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Han Donghoon - 17 May 2007 04:21 GMT

Hi, again~

A few question more~

1910s America, in a barren Inn in a
deadly winter, some people gethered with mysterious purpose like Agasa
Christi's mystery novel.

At the beginning scene, a main guy called Magee arrieved the inn and thought
alone in his very quiet living-room. He thought about New york. He is a
famouse fiction writer.

Mr. Jim Cargan : Mayor of some city (tough, very powerful, grown-up in a
slum)
Mr. Lou Max: Mayor's dog

(1) Amaryllis

........New York!
Probably the telephone in his rooms was jangling, vainly calling forth Billy
Magee to sport with Amaryllis in the shade of the rubber trees--Billy Magee
who sat alone in the silence on Baldpate Mountain. Few know of his
departure. This was the night of that stupid attempt at theatricals at the
Plaza; stupid in itself but gay, almost giddy, since Helen Faulkner was to
be there. This was the night of the dinner to Carey at the club. This was
the night--of many diverting things.
--
I understand Amaryllis is a name of flower. So what did he do with Amaryllis
in his thought?
And I'm confused at 'stupid attempt at theatricals at the Plaza'. Maybe he
is an amature actor also and attempt stupid acting at the Plaza?

The telephone's jangling get Billy Magee who's in his thought into reality?

(2) orchid division

...Mr. Magee explained to them that the holder of the sixth key had
arrieved.
"A handsome young lady," he remarked; "her name is Myra Thornhill."
"Old Heny Thornhill's daughter," reflected the mayor. "Well, seems I've sort
of the habit of being surprised now. I tell you, Lou, we're breaking into
the orchid division up here."

--
Anyhow they are chasing a big sum of money. So the mayor doesn't like any
guests of the inn.
I only guess 'the orchid division' means 'Myra Thornhill' and the mayer
doesn't like her arrieving. I don't know exact meaning of 'we're breaking
into the...'.

Always thanks for your kind reply,

Donghoon

Reply to this Message

John Ramsay - 17 May 2007 03:05 GMT

>Hi, again~
>
[quoted text clipped - 25 lines]
>I understand Amaryllis is a name of flower. So what did he do with Amaryllis
>in his thought?

Amaryllis is also the name of a country girl in Greek
mythology. Billy is daydreaming he could be in the country
with a country girl but the telephone is ringing.

>And I'm confused at 'stupid attempt at theatricals at the Plaza'. Maybe he
>is an amature actor also and attempt stupid acting at the Plaza?

Theatricals is a general term. To behave theatrically is to overact,
whether on stage
or in real life.

>The telephone's jangling get Billy Magee who's in his thought into reality?
>
[quoted text clipped - 14 lines]
>into the...'.
>

Orchids were expensive flowers that only the rich could afford. As
a wealthy young lady is involved, it was/is customary to bring an
orchid for her to wear on her gown when taking her to a dance.

As the novel is set nearly 100 years ago things have changed.
Orchids were expensive in the US back then and oysters
were cheap.

Nowadays orchids are less expensive and oysters much more so.

>Always thanks for your kind reply,
>
>Donghoon
>
>

What's the title of the novel? Name of author? Have you tried
a web search for it?

Might save you and others a lot of time.

Reply to this Message

Han Donghoon - 19 May 2007 04:45 GMT

Earl Derr Biggers' 'Seven keys to Baldpate', I understand it's his first
fiction.

I'm trying to understand difficult sentences by myself, I usally post my
questions after every my efforts through internet whatever... I think this
book is rather difficult for an asian guy like me (distence almost 100 years
and across broad Pacific from a poem-like book) to translate...for I need
acute understanding in order to show my readers...

Thanks to your replies, I could understand more detaily.

Again thanks for your kind answers,

Donghoon

> >Hi, again~
> >
[quoted text clipped - 73 lines]
>
> Might save you and others a lot of time.

Reply to this Message

Einde O'Callaghan - 17 May 2007 07:38 GMT

Han Donghoon schrieb:

> Hi, again~
>
[quoted text clipped - 25 lines]
> I understand Amaryllis is a name of flower. So what did he do with Amaryllis
> in his thought?

I'd like to point out that Amaryllis is a name as well as the name of a
flower. It comes from Greek and Roman literature. And John Milton refers
to Amaryllis in his poem "Lycidas" - "To sport with Amaryllis in the
shade" - so you can see that the above is a literary quotation. I would
say that the protagonist is away from his room and imagines that the
phone might be ringing in his room because somebody wants to invite him
out to have fun - but it is ringing in vain because he isn't there to
answer it.

> And I'm confused at 'stupid attempt at theatricals at the Plaza'. Maybe he
> is an amature actor also and attempt stupid acting at the Plaza?

To understand this reference we probably need more information about
what happened in New York - this was probably given earlier or may be
given later if this is a mystery story.

> The telephone's jangling get Billy Magee who's in his thought into reality?

> (2) orchid division
>
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
> doesn't like her arrieving. I don't know exact meaning of 'we're breaking
> into the...'.

No, the mayor is surprised at the arrival of yet another attractive
young woman - this is probably unusual during the winter season -
orchids are expensive, delicate and attractive flowers - he is making a
comment about the sudden transformation from a remote hotel with few
visitors to a new stage where the hotel is filling up with attractive
young women.

You have picked a very difficult text to translate - it is full of many
fairly obscure cultural and literary references that would baffle even a
native speaker. It was written for readers brought up in another age and
from a particular class and educational background - the upper middle
class with an extensive schooling in classical literature. Indeed
without the help of the Internet I would have been unable to answer many
of your queries.

Regards, Einde O'Callaghan

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Discussion Groups / ESL Teaching / May 2007

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