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Deacon's dictionary of foreign phrases and classical quotations : a treasury of reference for writers and readers of current literature
IT has been credibly reported in the press that a theatrical audience, having before them a drop curtain representing a Roman villa with the word " SALVE " prominently displayed, one of them innocently enquired who was the maker of the salve which he supposed to be thus advertised. This is an extreme instance of a kind of ignorance which is very much more common than is generally admitted.
Anyone who has received an education, however meagre, however strictly confined to his native tongue, is credited with a perfect acquaintance with most of the numerous foreign expressions and classical quotations which occur now more frequently than ever in current literature.
It is indeed almost superfluous to point out the fact that by the side of the movement which has set in against the so-called waste of time involved in an exhaustive study of the classical languages, there never was a period when more frequent use was made of expressions and quotations drawn from these sources. Although the number of Members of Parliament who can quote off-hand from their Iliad or yEneid, or Horace, is fewer by far than half-a-century ago, yet we have quite recently heard an alderman cite Greek ; and it may be safely affirmed that those who still possess these accomplishments are not indisposed to display them.
It is, however, chiefly in the columns of the press
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