Subject
Re: fountains and the metric system
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An older version of Webster's gives the fourth definition of "fountain" as
"In heraldry, a circle called a roundel, divided into six spaces by waved
lines across the shield, and tinctured argent and azure." Then under
"argent" we find "silvery; of a pale white, or bright like silver." (The
Oxford online edition gives similar definitions, only it substitutes "white
and blue" for "argent and azure.")
In a separate issue, I've been wondering about Kinbote's use of the
non-Metric measuring system. (eg, "...'one inch per hour...'" on page 129;
"The pedometer had tocked off 1,888 yards..." page 127, etc.) Is there an
explanation of this somewhere in the book, or elsewhere?
-Will
Dear Will,
Your heraldic find is interesting though I'm not sure what its import may
be.
I don't know about the inch per hour, but 1888 is the date of Iris Acht's
death & her name means "eight." There are probably other meanings, not sure.
In relation to Jekyll and Hyde (1886) it could refer to Stevenson's "A
Chapter on Dreams" (1888) in which the author describes the genesis of the
story.
Carolyn
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