MDDM Ch. 12 Summary & Notes

[John Bailey]

I've read of the Ghastly Fop as a real serial somewhere other than M&D, but 
I can't remember where (it was a long time ago). I'm definitely not 
misremembering, and I'm pretty confident that Pynchon was using (or abusing) 
a 'real' source here, although I have a slight suspicion that it was the 
Ghostly Fop, though I could be wrong here, as ever and elsewhere. Anyway, 
The GF will return, and I'll try and track down a better reference by then. 
After Dave Monroe's pointing out of the historical existence of Learned 
English Beasties, however, I would find it stranger if the Ghastly Fop 
*hadn't* been lifted from the history books.

Anyone know when the birthday cake came into common use? I don't.

Our lads are a bit harsh on Maskelyne. His brand of melancholy is nowhere 
near as attractive as Mason's, and instead veers towards the whiny, 
self-pitying kind. Still, the Pox?


>From: jbor <jbor at bigpond.com>
>To: <pynchon-l at waste.org>
>Subject: MDDM Ch. 12 Summary & Notes
>Date: Fri, 02 Nov 2001 20:31:42 +1100
>
>
>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
>
>


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