run on and on



   I'm going to quote from the side of a box of tea that I own. It's kind of interesting for a couple of reasons. First, the box is of "Celestial Seasonings Caffeine Free Herbal Tea." This is a fairly domesticated title; caffeine free, herbal, "seasonings"... It doesn't sound very bachelor-ish to me. It sounds calm and predictable, like something to drink in the sun room with sliced cantaloupe while reading the newspaper after getting up at 9:30 on a Saturday morning. And this fits in nicely with the quote, which is titled: The Advantages of Domestic Accord. Anyway, the reason this first caught my attention is that the way it's presented (and I will type it sic) it seems like an incredible run on sentence. So without further ado:

   "... when a man and his wife hormoniously cooperate in the same concerns... to take care of their children, friends, and fortunes, and of the entire household, as being their common property, endeavoring to oustrip each other in zeal and attentiveness, that each may become the author of as much good as possible, and my prove himself... scrupulously just... to dismiss all haughtiness, and to adopt habits of industry, and so with gently and kindly rule to regulate the house; so that when they are now arrived at old age... and being freed from their passions, they may be able to give, each to the other and to their children, an account of their stewardship, as to which of the two has throughout bestowed greater attention to the management of their home..."

   Ok, having just re-read that as I typed, there are some other things that stand out to me. First of all, I want to know what happens! It starts out with, "When a man and his wife..." but then just continues to describe the condition, without ever getting to the conclusion. Secondly, it makes "Domestic Accord" not seem that appealing at all. I envision a husband with a big, goofy smile, lame hair parted and pressed down, and the top button of his shirt buttoned even though he doesn't wear a tie. And I envision him pretending that he likes this Stepford life.
   Boy, that's a pretty negative view. But that's a pretty long sentence.





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