The American Credo: A Contribution Toward the Interpretation of the National MindMencken, H. L. (Henry Louis)
General
The American Credo: A Contribution Toward the Interpretation of the National Mind
Mencken, H. L. (Henry Louis)
American wit and humor; National characteristics, American
That if a cat gets into a room where a baby is sleeping, the cat will
suck the baby's breath and kill it.
Sec.199
That all men named Clarence, Claude or Percy are sissies.
Sec.200
That a street car conductor steals every fifth nickel.
Sec.201
That the security of a bank is to be estimated in proportion to the
solidity of the bank building.
Sec.202
That seventy-five per cent of all taxicab drivers have at one time or
another been in Sing Sing.
Sec.203
That one can buy a fine suit of clothes in London for twelve dollars.
Sec.204
That the chicken salad served in restaurants is always made of veal.
Sec.205
That a play without a bed in it never makes any money in Paris.
Sec.206
That Conan Doyle would have made a wonderful detective.
Sec.207
That an oyster-shucker every month or so discovers a pearl which he goes
out and sells for five hundred dollars.
Sec.208
That a napkin is always wrapped around a champagne bottle for the
purpose of hiding the label, and that the quality of the champagne may
be judged by the amount of noise the cork makes when it is popped.
Sec.209
That because a married woman remains loyal to her husband she loves him.
Sec.210
That every time one blows oneself to a particularly expensive cigar and
leans back to enjoy oneself with a good smoke after a hearty and
satisfying dinner, the cigar proceeds to burn down the side.
Sec.211
That when a police captain goes on a holiday he always gets boilingly
drunk.
Sec.212
That an Italian puts garlic in everything he eats, including coffee.
Sec.213
That if one hits a negro on the head with a cobblestone, the cobblestone
will break.
Sec.214
That all nuns have entered convents because of unfortunate love
affairs.
Sec.215
That, being surrounded by alcoholic beverages and believing the
temptation would be irresistible once he began, a bartender in the old
days never took a drink.
Sec.216
That all millionaires are born in small ramshackle houses situated near
railroad tracks.
Sec.217
That farmers afford particularly easy prey for book-agents and are the
largest purchasers of cheap sets of Guy de Maupassant, Rudyard Kipling
and O. Henry.
Sec.218
That George Washington never told a lie.
Sec.219
That a dark cigar is always a strong one.
Sec.220
That the night air is poisonous.
Sec.221
That a hair from a horse's tail, if put into a bottle of water, will
turn into a snake.
Sec.222
That champagne is the best of all wines.
Sec.223
That it snowed every Christmas down to fifteen years ago.
Sec.224
That if a young woman finds a piece of tea leaf floating around the top
of her tea cup, it is a sign that she will be married before the end of
the year.
Sec.225
That if, after one lusty blow, a girl's birthday cake reveals nine
candles still burning, it is a sign that it will be nine years before
she gets married.
Sec.226
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account