Re: CHAT: Directions

Steg Belsky wrote:

> Queens, where you
> can have a succession of "167th Street, 167th Avenue, 167th Road, 168th
> Street...".  It's probably not exactly like that, but that's how it seems
> to people from more logically-laid-out boroughs.  :-)
The gridded parts of Queens are actually totally rational, thus:

        You can navigate Queens with zest,
        For avenues, roads, and drives run west,
        [can't remember this line]
        As boulevards, places, and streets run north,
        While even numbers you will meet
        Upon the east and south of street.

This was written by Ellis Parker Butler, of "Pigs is Pigs" fame.
(See ftp://metalab.unc.edu/pub/docs/books/gutenberg/etext99/pgpgs10.txt).
This story, dating from 1905, is also interesting for one of the
first printed occurrences of postfix-sentential-Not!

"Proceed to collect,"  he said softly. "How thim clerks do loike to be
talkin'! Me proceed to collect two dollars and twinty-foive cints off
Misther Morehouse! I wonder do thim clerks know Misther Morehouse? I'll
git it! Oh, yes! 'Misther Morehouse, two an' a quarter, plaze.' 'Cert'nly,
me dear frind Flannery. Delighted!' Not!"

--

Schlingt dreifach einen Kreis vom dies! || John Cowan <jcowan@...>
Schliesst euer Aug vor heiliger Schau,  || http://www.reutershealth.com
Denn er genoss vom Honig-Tau,           || http://www.ccil.org/~cowan
Und trank die Milch vom Paradies.            -- Coleridge (tr. Politzer)