M&D 10th Anniversary

[robinlandseadel at comcast.net]

   " 'Demagogue'!" mutters Dr. Franklin. "our excellent Sprout Penn, 
the latest of his crypto-Jesuit ruling family, and his Satanick 
arrangement with Mr. Allen, his shameless Attentions to the 
Presbyterian Mobility---has the effrontery to speak of 'crushing this 
Demagogue'---well, well, aye Demagogue . . . Milton thought it a 
'Goblin word,' that might yet describe good Patriots,--- "

   "Good Patriots all!" cries the impulsive Me. Dixon, raising his Cup.

   Dr. Franklin observes them, one at a time, through the tinted lenses 
of Spectacles of his own Invention, for moderating the Glare of the 
Sun, whose Elevation upon his Nose varies, according to the 
message it happens to ne inflecting, giving over all the impression
of a Visitor from very far away indeed.

M & D, 266




             Tore:
             Today is the 10th anniversary for the publication 
             of Mason & Dixon - hard to believe that a whole 
             decade has gone by.

             I wish I could say that Henry Holt will publish a 
             beautiful 10th anniversary edition to mark the 
             occasion (both David Foster Wallace's Infinite 
             Jest and DeLillo's Underworld got (or will get) 
             the full 10th anniversary treatment), or that 
             Pynchon will publish an essay (or a lost chapter) 
             to celebrate both the 10th anniversary and his 
             own upcoming 70th birthday....

             Ah well - guess I'll just pick my battered copy 
             of M&D from the shelf and read a couple-three 
             favourite passages instead.