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diff --git a/lib/ebooks/devils/J.html b/lib/ebooks/devils/J.html new file mode 100644 index 00000000..68d56c2c --- /dev/null +++ b/lib/ebooks/devils/J.html @@ -0,0 +1,74 @@ +<?xml version="1.0"?> +<!DOCTYPE package PUBLIC "+//ISBN 0-9673008-1-9//DTD OEB 1.0 Package//EN" + "http://openebook.org/dtds/oeb-1.0/oebdoc1.dtd"> +<html> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/x-oeb1-document; charset=utf-8" /> +<link rel="stylesheet" type="text/x-oeb1-css" href="devil.css" /> +<title>The Devil’s Dictionary: J</title> +</head> +<body lang="en-US"> + +<h1>J</h1> + +<p class="firstpara">J is a consonant in English, but some nations use it as a vowel—than which nothing could be more +absurd. Its original form, which has been but slightly modified, was that of +the tail of a subdued dog, and it was not a letter but a character, standing +for a Latin verb, <i>jacere</i>, “to throw,” because when a stone is thrown at a dog the dog’s tail assumes that +shape. This is the origin of the letter, as expounded by the renowned Dr. +Jocolpus Bumer, of the University of Belgrade, who established his conclusions +on the subject in a work of three quarto volumes and committed suicide on being +reminded that the j in the Roman alphabet had originally no curl.</p> + +<p class="entry"><span class="def">jealous</span>, <span class="pos">adj.</span> Unduly +concerned about the preservation of that which can be lost only if not worth keeping.</p> + +<p class="entry"><span class="def">jester</span>, <span class="pos">n.</span> An +officer formerly attached to a king’s household, whose business it was to amuse +the court by ludicrous actions and utterances, the absurdity being attested by +his motley costume. The king himself being attired with dignity, it took the +world some centuries to discover that his own conduct and decrees were +sufficiently ridiculous for the amusement not only of his court but of all +mankind. The jester was commonly called a fool, but the poets and romancers have +ever delighted to represent him as a singularly wise and witty person. In the +circus of to-day the melancholy ghost of the court fool effects the dejection +of humbler audiences with the same jests wherewith in life he gloomed the +marble hall, panged the patrician sense of humor and tapped the tank of royal tears.</p> + +<div class="poem"> +<p class="poetry">The widow-queen of Portugal</p> +<p class="poetry">Had an audacious jester</p> +<p class="poetry">Who entered the confessional</p> +<p class="poetry">Disguised, and there confessed her.</p> +<p class="poetry">“Father,” she said, “thine ear bend down—</p> +<p class="poetry">My sins are more than scarlet:</p> +<p class="poetry">I love my fool—blaspheming clown,</p> +<p class="poetry">And common, base-born varlet.”</p> +<p class="poetry">“Daughter,” the mimic priest replied,</p> +<p class="poetry">“That sin, indeed, is awful:</p> +<p class="poetry">The church’s pardon is denied</p> +<p class="poetry"> To love that is unlawful.</p> +<p class="poetry">“But since thy stubborn heart will be</p> +<p class="poetry">For him forever pleading,</p> +<p class="poetry">Thou’dst better make him, by decree,</p> +<p class="poetry">A man of birth and breeding.”</p> +<p class="poetry">She made the fool a duke, in hope</p> +<p class="poetry">With Heaven’s taboo to palter;</p> +<p class="poetry">Then told a priest, who told the Pope,</p> +<p class="poetry">Who damned her from the altar!</p> +<p class="citeauth">Barel Dort</p> +</div> + +<p class="entry"><span class="def">Jews-harp</span>, <span class="pos">n.</span> An +unmusical instrument, played by holding it fast with the teeth and trying to brush it away with the finger.</p> + +<p class="entry"><span class="def">Joss-sticks</span>, <span class="pos">n.</span> Small +sticks burned by the Chinese in their pagan tomfoolery, in imitation of certain sacred rites of our holy religion.</p> + +<p class="entry"><span class="def">justice</span>, <span class="pos">n.</span> A +commodity which is a more or less adulterated condition the State sells to the +citizen as a reward for his allegiance, taxes and personal service.</p> + + +</body> +</html>
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