Carter was "a seller of everything, and other things
besides," would probably have urged this excuse. The writer of the
following in the "agony" column of a daily paper, "Dear Tom. Come
immediately if you see this. If not come on Saturday," would contend
that there was only a slight omission, and that the meaning was
evidently "if you see this _to-day_." From inadvertence I have heard it
said in commendation of a celebrated artist, that "he painted dead
game--to the life." Sir Boyle Roche is said to have exclaimed in a fit
of enthusiasm "that Admiral Howe would sweep the French fleet off the
face of the earth."
But it may be urged that there are some observations which no man can
excuse or account for, and of such a nature that even the person who
makes them must admit that they are "bulls." Such, for instance, as that
of the Irishman, who being shown an alarum said, "Oh, sure, I see. I've
only to pull the string when I want to awake myself." But such sayings
are not "bulls," only humorous inventions. They represent a greater
amount of density than any one ever possessed. That the above saying is
invented, is proved by the simple fact that alarums have no strings to
pull. In the same way the lines quoted by Lever--
"Success to the moon, she's a dear noble creature
And gives us the daylight all night in the dark,"
did not emanate from a dull, but a clever man.
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