The book dialog game

[issybird]

The law of God, as quite plainly expressed in woman's construction is this: There shall be no limit put upon your intercourse with the other sex sexually, at any time of life.

The law of God, as quite plainly expressed in man's construction is this: During your entire life you shall be under inflexible limits and restrictions, sexually.

During twenty-three days in every month (in absence of pregnancy) from the time a woman is seven years old till she dies of old age, she is ready for action, and competent. As competent as the candlestick is to receive the candle. Competent every day, competent every night. Also she wants that candle -- yearns for it, longs for it, hankers after it, as commanded by the law of God in her heart.

But man is only briefly competent; and only then in the moderate measure applicable to the word in his sex's case. He is competent from the age of sixteen or seventeen thence-forward for thirty-five years. After fifty his performance is of poor quality, the intervals between are wide, and its satisfactions of no great value to either party; whereas his great-grandmother is as good as new. There is nothing the matter with her plant. Her candlestick is as firm as ever, whereas his candle is increasingly softened and weakened by the weather of age, as the years go by, until at last it can no longer stand, and is mournfully laid to rest in the hope of a blessed resurrection which is never to come.

[poohbear_nc]

On initial reading it sounds like Ambrose Bierce channeling Ben Franklin!

[WT Sharpe]

I thought it sounded a lot like Franklin myself, but I don't recall reading that particular quote. It sounds similar to Franklin's On Choosing a Mistress, but I know it's not.

[issybird]

Originally Posted by poohbear_nc

On initial reading it sounds like Ambrose Bierce channeling Ben Franklin!

You're on the right track. Bierce is close to an exact contemporary of the author in question.

[WT Sharpe]

Not Samuel Clemens!

And if it is, would the book be Letters From the Earth?

[issybird]

Originally Posted by WT Sharpe

Not Samuel Clemens!

And if it is, would the book be Letters From the Earth?

Yes, indeedy. A far cry from Tom Sawyer's whitewashing Aunt Polly's fence.

You're up.

[WT Sharpe]

Here ya' go:

"Don't you worry, Barbara," John Quincy broke in. "Parties mean nothing to me. Speaking of old women, I'm an old man myself—thirty my next birthday. Just my pipe and slippers by the fire—or the electric fan—that's all I ask of life now."

[poohbear_nc]

Haven't a clue! .... yet ....

[WT Sharpe]

Originally Posted by poohbear_nc

Haven't a clue! .... yet ....

Maybe not, but you're on the right path.

[WT Sharpe]

2nd clue:

It is said of many—usually with small reason—that their lives would make an interesting book. It had been said of Dan, and in his case it was true. What a book his life would have made—and how promptly it would have been barred for all time from the shelves of the Boston Public Library!

[poohbear_nc]

Originally Posted by WT Sharpe

Maybe not, but you're on the right path.

Aha! It's a mystery! Still not ringing any bells yet.

[WT Sharpe]

Yes, it's a mystery alright!

[WT Sharpe]

And P.S.: I don't care if the word 'alright' has fallen out of favor. I still like it!

[issybird]

Following avidly here, but clueless. Set in Boston, some time warp factor?

[WT Sharpe]

Not set in Boston. Setting? Here's a clue:

'I'll take the Maid back to Sydney, Dominie,' he promised, 'and turn her over. Then I'm pau. I'm going home to Honolulu."