subs. (American journalists’).—A kind of literary sparring match; also called ACCUMULATIVES (q.v.). Some editor will make a remark or a joke—with a capital J; another will cite it with comments; and, in his turn, he will be handled by a third. There are cases in which the original paragraph has gone the round of twenty or thirty prints. [A codicil is properly a writing by way of supplement to a will.]
1889. Polytechnic Magazine, 24 Oct., p. 253. ‘How many apples did Adam and Eve eat?’ Some say Eve 8 and Adam 2—a total of 10. Now, we figure the thing out far different. Eve 8, and Adam 8 also—total 16.—Boston Journal. We think the above figures are entirely wrong. If Eve 8, and Adam 8-2, certainly the total will be 90. Scientific men, however, on the strength of the theory that the antidiluvians were a race of giants, and consequently great eaters, reason something like this:—Eve, 8-1st, and Adam 8-2—total, 163.—Gloucester Advertiser. Wrong again; what could be clearer than if Eve 8-1-1st, and Adam 8-1-2, would not the whole be 1,623?—Boston Journal. Now we think these figures are not according to Cocker. The following is probably the true solution:—Eve 8-1-4 Adam, Adam 8-1-2-4 Eve—total, 8,698.—Veritas. Stop friend; still another calculation is as follows:—If Eve 8-1-4 Adam, Adam 8-1-2-4-2 oblige Eve—total, 82,056. We think, however, this is not a sufficient quantity; for, if we admit that Eve 8-1-4 Adam, Adam, if he 80, 8-1-2-4-2 keep Eve company—total, 8,082,056.—New York Mail. You do the fair thing by Adam, brother, but you slight Eve. This poor smit 10-1-8-1-4-2 please the serpent, and Adam, of course, if he as good husbands do oft-10-80-8-1-2-4-2 keep Eve company—total, 109,099,384.—Syracuse Journal. The American newspaper calculators, with the savagery of all other historians, meanly stigmatise the woman. Adam, a mere dupe, lacked the nobility to try a dangerous experiment first. Eve eat an apple for dinner: Adam, forgetting the injuries to many an unborn 1,000,000-8-1-4 millions more—the coward! True total, 1,000,000,814,000,000. Whoopee! Now is the time to subscribe.—Polytechnic Magazine.
