Utopia, Limited
Act ITarara – The Public Exploder’s name is a reference to the recent music-hall hit song imported from America: “Ta-ra-ra Boom-de-ay!” Girton – a women’s college at Cambridge University, founded in 1869 Lalabalele talala! etc. – Gilbert used some actual Polynesian for Tarara’s raging: “Idiot, I run around screaming but can’t make much more noise, since I am hoarse. Crossly I drag myself into the open and go spinning around sweating.” Double-first in the world’s university – in British higher education, top honors in two final examinations dynamite explodes in his auriculars – ears song of far niente – idleness (in Italian) To which some add (but others do not) Ireland – a reference to the long-raging debate over Irish independence The Kodaks do their best – Kodak cameras (which came out in 1888) were advertised with the slogan “You press the button, we do the rest.” Knightsbridge nursemaids, serving fairies, Stars of proud Belgravian airies – servant girls the Guardsmen presumably have left behind in London ye South Pacific Island viviparians – those whose young are born live (not hatched) Ulahlica! – The Utopian equivalent for “Hear, Hear, Hear!” swell the county rate – increase the local taxes what contango means and also backwardation – fees paid to postpone settlement of a stock purchase or sale, respectively K.C.B. – Knight Commander of the (Order of the) Bath (high honor) Q.C. – Queen’s Counsel, a high-ranking lawyer M.P. – Member of Parliament (elected Politician) terrify the simple Gaul – the French Maxim gun and Nordenfelt – kinds of machine gun thanks to coke – a fuel made from coal Company Limited – an incorporated company (“Inc.” or “Ltd.) of sovereigns all the pink – the best Joint Stock Companies Act of Parliament ’62 – This act made it easier for small investors to pool their resources and incorporate with reduced personal risk (limited liability). Note: Seven was the required number of founders to establish a company, and the word “limited” (Ltd.) had to be added to the company’s name. Act IIthe notes of lover’s lay – a poem to be sung Court of St. James’s vs. Court of St. James’s Hall – confusing the royal palace with the music hall which featured the original “Christy Minstrels” (Royal audience members were not amused) all that isn’t Belgrave Square is Strand and Piccadilly – fashionable areas of London Don’t be unhappy, it’s still on the tapis – under consideration an English girl of eleven stone two – A stone equals 14 pounds, so Goldbury’s ideal girl weighs 156 lbs.—of course, she’s 5 foot 10 Eleven maids out, eleven maids in, And perhaps an occasional “maiden over!” – Cricket playing references (a “maiden over” is analogous to a scoreless inning in baseball) She’ll waltz away like a teetotum – a kind of top short-petticoated – an indication of being a young girl (before wearing long skirts) that asinorum pons I have crossed – actually, “pons asinorum,” or Bridge of Asses; schoolboy slang for one of Euclid’s propositions, due to the difficulty of “getting over” it |