Lexicon of style

[marcelo]

There are probably also fine distinctions between the qualities of gallantry; chivalry and valour. For example, the Victoria Cross is awarded only for action in the face of the enemy and bears, on the front, just the words; 'For Valour', whereas the next-ranking medal, the George Cross is awarded for action in difficult or dangerous circumstances but without an active human opponent and bears the words 'For Gallantry'. Of course, 'gallantry' might also denote simply the possession of a form of courtliness, which might be devoid of any higher quality; maybe elegant and, maybe, without style. 'Chivalry' derives mainly from a strict code of behaviour and does not really leave room for personal choice. Valour and gallantry are supreme qualities; greater even than simple charity, because they denote a preparedness to risk sacrificing the self. You cannot, to my mind, better those qualities, however the possessor of them is dressed.

Thank for this. I was not aware the word "gallantry" also had this connotation.

[shredder]

Smoking some tobaccos can bring Paradise on earth and even some non-smokers (including reformed heavy smokers ) like the smoking thread in Great Photographs as it has brought out some great images. Therefore, I think that, subject to avoidance of reincarnation as an ant, a spider or a blue caterpiller, we should, in due course, have a vote on smoking in Paradise and ask that the votes be counted by a couple of senior angels and the result be become an entrenched part of the Constitution (unless smokers lose, of course).
NJS --ooo000OOO

I think the non-smokers can be allocated a small section in the back, next to the loo, so that they can continue to worry about dying after they are dead.

[shredder]

Probably, humour and a sense of irony have a clear place too!
NJS

NJS, funny you should mention this, as I was thinking about irony recently. I have not seen this in men, only in a few women: Very stylish women that occasionally throw in something, perhaps a fashionable 'status symbol', in the outfit on purpose, knowing that it is vulgar, for example, a shiny collier de chien cuff. Very few can pull this off as it requires not only a very developed sense of personal style but also a sense of irony infused with confidence and a sense of humour. Perhaps serious but NEVER earnest.

s

[shredder]

There are probably also fine distinctions between the qualities of gallantry; chivalry and valour. For example, the Victoria Cross is awarded only for action in the face of the enemy and bears, on the front, just the words; 'For Valour', whereas the next-ranking medal, the George Cross is awarded for action in difficult or dangerous circumstances but without an active human opponent and bears the words 'For Gallantry'. Of course, 'gallantry' might also denote simply the possession of a form of courtliness, which might be devoid of any higher quality; maybe elegant and, maybe, without style. 'Chivalry' derives mainly from a strict code of behaviour and does not really leave room for personal choice. Valour and gallantry are supreme qualities; greater even than simple charity, because they denote a preparedness to risk sacrificing the self. You cannot, to my mind, better those qualities, however the possessor of them is dressed.

Excellent point.

[Costi]

I think the non-smokers can be allocated a small section in the back, next to the loo, so that they can continue to worry about dying after they are dead.

Dying is not so much an issue as clouding (literally) the enjoyment of others is. Judging by numbers, even the small section "in the back" so thoughtfully allotted to non-smokers might prove too large, but thank God that His judgment is not democratic Neither is it politically correct, we should add!
However, next to the loo could be too close to the only place where smokers might sneak a joint in Paradise when the angels aren’t looking. That is, assuming any smokers are to be found there. Since they already live out their personal earthly paradise of fumes (which they are always so generously inclined to share volens nolens), perhaps they won’t miss the celestial one too much… but virtuous non-smokers will certainly miss the arguments

[storeynicholas]

There are probably also fine distinctions between the qualities of gallantry; chivalry and valour. For example, the Victoria Cross is awarded only for action in the face of the enemy and bears, on the front, just the words; 'For Valour', whereas the next-ranking medal, the George Cross is awarded for action in difficult or dangerous circumstances but without an active human opponent and bears the words 'For Gallantry'. Of course, 'gallantry' might also denote simply the possession of a form of courtliness, which might be devoid of any higher quality; maybe elegant and, maybe, without style. 'Chivalry' derives mainly from a strict code of behaviour and does not really leave room for personal choice. Valour and gallantry are supreme qualities; greater even than simple charity, because they denote a preparedness to risk sacrificing the self. You cannot, to my mind, better those qualities, however the possessor of them is dressed.

Thank for this. I was not aware the word "gallantry" also had this connotation.

A good example of this gallantry is to be found in this memorial to Captain Lawrence Oates http://www.yorkshiredailyphoto.com/2009 ... leeds.html
who was a member of Captain Scott's expedition to the South Pole in 1912. On the return journey (which none of them in the end survived). Oates felt that his injuries, from frost bite, were holding up his companions and that they might have a better chance of survival if he were not a burden to them so, on 17th March, he walked out into the snow, saying "I am just going outside I and may be some time". He then walked out to his death. The memorial records Captains Scott's tribute to "A brave man and a very gallant gentleman."
NJS

[Frog in Suit]

Incidentally, Captain Oates was a customer of Jones Chalk & Dawson’s (or Meyer & Mortimer’s – they are now amalgamated). The firm still have a letter from Captain Oates in their archives (which, on second thought, must mean he went to J C& D, as M & M’s archives, except for a couple of order books from the time of Waterloo, were destroyed during WWII.), which I was shown once.

Frog in Suit

[storeynicholas]

Frog in Suit: your post prompts me to add something else. Men such as Sir Philip Sidney, Scott and Oates were held up to our generation as shining examples of manhood. I am sure that each nation has its own collection of heroes. Now they are somewhat disregarded and, in their places, football stars and other hyped-up celebrities alone hold the attention of youngsters. I think that part of this is because it is not fashionable to be elitist or exclusive or aspirational as it all too much effort to achieve and maintain high standards. Moreover, these men are often seen as 'tainted' with the privileges of their class and their associations with the 'stiff upper lip' which has been largely supplanted by the notion that it's better 'to let it all hang out'. I am not saying that we didn't have our sporting heroes too but it does seem to me that there is now a general neglect of studying and admiring superlative qualities.
NJS

[Simon A]

A good point. It is worth considering that many of the heroes of the Imperial era, both lauded and unsung, were from modest backgrounds. In many cases, their dignified bearing, good manners and flawless command of the English language lead people today to imagine aristocratic origins for these men. Scott of the Antarctic, and Sir Richard Burton are examples. It is sad to hear that what was considered middle-class civilisation with a touch of dash is now some kind of elitist relic...

[storeynicholas]

A good point. It is worth considering that many of the heroes of the Imperial era, both lauded and unsung, were from modest backgrounds. In many cases, their dignified bearing, good manners and flawless command of the English language lead people today to imagine aristocratic origins for these men. Scott of the Antarctic, and Sir Richard Burton are examples. It is sad to hear that what was considered middle-class civilisation with a touch of dash is now some kind of elitist relic...

It is true that there were many from comparatively modest backgrounds who were important figures: the warty Ollie Cromwell for one (not a great hero of mine; not just for any political reason but, importantly, because I'd rather have the Cavaliers' hats than the Roundheads' hats). There were also some largely unnsung, such as Admiral Lord Collingwood (Nelson's second in command at Trafalgar), who was the commander of HMS Royal Sovereign, at the head of the second column and fully engaged with the enemy for a long time before any other ship, prompting Nelson to say: "See how that noble fellow Collingwood carries his ship into action!" Shortly after this, the Spanish flagship the Santa Ana was nearly sunk by Royal Sovereign's broadside fire and struck her colours. But Collingwood's part in the battle is nothing like as famous as Nelson's.

John William Colenso (son of a tin agent), 1st Bishop of Natal, took the side of the Zulus in the Zulu Wars and that must have taken some courage. He also took his purported removal to the Privy Council and won.

James Abbott was yet another who became a colonial Deputy Commissioner and was noted for his philanthropy, including stamping out suttee in his remote district in NW India. When he retired, his exit was followed by "a large and weeping company of people" and they named the town after him: Abbottobad, which it remains to this day.

The trouble is that there is a current (inexplicable) trend to hide our history, unless it is to placate some group by a meaningless apology for the massacre at Amritsar. So celebration of the good parts and the men and women who created it is overlooked.
NJS

[storeynicholas]

I think the non-smokers can be allocated a small section in the back, next to the loo, so that they can continue to worry about dying after they are dead.

Dying is not so much an issue as clouding (literally) the enjoyment of others is.

But the whole thing takes place in the clouds, does it not?
NJS

[Costi]

You don't suppose they come from the pipes of the Seraphim and the havanas of the Ophanim, do you?

[storeynicholas]

That's a possibility and then there are the fumes arising from the lower quarters, where smoke (of one sort or another), is all sine qua non to the essential ambience.
- ooo000OOO

[Costi]

the fumes arising from the lower quarters, where smoke (of one sort or another), is all sine qua non to the essential ambience.

On those fumes we already agreed. Hope is one of the theological values very much appreciated in Paradise, but to expect some of those infernal fumes to rise so high that you could have a sniff when you fancy one - that might be a bit too hopeful If you are there, the "deliver us from evil" part from your daily prayer has been heard and answered, so no contamination. And if the "on earth as it is in Heaven" part works, too, I don't expect you will find better smoking policies up there these days

[storeynicholas]

I might then start to think that this Limbo idea might have some merit but the trouble is that the Divine Comedy was written a long tim before Europeans were introduced to the Divine Weed and so it is unclear (even unlikely) that Limbo would have proviision for pleasurable smoking so ... it still points downwards for me ... I fear. Mind you, some interesting company there too.
O O ) ) )
-ooo000OOO
NJS