Hi, Alexander!  Recently you wrote in a message to Ardith Hinton:

 AH>  Robertson Davies (1913-1995)... i.e. the Canadian
 AH>  writer, newspaper editor, and part-time university
 AH>  instructor?  Yes, I would agree that he knew what
 AH>  he was doing & I'm delighted that you're studying
 AH>  Canadian authors. ;-)

 ak>  This quote was taken from the humorous story "A
 ak>  lecture on walking" (Last leaves, 1945), written
 ak>  by Stephen Leacock. AFAIR, he was a Canadian, too,
 ak>  although he was born in the UK. He hadn't told us
 ak>  who was that "high authority".


           Ah.  From my POV the additional information is very helpful....  :-)

           Davies' essay was simply entitled "Walking".  In this case, however,
 the author identified the source of the quotation... i.e. his own personal
copy of the ENCYCLOPAEDIA BRITANNICA.  Leacock may or may not have had access
to the same edition, but it seems both he & Davies researched the topic.

           According to THE CANADIAN ENCYCLOPEDIA, Leacock settled in Canada at
 the age of six & apart from studying at the University of Chicago remained
here from that time onward.  During the early 20th century such people were
regarded as "naturalized citizens" after living in this country for awhile.  I
can't say how long "awhile" was thought to be, but I saw the principle applied
to members of my immediate family & I'm quite content to regard him as a
Canadian....  ;-)



 ak>  BTW, can I say the last sentence without "us"?
 ak>  "He hadn't told who was that 'high authority'".


           I would accept "He didn't say who that high authority was".  I'm not
 sure how to account for my own discomfort about leaving out the indirect
object with "(to) tell" in this context, though, because we do it in other
cases.  :-(



 ak>  I know that American and British versions can be slightly
 ak>  different.


           Yes... and different editors may have different ideas, regardless of
 where they live or what audience the publisher hopes to attract.

           I've now requested LAST LEAVES from the public library....  :-)




--- timEd/386 1.10.y2k+
 * Origin: Wits' End, Vancouver CANADA (1:153/716)