Species of Acquiescence

[Mher]

Friends,
What does the author imply by the underlined direct speech? I hope a broader context would help.

"But was this species of acquiescence all?"
"By no means. We put much faith in amusements of a simple kind, such as music, dancing, gymnastic exercises
generally, cards, certain classes of books, and so forth."

 

[GoesStation]

You're right, more context would help. Here "species" means type; kind. "Acquiescence" means submission.

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

Yes, you're not giving us much to go on. My impression is this:

Friends,
What does the author mean by the quote?

I hope a broader context would help. We hope so, too. Please provide it!

"But was this species of acquiescence all?"

= Was humoring the lunatic the only thing you did?

"By no means. We put much faith in amusements of a simple kind, such as music, dancing, gymnastic exercises
generally, cards, certain classes of books, and so forth."

= No, we also did different kinds of activities with him.

Mher, these quotes don't belong in Idioms and Sayings. They belong in Literature.

 

[Mher]

Yes, you're not giving us much to go on. My impression is this:

Sorry, friends. I thought this much would help. See the passage below:

"I may state the system then, in general terms, as one in which the patients were menagés, humored. Wecontradicted no fancies which entered the brains of the mad. On the contrary, we not only indulged but encouraged
them; and many of our most permanent cures have been thus effected. There is no argument which so touches the
feeble reason of the madman as the reductio ad absurdum. We have had men, for example, who fancied themselves
chickens. The cure was, to insist upon the thing as a fact — to accuse the patient of stupidity in not sufficiently
perceiving it to be a fact — and thus to refuse him any other diet for a week than that which properly appertains to a
chicken. In this manner a little corn and gravel were made to perform wonders."
"But was this species of acquiescence all?"
"By no means. We put much faith in amusements of a simple kind, such as music, dancing, gymnastic exercises
generally, cards, certain classes of books, and so forth. We affected to treat each individual as if for some ordinary
physical disorder; and the word 'lunacy' was never employed..."

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

Thanks, Mher. In that case, my guess was right. They don't just go along with their patients' fantasies. They also give their patients healthy activities.

Which Poe story is this from?

 

[Tarheel]

Thanks, Mher. In that case, my guess was right. They don't just go along with their patients' fantasies. They also give their patients healthy activities.

Which Poe story is this from?

How do you know it's Poe?

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

How do you know it's Poe?

I think I saw Mher mention it in another thread.

 

[Mher]

Thanks, friends!

This is an excerpt form "The System of Doctor Tarr and Professor Fether." I am trying to translate it into Armenian, that is why I ask many questions.

 

[Tdol]

Poe's prose is very dense- it reads well, but is often difficult to break down.

 

[Mher]

Poe's prose is very dense- it reads well, but is often difficult to break down.

Indeed! I always praise English for its clear and simple sentences (unlike Armenian). This is not the case with Poe's texts. Long sentences are common here, but the style is unique. It helps to build up the big picture.

 

[Tarheel]

I think Armenians will enjoy Poe's stories if you translate them well. He wrote some of the best short stories ever.

 

[Tdol]

Indeed! I always praise English for its clear and simple sentences (unlike Armenian). This is not the case with Poe's texts. Long sentences are common here, but the style is unique. It helps to build up the big picture.

He is brilliant at creating atmosphere.

 

[Mher]

I think Armenians will enjoy Poe's stories if you translate them well. He wrote some of the best short stories ever.

Yes, you are right! By the way, Armenians are already familiar with some of Poe stories translated back in the 1990s. I just want to revitalize Poe's presence by introducing them with new ones! I hope I will succeed with the help of your intelligent community.

 

[Tarheel]

Yes, you are right! By the way, Armenians are already familiar with some of Poe's stories translated back in the 1990s. I just want to revitalize Poe's presence by introducing them to some new ones! I hope I will succeed with the help of your intelligent community.

That's what I'm here for.