Thursday, April 09, 2015

Random Sequence: encomiums of salubrity

"They heard an enthusiastic description of the beauty, salubrity, facilities for hunting, fishing, and other out-door sports of Roaring River, mingled with allusions to the refined hospitality they were to enjoy, and the high standing of their fellow beneficiaries of the present season; an account tallying so exactly in all particulars with Miss Jemima's written encomiums, that an unpleasant suspicion stole upon the minds of the auditors that he was a partner in the concern, and had had his instructions to puff it upon all convenient occasions."
--Marion Harland, "Taking Borders for Company", in Godey's Lady's Book and Magazine, August 1864

(I found a bound copy of several issues of Godey's in my basement and have been flipping through the dusty pages.)

salubrity (noun) = the state of being healthful

encomiums (noun) = expressions of high praise

All encomiums are due to those whose sobriety leads to salubrity. Try saying that at your next AA meeting?

The weird thing about this bound copy of Godey's (an American magazine) is that the issues are all from the 1860s, and there is not a single unambiguous mention anywhere of the American Civil War.

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