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This reminded me of a story/vignette which my fallible memory tags as by someone like Twain or Poe, about an automatic rewriting machine. It was put to work on
by abecedarius 6d ago
This reminded me of a story/vignette which my fallible memory tags as by someone like Twain or Poe, about an automatic rewriting machine. It was put to work on the same passage with an ever higher intensity setting, becoming more and more gothic to the point of parody -- iirc the final output was verse including the line "to atoms dash the doubly damned".
Does anyone remember this?
- nkurz 6d agoNo memory, but searching says it was Lewis Carroll in Photography Extraordinary, published in 1885: The Milk-and-Water School Alas! she would not hear my prayer! Yet it were rash to tear my hair; Disfigured, I should be less fair. She was unwise, I may say blind; Once she was lovingly inclined; Some circumstance has changed her mind. The Strong-Minded or Matter-of-Fact School Well! so my offer was no go! She might do worse, I told her so; She was a fool to answer "No". However, things are as they stood; Nor would I have her if I could, For there are plenty more as good. The Spasmodic or German School Firebrands and Daggers! hope hath fled! To atoms dash the doubly dead! My brain is fire--my heart is lead! Her soul is flint, and what am I? Scorch'd by her fierce, relentless eye, Nothingness is my destiny! https://pinkmonkey.com/dl/library1/carol47.pdf https://pinkmonkey.com/dl/library1/carol47.pdf
- abecedarius 6d agoThanks! You're better at search than me. It was part of a story, described here (last 3 pages): https://www.researchgate.net/publication/403044354_Photography_extraordinary https://www.researchgate.net/publication/403044354_Photograp...
- DoctorOetker 5d agoThe actual story can be found here: https://archive.org/details/further-nonsense-verse-and-prose/page/80/mode/2up https://archive.org/details/further-nonsense-verse-and-prose...