Around the turn of the 20th century, the author of a famous poem about an unusual example of the genus Bos produced a humorous, but useful, instructional manual for children. He is also credited with inventing a word with which all of us on this site are familiar. Who was the writer, what was the book, and what is the word? (Extra credit if you can quote the sequel to the famous verse.)

peasypod

Just a stab but are you referring to Dr Seuss' book 'If I Ran the Zoo', with the word 'nerd'? May 23 05, 4:59 PM

lanfranco

I'm not, but that's an interesting answer. This book predates Theodore Geisel's birth. Focus on the famous poem. That may get you somewhere. May 23 05, 5:21 PM

peasypod

Like I said, just a stab! Hmmm, poems about wild oxen....right, I'm on to it. May 23 05, 5:27 PM

centerice

Munro Leaf, author of Ferdinand the Bull, invented the word "smiley". http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a4_031.html I haven't found the sequel, but it was never published. May 23 05, 5:29 PM

gmackematix

Gellett Burgess came to my mind after the unusual cow reference: http:// May 23 05, 5:34 PM

gmackematix

Oops! Here's the rest of that link. http://www.notfrisco.com/calmem/burgess.html May 23 05, 5:36 PM

peasypod

With all the obscure traits of characters in Dr Seuss books, I guess that's what sparked my stab. May 23 05, 5:37 PM

gmackematix

After all that I don't think that site mentions that Burgess gave us the word "blurb". May 23 05, 5:46 PM

lanfranco

O.K., gmack, you got it -- or, at least, two-thirds of it. However, perhaps a little more detail for the edification of the players? Would you like to elaborate on the "instructional manual" (a first edition of which I've been trying to locate for eons)? If not, would you like to look for the word? And I did ask for the sequel to "The Purple Cow" to be quoted. Glad to be back (no groans, please). Between phone sex and bribing people, I didn't have much to do for two weeks beyond creating weird questions. And peasy, no one seems to have answered your tobacconist/banker/entrepreneur question. That one has truly driven me nuts. May 23 05, 5:53 PM

lanfranco

Oops. Evidently, I posted that reply just after you posted yours regarding "blurb." A triple yay, gmack. May 23 05, 5:57 PM

peasypod

Driving you nuts eh? Once you figure out what the common saying is that the question asks for, you will be kicking yourself with that comment. ;) May 23 05, 5:59 PM

peasypod

Whoooooa, just noticed your comment about phone sex and must add that's not the comment I was referring to with my last post. But by gee I wish I had seen it before and I could have made some sarcastic, yet quite amusing remark about myself and the Maven while you were away....hehe May 23 05, 6:02 PM

lanfranco

Looks to me as though he behaved himself quite nicely. Of course, if you offered him a great recipe for gnocchi (or penne arrabbiata) in a pm, I couldn't answer for what he might do. May 23 05, 6:06 PM

lanfranco

For interested and lazy persons, here's the sequel, from an exasperated Burgess: Ah, yes, I wrote "The Purple Cow" I'm sorry now I wrote it But I can tell you anyhow I'll kill you if you quote it! The instructional manual, published in 1900, is "The Goops and How to Be Them: a Manual of Manners for Polite Children." A representative verse, guaranteed to appeal to kids, is: The Goops they lick they fingers, The Goops they lick their knives, They spill their broth on the tablecloth, Oh! They lead disgusting lives! May 23 05, 6:42 PM