Word: octopus
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Banker Hecht views banking concentration, formation of chain banks, with the utmost alarm. Articulate, he found phrases: "Financial feudalism . . . economis vassalage . . . financial octopus . . . Branch banking is a monster of such frightful mien." He quoted figures: "During the past 25 years, the number of branch banks has practically doubled each five years."* He classified, adroitly: "We still have the nation's financial business carried on by literally 57 varieties of banking institutions (48 different kinds of state banks, national banks, federal joint stock land banks, federal land banks, federal reserve banks, federal intermediate credit banks, postal savings system, mutual savings banks...
...disease called rain-tan. Even when it did not rain, there was so much moisture in the air that clothes became soaking wet in ten minutes. More pleasant were the native feasts which lasted from 11 a. m. to 3 p. m. A sample menu: crabs, lobsters, centipedes, octopus, green turtle, bonito, albacore, roast pig, chicken, duck, breadfruit, bananas, mummy apples, yams, coconut milk...
...solution completely negatives the last presumption. From the evidence in the hands of the Monitor, it is shown that University Extension work has increased in all its dimensions of late, until this octopus of education has in its grip the stray minutes of the workman's day. Brawn bows politely to Brain, overalls give way to gown, the proletariat educates itself, and the Monitor is happy. All's right with the world while the great god Statistics holds sway, and the Janus of these days smiles with equal radiance in both directions...
...Said Sir Alfred, selecting his words meticulously: "The potentialities are very great indeed. The money behind us may be said to be limitless, but it will be only for good things. There are possibilities of further extension internationally. This group of financiers is not intended to be an octopus...
Nowadays a mystery play is heralded by any title which suggests the horrible. Each plot contains an animal more terrible than the last. Bats, spiders, gorillas have been successful in providing thrills, and to them is added the octopus, the slimy vandal of the underseas. As the object of these beasts is to freeze the audience into that state of terror which precedes death and renders impossible thought, more and more frightful titles may be daily expected. Pithicanthropus erectus may soon overawe the spectators, or perhaps a pterodactyle; at the denouement they could, with customary plausibility, be found traveling salesmen...