Showing posts with label Euphues. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Euphues. Show all posts

Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Leo High School - Incubator of Wit



 

Tully eloquent in his glozes, yet vainglorious: Solomon wise, yet too wanton: David holy but yet an homicide: none more witty than Euphues, yet at the first none more wicked. The freshest colors soonest fade, the teenest razor soonest turneth his edge, the finest cloth is soonest eaten with moths, and the cambric sooner stained than the coarse canvas: which appeared well in this Euphues, whose wit being like wax apt to receive any impression, and having the bridle in his own hands, either to use the rein or the spur, disdaining counsel, leaving his country, loathing his old acquaintance, thought either by wit to obtain some conquest, or by shame to abide some conflict, and leaving the rule of reason, rashly ran unto destruction. Who preferring fancy before friends, and his present humor, before honor to come, laid reason in water being too salt for his taste, and followed unbridled affection, most pleasant for his tooth. When parents have more care how to leave their children wealthy than wise, and are more desirous to have them maintain the name, than the nature of a gentleman: when they put gold into the hands of youth, where they should put a rod under their girdle, when instead of awe they make them past grace, and leave them rich executors of goods, and poor executors of godliness, then it is no marvel, that the son being left rich by his father's will, become retchless by his own will. John Lyly:1579 
1578




I had occasion to quaff coffee with men of wit once again.  Nowhere on earth, it seems to me anyway, is there a habitat of the humanities so plush in periphrase, euphuistic circumanbages, prolixities, and piles of pleonasms as my south side Chicago neighborhood.  There be no terse Terrences on these Elysian urban arteries.

This is no home to thin and tight lip-ed cut-to-the-chasing merchant-pettifogers and gowned charlatans, who see time as money and words get in the way of both.  Hyde Park and Evanston stamp worth with coin in thy purse Puritanism and unitarian ambiguity of sound and sense.  Our rhetorical umbilical chords extend to Hibernian, Caledonian, Carpathian and Parnassan springs of generously honey'd word-waters.


In short, the guys can gab.

Of this breed of wags, none stands taller than a Leo High School Alumnus.  I say this with all requisite due diligence as to my attachment vocational to this academy of Faith, Scholarship and Deeds. Though I am an employee of this brainery of brawny stalwarts, I am not one myself.  I graduated from the now only remembered Little Flower High School.

I coffee at Dunkin Donuts operated by Moroccan born Kareem and attended by alumni of every Catholic parish and high school south of Madison Avenue with the odd sprinkling of Los Nortenos de Chicago, with an august parliament of worthies.  I was asked about enrollment for the coming school year and happily reported on the swelled ranks of young Lions, including seven young men from St. Gabriel's parish in Canaryville.

This segue'd to the looming Chicago Public Schools job action -voted on and set for strike.  I was told that marketing opportunities abound and all we needed was a snappy slogan.  A shower of shibboleths followed, all identifying rich niche tags; thus, Leo High School -Expect to Succeed & etc.


A Leo Man, Mike Regan '70,  stood tall and voiced the truth honeyed with periphrase, genius, wisdom and truth.


Leo High School - A success story from one end of the bar to the other!


Mike Regan, Citizens!  Un homme qui offre toujours le meilleur mot sur ​​n'importe quel objet donner!


Hey, that Motts Juice is mighty tasty!



Tuesday, April 07, 2009

Euphues, Ben Johnson, Ben Jonson, Monogamy, and Michelle Leigh the Weather Bee!










It is virtue, yea virtue, gentlemen, that maketh gentlemen; that maketh the poor rich, the base-born noble, the subject a sovereign, the deformed beautiful, the sick whole, the weak strong, the most miserable most happy. There are two principal and peculiar gifts in the nature of man, knowledge and reason; the one commandeth, and the other obeyeth: these things neither the whirling wheel of fortune can change, neither the deceitful cavillings of worldlings separate, neither sickness abate, neither age abolish. --- Euphues, the Anatomy of Wit


I have never, ever knowly taken illegal drugs, and I would never embarrass my family, my friends, my country and the kids who love me. Ben Johnson - famous Cowboy actor

The ports of death are sins; of life, good deeds:
Through which our merit leads us to our meeds.
How willful blind is he then, that would stray,
And hath it in his powers, to make his way!
This world death's region is, the other life's:
And here, it should be one of our first strifes,
So to front death, as men might judge us past it.
For good men but see death, the wicked taste it.

Ben Jonson


I am conflicted! I am a devout monogamist - married or otherwise. I am single minded and soul'd to the superb woman who holds my heart and soul in her delicate fingers. I was steady as Don Larson on October 8th 1956 with my beloved wife Mary, who went home to Christ eleven years ago. However, I am a Male and can not throw switch on the circuit that shuts off the juice to the stupid bone between my ears.

Thus, during my late wife Mary's final days she noticed that I always had FOX 32 New on in the morning when I ministerd to her blood work, pills, comforts and immediate wants.

'Checking out the blond bimbo with the righteous knockers,Bucko?'
No Sweetie - I like Fox weather and news.

'Bullshit.'

Honor Bright

'You making plans for after my departure? Look simpleton, that Knocker Numbskull wouldn't know clouds from laundry -( mimicing the Uber-Sexy Ms. Leigh with dead-on venom and skill) Helllllllo Chicago its Cold out today on Leather Day!. . . and SoooooooooWet!'

You do me great dishonor, Mary!

' Oh, Yeah, Bright-boy. You clowns are pathetic. It's the Male Stupid Bone - that thing that passes for a brain in you guys! Did You join her Fan Club yet???'

ENOUGH, Madame! . . . and so it would continue.

Like most of us saggingly sorry middle aged males, Michelle Leigh was part of a Man's hearty breakfast!

Yesterday, I received a notice that said Miss Leigh has her own Weather Site! I am enchanted!

I remain One Conflicted Bottle Nosed Dope -Pat Hickey - He's fun to watch;
So is Michelle Leigh - women universal notwithstanding! Check out Michelle Leigh's Weathervibe site -click my post title.

Gentlemen, get a hearty breakfast again!

Warm thoughts, Indeed