Glossary entry (derived from question below)
English term or phrase:
nerves outside of their clothes (they had)
English answer:
they were extremely sensitive
Added to glossary by
Jenni Lukac (X)
Jan 23, 2010 14:43
14 yrs ago
English term
nerves outside of their clothes
English
Art/Literary
Poetry & Literature
He rented the house at Thirty-eight Charlotte Street, off Portland Place, and there, on February Seventeenth, Eighteen Hundred Twenty-seven, was born their first child, Maria Francesca; on May Twelfth, Eighteen Hundred Twenty-eight, was born Dante Gabriel; on September Twenty-fifth, Eighteen Hundred Twenty-nine, William Michael; on December Fifth, Eighteen Hundred Thirty, Christina Georgiana. The mother of this quartette was a sturdy little woman with sparkling wit and rare good sense. She used to remark that her children were all of a size, and that it was no more trouble to bring up four than one, a suggestion thrown in here gratis for the benefit of young married folks, in the hope that they will mark and inwardly digest. In point of well-ballasted, all-round character, fit for Earth or Heaven, none of the four Rossetti children was equal to his parents. They all seem to have had nerves outside of their clothes.
Responses
4 +4 | they were extremely sensitive |
Jenni Lukac (X)
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References
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Kim Metzger
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Change log
Jan 23, 2010 14:43: changed "Kudoz queue" from "In queue" to "Public"
Jan 24, 2010 08:30: Jenni Lukac (X) Created KOG entry
Responses
+4
8 mins
Selected
they were extremely sensitive
They could not contain their nerves. English has various version of this idea, such as "he wore his heart on his sleeve" (he could not hide his emotions). The Rossetti children were very creative, emotional and highly-strung, sometimes to the point of exultation or depression.
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "thank you very much for so many wonderful answers!"
Reference comments
16 mins
Reference:
More context
In point of well-ballasted, all-round character, fit for Earth or Heaven, none of the four Rossetti children was equal to his parents. They all seem to have had nerves outside of their clothes. Perhaps this was because they were brought up in London. A city is no place for children—nor grown people either, I often think. Birds and children belong in the country. Paved streets, stone sidewalks, smoke-begrimed houses, signs reading, "Keep Off the Grass", prying policemen, and zealous ash-box inspectors are insulting things to greet the gaze of the little immigrants fresh from God. Small wonder is it, as they grow up, that they take to drink and drugs, seeking in these a respite from the rattle of wheels and the never-ending cramp of unkind condition. But Nature understands herself: the second generation, city-bred, is impotent.
http://www.web-books.com/Classics/ON/B0/B905/06MB905.html
http://www.web-books.com/Classics/ON/B0/B905/06MB905.html
Note from asker:
thank you! |
Peer comments on this reference comment:
agree |
Jenni Lukac (X)
: I love the "little immigrants fresh from God" part.
31 mins
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