MDDM Ch. 12 Summary & Notes

[jbor]

Uncomfortable with one another, Dixon, Maskelyne and Mason discuss common
acquaintances, their work, St Helena, and life and literature in England,
joined in their discussion by some barflies. 'Tis Maskelyne's (29th)
birthday, and the pub staff surprise him with a cake.

Mason has been assigned to work with Maskelyne for three months, even though
the astronomical instruments are faulty. Dixon offers to try to help fix the
problem (with "Beeswax and Breath") before he leaves for the Cape. Mason
declines the offer.

The two clocks, before being exchanged, have a chat. The Ellicott Clock
(Mason's) is somewhat hypochondriac, and jokes about its two masters.

Nice passage about clocks and the ocean tide. (I actually hated the
mini-series of Dovel's _Longitude_ Cf. the characters in this novel: Is the
book any better?)

Just prior to the voyage back to the Cape Dixon actually talks to the
Shelton Clock, and apparently notices its sentience, which upsets the
ontological upset Pynchon had manoueuvred one degree further still.

They part, Dixon solicitous that Mason should "watch out for the Pox", which
he seems to then imply, or manipulate Mason to imply, Maskelyne already has,
or is. 

***

116.7 "Christopher Smart"

SMART, Christopher (1722-71) English poet, born at Shipbourne near
Tonbridge, was elected fellow of Pembroke College, Cambridge, in 1745.
Improvidence, wit, and a secret marriage upset his academic career and he
settled to a precarious living in London. He died insane. Samuel Johnson
assisted him in his monthly *Universal Visitor*. Smart's works include
epigrams, birthday odes and occasional poems; the *Hilliad*, a heavy satire;
and several translations from the Bible and the classics. His one real poem
*A Song to David* (1763), though marred by repetitions and defects of
rhythm, shows a genuine spark of inspiration.

Inspiration (with Pope, of course) for the *Pennsylvaniad* perhaps?

117.31 *The Ghastly Fop*

First mention of this tale. Perhaps a type of story which was being
serialised in Smart's monthly periodical, and certainly a narrative genre
which is to Mason's (and perhaps Dixon's) tastes. Or perhaps Jere is just
defending Charlie (they are certainly warming to one another, if gradually)
from Maskelyne's snobbish pompousness.

120.4 "Back comes Maskelyne, fussing with his Queue."

queue: pigtail

121.15 "Maskelyne, gentle as Lye"

lye: a caustic solution, a type of soap used for leaching (in other words,
not gentle at all)

best