GR translation: bits of string

[Michael Bailey]

Mike Jing wrote:

V153.8-10, P155.32-34   “There are sociologies,” Edwin Treacle, his hair
going all directions, attempts to light a pipeful of wretched
leftovers—autumn leaves, bits of string, fag-ends, “that we haven’t even
begun to look into.

The "string" here is just a normal piece of string, right? The published
translation interpreted it as part of a plant, which I don't think is the
intended meaning.




I think you’re right, Mike.

The pipe-smoker has faded from the American scene, but there’s a full-scale
bronze statue of the first president of UCF, Charles Millican, in front of
the Admin Building, & he’s holding a (tobacco) pipe. His tenure was from
1965-78. Pipe-smoking hasn’t been gone all that long.

Wasn’t Hugh Hefner of Playboy notoriety, requiescat in pace, often shown
holding a pipe?

Academia harbored many pipe smokers.

Dr Millican probably was a neat pipe-smoker, but Edwin Treacle’s flyaway
hairdo indicates he’s not.

If you keep a partially-smoked pipe in a jacket pocket (one with elbow
patches maybe) or a cardigan, the bowl catches other detritus.

Also - “fag-ends” - I’ve seen this done, people smoking up the roaches of
their non-filter smokes.

Lastly - tobacco shortage due to the war made him
less picky?