[Robert J. Clawson]

If we WERE to consider "black men" racist, only one of the two voices employed would be racist.

The poet is projecting melancholic fantasies. I find it difficult to blame the poet for any indescretion in such fantasies.

Bob

[Götz Kluge]

Originally Posted by Len Krisak

... Does the 1830s text's explanation make any sense
to anyone out there?...

Thread: http://www.ablemuse.com/erato/showthread.php?p=4142 (15 years ago)

The rule of three also is a double rule as it is applied twice:

001 · · “Just the place for a Snark!” the Bellman cried,
002 · · · · As he landed his crew with care;
003 · · Supporting each man on the top of the tide
004 · · · · By a finger entwined in his hair.

005 · · “Just the place for a Snark! I have said it twice:
006 · · · · That alone should encourage the crew.
007 · · Just the place for a Snark! I have said it thrice:
008 · · · · What I tell you three times is true.”

329 · · “’Tis the voice of the Jubjub!” he suddenly cried.
330 · · · · (This man, that they used to call “Dunce.”)
331 · · “As the Bellman would tell you,” he added with pride,
332 · · · · “I have uttered that sentiment once.

333 · · “’Tis the note of the Jubjub! Keep count, I entreat;
334 · · · · You will find I have told it you twice.
335 · · ’Tis the song of the Jubjub! The proof is complete,
336 · · · · If only I’ve stated it thrice.”

I think that this is just about the Bellman (and later the Butcher) being apodictic. But as this is written by Carroll, the "rule of three" may have more than one meaning anyway.

[John Whitworth]

Three is a magic number. Three times works for spells. The witches in Macbeth are fascinated by three (and of course there are three of them). And the Christian God is threefold, though I doubt that Carroll would bring that in, not consciously anyhow.

The Rule of Three is an old arithmetic formula that would have been well known to Dodgson from his schooldays. Cocker's Arithmetick introduces its discussion of the Rule of Three with the problem, "If 4 Yards of Cloth cost 12 Shillings, what will 6 Yards cost at that Rate?" The Rule of Three gives the answer to this problem directly. Dickens knew Cocker's book. 'According to Cocker'was a variant title for 'Hard Times'.

They are what we called 'proportion sums' at my school. Primary school I think, before we discovered algebra.

[Allen Tice]

Terese, your contribution is very good!

[Gregory Dowling]

True, it is good, Allen. But I wonder if you realise you're responding to a post made fourteen years ago.

[Allen Tice]

Terese is my friend. I was responding (silently) to clarify Whitworth's reply. No further comment at this time.

[Douglas G. Brown]

It may be 14 years old, but I enjoyed the Carroll parodies. Amazing what lies buried in the Spherean database.

[Ann Drysdale]

And how the rules have changed...

[Terese Coe]

The rules have changed, the rules have changed, the rules have changed.

Now it's true.

But there was a 14-year hiatus. [Never mind, let's not go there.] Great thread, and it's a pleasure to read it again.

Alicia, I wonder if Burton's Anatomy was translated into German by the 19th century, because if so, it may have inspired Heine to write from his own wryness. But maybe he read English; I don't know.

If it's still allowed, I'll say thanks to Allen and Gregory.

[Allen Tice]

No, it is not f-stop 1.4 allowed. You're focal length 22 welcome!