Re: OT Nostalgic history of the pen (was Re: Phoneme winnowing continues

John Cowan wrote:
> Roger Mills scripsit:
>
>
>>(I've never heard "biro" either-- sounds like a trade name.  For a while we
>>distinguished "Bics", but that's generally a cheap cigarette lighter
>>nowadays.)
>
>
> Ah yes.  Translation exercise (from the Bulwer-Lytton bad writing competition):
>
>         The lovely woman-child Kaa was mercilessly chained to the
>         cruel post of the warrior-chief Beast, with his barbarian
>         tribe now stacking wood at her nubile feet, when the strong
>         clear voice of the poetic and heroic Handsomas roared,
>         "Flick your Bic, crisp that chick, and you'll feel my steel
>         through your last meal."
Good gravy...that sounds like a Dungeons & Dragons campaign as played by
beatniks!