ATDDTA Penrose, Chums over Canada (p149), pelt/veldt (146)

[mikebailey at speakeasy.net]

 Monte Davis revealed

> The AtD wiki is your friend:
> http://against-the-day.pynchonwiki.com/wiki/index.php?title=ATD_119-148#Page
> _146
>
> "Dr. Jim's little adventure"
>
> A reference to the so-called "Jameson Raid" spearheaded by Dr. L. S.
> Jameson. 

ah, thanks. 
I really need to dig into that Pynchon wiki.

>
> "the British poet-laureate's commemorative verse"
>
> Reference to Alfred Austin. From Wikipedia: "As poet-laureate, his topical
> verses did not escape negative criticism; a hasty poem written in praise of
> the Jameson Raid in 1896 being a notable instance."
> The questionable rhyme referred to is from that "hasty poem" --
> They went across the veldt,
> As hard as they could pelt.

Yes, that is questionable.  I much prefer Pinter's poetry.