Lewis Carroll, Henry Holiday and Joseph Swain's Tragicomedy
He would answer to “Hi!” or to any loud cry, Such as “Fry me!” or “Fritter my wig!” To “What-you-may-call-um!” or “What-was-his-name!” But especially “Thing-um-a-jig!” Always assumed that thingamajig derived from Lewis Carroll’s thing-um-a-jig (1876). I’d seen an oft cited but unsourced reference to 1824 in dictionaries but now found it: June 1824 issue of … Continue reading “Thing-um-a-jig!”
The Snark hunting crew consists of ten members. Is that true? This is how the crew members are introduced (MG017): 001 “Just the place for a Snark!” the Bellman cried, […] 009 The crew was complete: it included a Boots — 010 A maker of Bonnets and Hoods — 011 A … Continue reading “9.5±0.5 Snark Hunters”
Remember, to Henry Holiday The Hunting of the Snark was a tragedy. 549 “It’s a Snark!” was the sound that first came to their ears, 550 And seemed almost too good to be true. 551 Then followed a torrent of laughter and cheers: 552 Then the ominous … Continue reading “Thomas Cranmer’s Burning”