I confess I skipped the rest of Mr Doran's screed when I saw this quote because it reminded me of something.

On 1 April 2007, J and I were wandering in the foothills of the Dublin mountains, far more at my instigation than his, when I stumbled on a typed poem by Horace in the middle of the road. Which started with exactly that quote, which I recognised by earlier study.

"I hate the common crowd and stand aloof."

It was weird seeing it there, like some sort of message. A few hours later, buying Coke in a garage, we got a phone call. My friend had died a few hours before, suddenly and unexpectedly. She would not have been long dead when I found that poem and put it in my pocket. Strange, these things.

(Edited: to correct Mr Doran's Latin. Wait, edited again. Sorry, it's 4th declension so he is right.)

[lazy_hoor]

Very strange...

[_unhurt_]

if anyone wants to hang around my garden offering me sandwiches and the hard stuff, please feel free!

[lazy_hoor]

There's only one person I'd imagine would be hanging round my garden with stale sandwiches and hard booze and that's the gentleman of the road I often see around the village, or as once I found him - under my front window.

That you would welcome this sort of offer just confirms my suspicions that you are, indeed, a Bedlamite.

[_unhurt_]

well, i would prefer the sandwiches to be fresh, and the booze to be gin. or perhaps brandy. surely that elevates me a bit?

[lazy_hoor]

Gin has always been seen as the drink of the high-class sort, yes.

[scarletts_web]

mine's a draught of usquebaugh, please.

[lazy_hoor]

I don't want you singing profane ditties, now.