MDMD2: Magnetical Stupors

[Terrance]

Paul Nightingale wrote:
> 
> In Ch3 the narrative-as-C18th-pastiche is disrupted by the exchange in
> dialect between Mason and Dixon (p15). This is followed by Dixon's attempt
> at a joke; he apologises for his Corsican accent and is then cut short
> before we are allowed to see a textual rendering of the Proper
> Englishwoman's response (p16).This would be Dixon, who has 'learned' to
> 'overcome' his regional accent, and thereby go some way to disguising his
> personal history, reproducing the standard English spoken by a Lady
but Mason prevents him from Reproducing and English Lady's language,
perhaps saving him from the sailors who might be excited by a Quaker in
a red coat of military cut, speaking  like an English lady.  Recall that
Zoyd Wheeler (in drag)  has a bit of trouble in the Log Jam. Also, as
Dave noted, while Dixon did sport a red coat, no Friend ever did, they
wore dull greys and dingy browns, and of course he has dropped the
Quaker forms of YOU. 
A Fallen Friend? I hope he doesn't Whip the baby out with the filthy 
bath water. 


A Quaker farmer  was milking his cow
the cow kicked the bucket over and spilled the milk
The Quaker farmer said to the cow, 

"I can not curse Thee.
I can not kick Thee. 
But I can sell Thee to a Catholic."