[Ads-l] Limerick about Stein family with Gertrude, Ep, and Ein

[ADSGarson O'Toole]

A limerick about Gertrude Stein, Jacob Epstein, and Albert Einstein
was discussed in two issues of the quarterly newsletter from quotation
expert Nigel Rees dated January 2017 and April 2020. Nigel presented
citations in 1940 and 1969.

Now, there is an article on this topic available via the Quote
Investigator website:

A Notable Family Named Stein With Gertrude, Ep, and Ein
https://quoteinvestigator.com/2020/07/26/ein/

The first citation dated March 2, 1931 presented the following version
of the limerick:

There’s a notable family called Stein.
There’s Gertrude, there’s Ep–, and there’s Ein–,
Gert’s writings are punk,
Ep’s statues are junk.
Can’t make head or tail out of Ein

In addition, I found a precursor poem called "Precious Steins" which
uses the same name-splitting wordplay. It appeared on September 11,
1929 in the London humor magazine "Punch". The following were the
first two verses:

What with Gertrude, Ep and Ein,
When I hear the name of Stein,
I go creepy down the spine.

Ein has caught the ether bending,
Gert has sentences unending,
Ep is really most art-rending.

Feedback welcome
Garson O'Toole
QuoteInvestigator.com

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