The Diary of Nathaniel Bryceson (Part 6)

[steve_gus]

I took 'verse' as an old fashioned (1846 english) way of saying he wrote him a letter, not a poem. Kinda like the biblical derived saying "i gave it to him chapter and verse".  I dont see that anyone would  complain about changes to a building  in a poem........

[drykid]

I took 'verse' as an old fashioned (1846 english) way of saying he wrote him a letter, not a poem. Kinda like the biblical derived saying "i gave it to him chapter and verse".  I dont see that anyone would  complain about changes to a building  in a poem........

Yeah, I didn't read it as suggesting that it was an actual poem.  Not because I don't think that Nat would be interested in writing poetry, but just because I don't think he would consider it appropriate in this instance.  I took "verse" more to suggest the idea that he wasn't interested in starting a dialogue with Mr. Walker on the matter, only in giving him a piece of his mind.  (Something more like a "rant" in modern usage.)

The interesting thing about diaries (or one of them) for me is how the brevity of them gives each word far more import than it would do if you were writing an essay or something where the idea was to make sure the reader was correctly following what you're saying. Like in today's entry I find myself speculating over the fact that the word "afterwards" is in shorthand, even though it seems in context that it would be more logical to either put it in longhand or just miss it out altogether. I f find myself wondering what exactly he and Ann got up to as a result...

[Ruskie]

Carole, of course our Nathaniel didn't send an anonymous threatening poem to old Mr Walker!  Anonymous perhaps    ... but threatening ... no! Never!  

I thought that as Nathaniel said "verses of his own composing" that he meant he'd sent Mr Walker a poem. Why wouldn't he just have said "I wrote him a letter"?

Who else would have 'composed' something that Nathaniel sent to Mr Walker?    I may be off the mark here, but it seems an odd way to say he wrote him a letter.

I suppose he was offering Mr Walker some support as neither of them approved of the modernisation of the lighting. They might well have been the only two people in the parish who didn't like the new lights. Amended due to error in not realising it was actually Mr Walker who had made the change to the light.

Thanks Ian for the additonal information about Miss Myers and her wheeling and dealing. What an interesting character she must have been.

Yes I wish Nathaniel wasn't so brief with his descriptions too Ian.  A little while ago there was mention of Ann but not in italics - this may have been an error on behalf of the Archives rather than Nathaniel forgetting that he should've written this in shorthand. I suppose half the fun of it is trying to get inside Nathaniel's head and work out what, how and why he was thinking and acting as he did. I love it! 

[drykid]

I suppose he was offering Mr Walker some support as neither of them approved of the modernisation of the lighting. They might well have been the only two people in the parish who didn't like the new lights. 

I think you're getting mixed up a bit; Mr. Walker was the proprietor of the hotel in question (see 20th Aug entry); in Nat's mind he was the one responsible for the "displeasing" alteration, so I can't imagine that whatever he said was very supportive.  Although I doubt it would have been threatening, just highly critical of his actions.

I realise "verses" is a strange term to use; I'm just proceeding on the assumption that it's usage was a bit different back then.  They certainly used "cabinet" a bit differently heh

Yes I wish Nathaniel wasn't so brief with his descriptions too Ian.  A little while ago there was mention of Ann but not in italics - this may have been an error on behalf of the Archives rather than Nathaniel forgetting that he should've written this in shorthand. I suppose half the fun of it is trying to get inside Nathaniel's head and work out what, how and why he was thinking and acting as he did. I love it! 

I do suspect that like you say there are mistakes in the way the entries have been transcribed; there's definitely been one or two bits where the lack of italics is suspect.

[HeatherLynne]

Also as we've seen from the shorthand deciphering thread here http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,477954.0.html  shorthand is very much open to misinterpretation ... maybe Nathaniel was talking about seeing the hairs on her coat!

[Ruskie]

I suppose he was offering Mr Walker some support as neither of them approved of the modernisation of the lighting. They might well have been the only two people in the parish who didn't like the new lights. 

I think you're getting mixed up a bit; Mr. Walker was the proprietor of the hotel in question (see 20th Aug entry); in Nat's mind he was the one responsible for the "displeasing" alteration, so I can't imagine that whatever he said was very supportive.  Although I doubt it would have been threatening, just highly critical of his actions.

Yes, I have now re-read the entry - I was incorrect and now realise it was Mr Walker himself who made the change to the light. I have amended my comment above ... 

[alpinecottage]

Occasionally people write poems to our local paper complaining about the local council or as a particular recent example, the closure of a local school.  I think writing a poem can be a way of registering your disapproval without being too aggressive and possibly in a humorous way, so my vote would be for NB having written in rhyming verse.

[steve_gus]

maybe Nathaniel was talking about seeing the hairs on her coat!

great minds think alike. I made the same joke a day or so after the post and it floated like a lead balloon.

"Compose" is a word you would use to describe writing a letter. In 1846 language its more than possible verses referred to a letter, not a poem. The bible is composed of verses, and it is in no way a poem.

If he did, perhaps it went like

The other night
I saw your light
what an awful fright
please put it right
I cannot stand its awful sight
to me it looks a piece of
bad architecture

[HeatherLynne]

Ha Ha Steve!  Although I think the last line should be "to me it is a terrible blight"  cos that scans better