The Reverend Charles Dodgson had an interest in little girls which in these days would attract criticism, if not child protection proceedings. He was infatuated by Alice Liddell and was not deterred by her tender age of twelve when announcing his intentions to her father. He for his part was not scandalised by Dodgon's interest in her so much as the faute pas created by suggesting she married below her station. They were unusual times. What is not to be denied was the edge of his satirical wit. We all know Lewis Carroll for Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass. The Hunting of The Snark is always worth a perusal and all are worth returning to again for the odd little nugget left unexcavated at previous visits. I am reminded of:- "When I use a word. It means just what I choose it to mean- neither more nor less." "The question is," said Alice, "whether you can make words mean different things." "The question is" said Humpty Dumpty, "which is to be master- that's all." It's a line which isn't really taken up again until George Orwell in `Politics and the English Language' and '1984'. But you've all been very patient, so here it is:- Twas brillig and the slithy toves Did gyre and gimble in the wabe: All mimsy were the borogroves And the mome raths outgrabe. "Beware the Jabberwock, my son! The jaws that bite, the claws that catch! Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun The frumious Bandersnatch!" He took his vorpal sword in hand: Long time the manxome foe he sought- So rested he by the Tumtum tree, And stood a while in thought. And, as in uffish thought he stood, The Jaberwock, with eyes of flame, Came wiffling through the tulgey wood, And burbled as it came! One, two! One, two! And through and through The vorpal blade went snicker-snack! He left it dead, and with its head He went galumphing back. "And hast thou killed the Jaberwock? Come to my arms, my beamish boy! O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!" He chortled in his joy. Twas brillig and the slithy toves Did gyre and gimble in the wabe: All mimsy were the borogroves And the mome raths outgrabe. THE JABBERWOCKY Lewis Carroll 1832-1898 My Word spell checker had hell's own delight with that lot!