Word: athenaeum
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Noble lords grew apoplectic. Bishops harrumphed. Even venerable flunkeys quailed. Seldom, if ever, in the 121 years of its existence, had the learned members of London's venerable club, the Athenaeum, received so rude a shock...
Should the committee's warning be translated into practice, there will be no lack of aspirants to fill the vacancies. The club's waiting list is so long many candidates reach the grave without attaining the Athenaeum...
...Happen? In 1865 a Lon don Athenaeum critic was vexed by a new book called Alice in Wonderland - "a stiff, overwrought story," he complained, which would make "any real child more puzzled than enchanted." In 1932, when Alice invaded the Chinese province of Hunan, the sensitive provincial war lord was even more shocked. "Bears, lions, and other beasts cannot use a human language," he barked, and banned Alice as "an insult to the human race." In 1936, an eminent Austrian psychiatrist recoiled, shuddering, before Alice's "oral sadistic traits of cannibalism" and "continuous threat to the integrity...
Radcliffe's president-emeritus, Ada Comstock Notesiein, in authority for this incident: Access to Boston's exclusive Athenaeum Library, with its rare books for scholarly research, is permitted by card only. Occasionally Radcliffe students of special merit are given cards to the Library, to the horror of older members. "Why," declared one indignant Back Bay lady, "these young women come in with their lipstick and their fur coats, and actually ask for scholarly books, thereby adding hypocrisy to their other sins!"--Readers Digest, September...
After the days of the proud, heavily-gilded, soft-cushioned Athenaeum, the Howard sunk to playing cheap variety shows in 1868. Ever since the name Old Howard has been used. For years the blue-lighted anatomical solos have brought the crowds past the box office...