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
Sec.372
That if one holds a buttercup under a person's chin and a yellow light
is reflected upon that person's chin, it is a sign that he likes butter.
Sec.373
That all penny-in-the-slot weighing machines make a fat woman lighter
and a thin woman heavier.
Sec.374
That in the period just before a woman's baby is born the woman's face
takes on a peculiar spiritual and holy look.
Sec.375
That when a Chinese laundryman hands one a slip for one's laundry, the
Chinese letters which he writes on the slip have nothing to do with the
laundry but are in reality a derogatory description of the owner.
Sec.376
That an old woman with rheumatism in her leg can infallibly predict when
it is going to rain.
Sec.377
That Philadelphia is a very sleepy town.
Sec.378
That it is impossible for a man to learn how to thread a needle.
Sec.379
That there is something unmanly about a grown man playing the piano,
save only when he plays it in a bordello.
Sec.380
That a couple of quinine pills, with a chaser of rye whiskey, will cure
a cold.
Sec.381
That all Congressmen who voted for Prohibition are secret lushers and
have heavy stocks of all sorts of liquors in their cellars.
Sec.382
That a certain Exalted Personage in Washington is a gay dog with the
ladies and used to cut up with a stock company actress.
Sec.383
That all the best cooks are men.
Sec.384
That all Japanese butlers are lieutenants in the Japanese Navy and that
they read and copy all letters received by the folks they work for.
Sec.385
That the best way to stop nose-bleed is to drop a door-key down the
patient's back.
Sec.386
That a thunder-storm will cause milk to turn sour.
Sec.387
That if a man drinks three glasses of buttermilk every day he will never
be ill.
Sec.388
That whenever two Indians meet they greet each other with the word
"How!"
Sec.389
That the Justices of the Supreme Court of the United States all chew
tobacco while hearing cases, but that they are very serious men
otherwise, and never laugh, or look at a pretty girl, or get tight.
Sec.390
That all negro prize-fighters marry white women, and that they afterward
beat them.
Sec.391
That New Orleans is a very gay town and full of beautiful French
creoles.
Sec.392
That gin is good for the kidneys.
Sec.393
That the English lower classes are so servile that they say "Thank you,
sir," if one kicks them in the pantaloons.
Sec.394
That the gipsies who go about the country are all horse-thieves, and
that they will put a spell upon the cattle of any farmer who has them
arrested for stealing his mare.
Sec.395
That every bachelor of easy means has an illicit affair with a grass
widow in a near-by city and is the father of several illegitimate
children.
Sec.396
That a country editor receives so many presents of potatoes, corn,
rutabagas, asparagus, country ham, carrots, turnips, etc., that he never
has to buy any food.
Sec.397
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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