There is one important source that may have been overlooked.
Now that we have an approximate date of the 1930's for this presumed
catchphrase, what about asking our PARENTS!
My mother is already working on it.
Date: Wed, 3 Jun 1998 16:54:29 GMT0BST
Priority: normal
Subject: Answer to Quotation Question
From: Lindsay K Potts <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Reply-to: Lindsay K Potts <[log in to unmask]>
Hi,
So I have finally had a chance to put together all the answers I have
had about "no answer was the stern reply."
However it is not good news. No one has come up with the answer.
This quotation went to Ask a Librarian and someone even sent it to
Quote Unquote on Radio 4.
The nearest we got was Lewis Carroll Alice in Wonderland - the
Walrus and the Carpenter but when we read the quotation it was "but
answer came there none" which is not near enough.
Some people suggested a poem called A day in the life of a computer
trainer and while that has the correct line that is not where my
colleague knows it from.
So I am afraid to say that we have given up unsatisfied!
Lindsay Potts
Lindsay Potts
Computing/Information Officer
Information Services
Sir Herbert Duthie Library
UWCM
Heath Park
Cardiff
CF4 4XN
44 (0)1222 743140
_______________________________________
Miriam Robbins
Assistant Computer Services Officer
Norfolk Library and Information Service
County Hall, Martineau Lane, Norwich NR1 2DH
Tel. 01603 223860 Fax. 01603 222422
e-mail [log in to unmask]
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