unearths some literary gems.
From "My Precious Betsy," by John Maddison Morton:
***
Mr. Bobtail: "Yours, et cetera." What's the meaning of et cetera?
Mr. Wagtail: Et cetera? Why, et cetera means et cetera.
Mr. Bobtail: Well, do you know I thought so. Only, as you are a French scholar, I thought I'd ask you.
***
["Without the obtail" dept.]
Mr. Bobtail: (reads) "My dear Elizabeth" — Well, upon my life, that's rather familiar.
Mr. Wagtail: Never mind. I dare say it's only his style.
Mr. Bobtail: But I don't like his style! I object to his style! If it had been "My dear Mrs. Bobtail" — or Mrs. B., without the obtail — it would have been sufficiently free and easy; but, "My dear Elizabeth"— Damn it, Wagtail — I say, Wagtail, damn it!
***
