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LESS IS FEWER continued from 62
There is in language a sort of shorthand made up of proverbs, adages, and just plain old sayings. In English these things have been appropriated from what were common sources of culture and knowledge. There was a time, not too long ago, that people who spoke English got much of their education from sources that included Ancient Greek philosophers and playwrights, the Bible, Shakespeare, and a whole gaggle of nineteenth century authors and poets.
It is these sources that tell us“ not to cry over spilt milk” and to not“ count our chickens before they hatch.” Shakespeare, single-handedly, contributed more than 1700 words and phrases to the English language.“ All that glitters is not gold,”“ It’ s Greek to me,” and“ strange bedfellows” are now common elements of speech. But it has come to my attention that people are starting to mix these sayings.
Lately, I have been hearing things like,“ don’ t burn your bridges until you get there” and“ there’ s more than one way to swing a cat.” And I’ ve heard people in the media say,“ He tried to saddle the fence.”
Now, I will be the first to admit, that there are times when you can intentionally mix metaphors for humorous effect but that means relying on your audience to know what the original adage is and what it means. One such philosopher who excelled at this was“ Abe Martin.”
Abe was the creation and mouthpiece for author Kin Hubbard and waxed philosophical from our own
66 Our Brown County Sept./ Oct. 2021
Brown County. Most of Abe’ s sayings didn’ t make it into the popular lexicon but should have. Like this one:“ He who hesitates is saved.” And“ A friend is like an umbrella. He’ s never there when you want him, an’ if he is he’ s broke.” And“ People that can’ t sing never refuse.”
I wish that all the visitors to the county might acquaint themselves with Abe and his sayings because you can’ t really know the character of Brown County without knowing him.
I will end this little essay with one more of Abe’ s observations that I rely on:“ Nobuddy kin talk as interesting’ as th’ feller that’ s not hampered by facts er information.” •
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