[Ads-l] [Non-DoD Source] where to find sympathy

[Jonathan Lighter]

Adumbration:

1853 _Staunton [Va.] Spectator_  (June 8) 2 [GenealogyBank]: Where can a
man in distress always find sympathy? In the dictionary.

1855 _Waukesha [Wis.] Plain Dealer_ (May 29) 2 [Newspaper.com]:  I...am
also willing to admit that all the down-trodden "peoples" of the earth
will, when appealing to them, invariably find sympathy - _in the
Dictionary_.

1855 _Worcester [Eng.] Herald_  (Oct. 20)  [Ibid.]: "My brudders," said a
coloured preacher of the funny [illegible] to a crowd, "in all infliction,
in all ob yer troubles, dar is one place you can always find sympathy."
"Whar! Whar!" shouted several. "In de dictionary," he replied, rolling his
eyes skyward.

1857 _Morning Epress_ (Buffalo, N.Y.) (May 6) 3 [Ibid.]: If you need
sympathy, turn to the dictionary.

[The same anecdote reappeared in several U.S. and U.K. papers.]

Allusion?:

1926 _Meriden [Conn.] Daily Journal_ (Jan. 7) 14 [Newspapers.com]: The
unluckiest man I know of was the fellow who couldn't even find sympathy in
the dictionary because he didn't know how to spell it.

JL

On Thu, Oct 19, 2017 at 5:52 PM Ben Zimmer <bgzimmer at gmail.com> wrote:

> Thank you! I've added an update to the Strong Language post.
>
> https://stronglang.wordpress.com/2017/10/19/where-can-you-find-sympathy/
>
> On Thu, Oct 19, 2017 at 5:13 PM, ADSGarson O'Toole <
> adsgarsonotoole at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > Excellent 1951 citation, Bill.
> >
> > Ben gave an 1880 citation for the precursor quip in his article on the
> > Strong Language blog. Here is an instance of the precursor in 1868.
> >
> > Date: August 13, 1868
> > Newspaper: Watchman & Reflector (Christian Watchman)
> > Newspaper Location: Boston, Massachusetts
> > Section: Literary and Miscellaneous Departments
> > Article: Life At Sea (Article for the Watchman and Reflector)
> > Author: Rev. J. D. Fulton
> > Quote Page 5, Column 3
> > Database: GenealogyBank
> >
> > [Begin excerpt]
> > Since the first two or three days nearly all have been well, and never
> > was there a company more social, more kind or considerate. The old
> > negro preacher who said, "If you want to find sympathy look in the
> > dictionary for it," could never have been to sea. Here all sympathize
> > with the sufferers, and help to contribute to their relief and
> > comfort.
> > [End excerpt]
> >
> > Garson
> >
> >
> > On Thu, Oct 19, 2017 at 2:37 PM, MULLINS, WILLIAM D (Bill) CIV USARMY
> > RDECOM AMRDEC (US) <william.d.mullins18.civ at mail.mil> wrote:
> > >> > On the Strong Language blog, I look into variations on a saying we
> > >> > discussed a couple of years ago: "If you're looking for sympathy,
> you
> > can find it in the dictionary between 'shit' and 'syphilis.'"
> > >> >
> > >> > https://stronglang.wordpress.com/2017/10/19/where-can-you-
> > find-sympathy/
> > >> >
> > >> > Linking back to our earlier discussion:
> > >> >
> > >> > http://listserv.linguistlist.org/pipermail/ads-l/2015-
> > March/136422.html
> > >> >
> > >> > JL will be glad to know that I tracked down the example he
> remembered
> > in the "World at War" miniseries.
> > >> >
> > >> > --bgz
> > >> >
> > >>
> > >> Bonus points to Ben for quoting "Major Payne".
> > >>
> > >> Also:
> > >> Syracuse NY _Post-Standard_ 22 May 1964 p 27 col a (bridge column,
> > possibly syndicated?) "Now everybody knows that a bridge columnist
> > >> is the tenderest of God's creatures, but there is a limit to our
> > sweetness. "You'll find sympathy in the dictionary between Stupid and
> Throw-
> > >> off," I informed my friend."
> > >>
> > >> _New Tops_ Feb 1970, p 39 col 2.
> > >> "You will find 'sympathy' in the dictionary between fertilizer and
> shoe
> > polish."
> > >
> > > More:
> > >
> > > Little Rock _Arkansas Democrat_ 11 Mar 1951 p 6B col 3
> > > "There are a few wives, however, who also had a tough day and tell
> their
> > tired mates if they want sympathy to look in the dictionary between
> > symmetry and symphonic."
> > >
> > > _Fairview [KS] Enterprise_ 29 Jun 1961 p 3 col 4
> > > "He:  "Do you know where to find sympathy?"
> > > She:  "No, where?"
> > > He:  "In the dictionary between two words." "
> > >
> > > _La Cross [WI] Tribune_ 19 Jay 1967 p 8 col 4
> > > ""If you're looking for sympathy you can find it in the dictionary
> > between shoot and suicide." -- Attributed to a U.S. Marine Corps Drill
> > Instructor"
> > > [This is in a syndicated column by Carl Riblet Jr.  He uses this
> variant
> > occasionally; this is the earliest one of his I can find.]
> > >
> > > _Waco [TX] Tribune-Herald_ 3 May 1974 p 4D col 4
> > > ""A taxpayer looking for sympathy can search in the dictionary between
> > 'shoot' and 'suicide'." -- Paraphrase of an old saying of U.S. Marine
> drill
> > instructors."
> > >
> > > _Boston Herald_ 2 Mar 1986 p 94 col 5
> > > "As for you ball players who are looking for sympathy it's in the
> > dictionary between sex and syphilis."
> > >
> > > State College PA _Centre Daily Times_ 5 Apr 1994 p D1 col 1
> > > "It goes without saying that they're wealthy enough to buy and sell
> > these players so if they're looking for sympathy, it's in the dictionary
> > between symmetry and symphonic."
> >
> >
>
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>


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