George A. Birmingham

Name: The Adventures of Dr. Whitty — 5. The Etymologists
Author: George A. Birmingham

The Adventures of Dr. Whitty — 5… (1913)

Summary

“The Adventures of Dr. Whitty — 5. The Etymologists”, published in 1913, is a work by George A. Birmingham. It explores elements such as Molly Geraghty, professor and Hosty.

Quotes from The Adventures of Dr. Whitty — 5… (George A. Birmingham)

George A. Birmingham, The Adventures of Dr. Whitty — 5… (1913)

“ Whitty was making to the party. The three old people who were to speak Irish were sure to cause trouble of some sort, especially if given liberal supplies of whisky. He had not the least wish to see Molly Geraghty dancing jigs in his hall. He threw away the end of his cigar and cursed Sir Clement Hosty heartily. Then he heard the sound of wheels, and turned to see Patsy Flynn driving his donkey-cart up to the house. In the back of the cart, on a bundle of straw, well wrapped up in old sacks, sat Patsy's grandfather.
"Who the devil are you," said the colonel, "and what do you want?" ”

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Source: Wikisource

George A. Birmingham, The Adventures of Dr. Whitty — 5… (1913)

“ You and Sir Clement Hosty have bungled it between you. Ever since I heard there was a man catching butterflies in Dunbeg I suspected that the professor would turn out to be an entomologist. I felt pretty sure of it when I saw the butterfly net on the car. But you stuck to your theory in spite of all I could say to you; and I still maintain that the entertainment we provided was quite the best possible if the man had been what you told me he was."
"It was etymologist that Hosty said," said the colonel. "I'll stick to that till the day of my death. ”

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Source: Wikisource

George A. Birmingham, The Adventures of Dr. Whitty — 5… (1913)

“ When once he understands that it's a German professor of etymology that wants to see him he'll be leaping like a two-year-old, and Patsy can bring him in the ass-cart."
"Is it nothing but Irish-speaking you want?"
"Pure Irish," said the doctor. "If possible I don't want anyone there who has a word of English."
"If a good jig would be any use to you," said the priest, "there's Molly Geraghty that was taught by the old fellow that was round giving lessons two years ago, and won a prize for her dancing up in Dublin." ”

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Source: Wikisource

George A. Birmingham, The Adventures of Dr. Whitty — 5… (1913)

“ He grabbed me at once and said he wanted me to do the civil thing to a Professor Bernstein who was coming down to this neighbourhood with two assistant etymologists. They're sent out by the Royal Society to make a scientific survey of this county."
"You're sure he said etymologists?"
"Quite." said the colonel. "Hosty always shouts so that you can't pretend not to hear what he's saying, even if you're quite a long way off. Now, what sort of civility would an etymologist expect, do you think?"
"Lunch, for one thing," said the doctor. "All scientific men eat largely, you know. ”

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Source: Wikisource

George A. Birmingham, The Adventures of Dr. Whitty — 5… (1913)

“ Curious that the Irish people, in giving a name to an entirely new object, should have hit on the same way of doing it as the Americans. They always speak of bicycles as wheels, you know. The fact suggests some interesting thoughts about the effect of the Irish mind upon the American language. But perhaps that's a matter rather for the ethnologist than the etymologist."
He looked round for admiration when he had finished this speech. He received it from Colonel Beresford, Mr. Jackson, and Father Henaghan. The professor appeared to be puzzled, and relapsed into silence. ”

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Source: Wikisource

George A. Birmingham, The Adventures of Dr. Whitty — 5… (1913)

“ It would make you sick to hear the way some of them go on, and them the ones that know least about it."
"That may be," said the doctor. "But the colonel has a German professor and two assistants coming to him on Tuesday, men that have devoted their lives to the Irish language, and are more deeply interested in it than in anything else in the world. They study it, of course, mainly from an etymological point of view."
"I don't know," said the priest, "would I be much use at the ancient Irish. They tell me it's not the same as what we talk now."
"That'll be all right," said Dr. Whitty. ”

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Source: Wikisource

George A. Birmingham, The Adventures of Dr. Whitty — 5… (1913)

“ The time before that he had an army pensioner whom he wanted me to take on as gatekeeper. I told him I had more gate-keepers already than I had gates; but he bothered on at me for nearly an hour. Once before he dragged me to a concert to hear a musical protégé of his. ”

George A. Birmingham

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Quotes from The Adventures of Dr. Whitty — 5… (George A. Birmingham)

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