The Foolish Dictionary Part 20

Handsome is what hansoms charge.

P

Soap, long deferred, maketh the dirt stick.

=PAIN= A sensation experienced on receiving a Punch, particularly the London one.

=PALMISTRY= A plausible excuse for holding hands.

=PANTS= Trousers' Country Cousins.

=PARACHUTE=

[Ill.u.s.tration]

A successful method for getting the drop on the Earth.

=PARAGON= The model man a woman regrets she gave up for the one she mistakenly married.

=PARENTS= One of the hards.h.i.+ps of a minor's life.

=Pa.s.s= A form of transportation issued free to those who are quite able to pay.

=Pa.s.sENGER= One who does not travel on a pa.s.s. (Antonym for Deadhead). From Eng. _pa.s.s_, to go, and Grk. _endidomi_, to give up. One who has to give up to go.

=PARROT= An individual who can never be held responsible for what he says.

=PASTRY= A deadly weapon carried by cafes, cooks and newly married housekeepers.

=PATRIOT= One who is willing to take all of Uncle Sam's bonds in a lump.

=p.a.w.n=

[Ill.u.s.tration]

v. t., To keep property in the family by leaving it all with your Uncle.

=p.a.w.nBROKER= A mercenary man to whom money is the one redeeming quality.

=PEACE= A mythical condition of tranquillity frequently reported from the Phillipines.

=PEACH= A popular synonym for Fair Woman, probably because the peach is largely a skin and stony at heart.

=PEARL= A small round product manufactured by an oyster, bought by a lobster and worn by a b.u.t.terfly.

=PENITENT= From _pen_, meaning to write, and _intent_, meaning determination. One who determines for the right.

=PESSIMIST= One who paints things blue. And sometimes red.

=PHILISTINE= In Bible times, one who worried the children of Israel; today, one who worries only himself. From Grk.

_phloios_, bark, and _tino_, to punish. One who barks to punish.

=PHILANTHROPIST= One who returns to the people publicly a small percentage of the wealth he steals from them privately.