Dear John,
You have been last but not least, with your finishing strokes on the
comprehensive picture with detailed background that other list members
painted.
(...hum, - excuse my flamboyance...)
As far as I understand it, the basic meaning is "precisely repeated"
(or "always told the same way") together with "exactly so", "precisely
so", with subtle shade of "pourquoi" - or rather, 'Pars que!' meaning.
By the way, a few months ago I've asked about the meaning of the first
sentence in the "How the First Letter was Written" ("He was not a Jute
or an Angle, or even a Dravidian, which he might well have been, Best
Beloved, __but never mind why.__"), and Alastair Wilson wrote, in
particular:
'And the "but never mind why" is more likely to be the second meaning
-"don't ask me why or we'll be here till past bed-time (and I wish I
hadn't mention the blessed Dravidians)."
I'd like to thank all of you that posted very helpful comments!
Gratefully,
Yan
JW> Dear Yan,
JW> I really think that I must adopt the nickname "Four Feet", as I always seem
JW> to come late to these discussions. Ah... when I retire...
JW> I have wondered whether the term "Pourquoi tales" could have existed before
JW> the 1890's. Remembering that Josephine was the source of "seven million
JW> Whys!", I always assumed that the title "Just So" carried two meanings.
JW> Clearly, as previous correspondents have suggested, the first intention is
JW> that the stories are told "just so", or only in this way.
JW> However, many people have assumed, as you did, that the meaning could be
JW> "You ask why, and I will tell you it was just so". In other words, father
JW> was using the mock-serious introduction used by so many of these
JW> explanations, in many cultures. Googling "pourquoi tales" would, no doubt,
JW> help or hinder the case. Without wishing to offend those who take their
JW> Scriptures seriously, it has always reminded me of "Verily I say unto you".
JW> To support the case for the second understanding, I have in my collection a
JW> copy of "Sandman's Might-Be-So Stories", by Abbie Phillips Walker (no
JW> relation), published by Harpers in about 1926. Abbie took the second meaning
JW> to parody. Her stories include "Why Dan De Lion Grows White".
JW> In summary, I agree that Kipling's tales were to be repeated "just so", but
JW> there is the implication of a joke shared ...that they are not to be
JW> questioned...it happened just so, Best Beloved.
JW> Best regards,
JW> John
JW> (I have done mostly what most men do,
JW> And pushed it out of my mind)
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