Viral Quotes: Remark about a funeral: I approve of it (attrib Ebenezer Rockwood Hoar 1887; attrib Mark Twain 1938)

[Laurence Horn]

Speaking of which, how about "It's your funeral", with the usual
current rhetorical force?

LH

At 11:51 AM -0400 5/9/11, victor steinbok wrote:
>I approve of it.
>
>VS-)
>
>On Mon, May 9, 2011 at 11:48 AM, Jonathan Lighter
><wuxxmupp2000 at gmail.com>wrote:
>
>>
>>  I like it!
>>
>>  JL
>>
>>  On Mon, May 9, 2011 at 11:47 AM, Garson O'Toole
>>  <adsgarsonotoole at gmail.com>wrote:
>>
>>  >
>>  > Thanks for responding with valuable material from your searches Victor.
>>  >
>>  > Wendell Phillips died on Feb. 7, 1884 according to Britannica. Here is
>>  > a cite with a version of the joke on February 29th. So the quip was in
>>  > circulation within weeks of the death of Phillips.
>>  >
>>  > Cite: 1884 February 29, Cincinnati Commercial Gazette (Cincinnati
>>  > Commercial Tribune), Approving of the Funeral, Page 2, Column 5,
>>  > Cincinnati, Ohio. (GenealogyBank)
>>  >
>>  > Approving of the Funeral.
>>  >
>>  > Boston Post.-The Hon. E. R. Hoar did not love Phillips over much in
>>  > his later years. It is now reported of him that while the remains of
>>  > the great agitator were awaiting the final ceremonies a distinguished
>>  > Cambridge gentleman asked him if he was going to attend Wendell
>>  > Phillips's funeral. "No," was the reply, "but I approve it!"
>>  >
>>  > Garson
>>
>
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