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Article: The misanthrope's corner.(English culture and other topics; humor)(Column)
- Article from:
- National Review
- Article date:
- October 13, 1997
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1997 National Review, Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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WHEN Princess Diana made her televised confession in 1995, the press quoted an unidentified Palace official who said, "In the old days we could have beheaded her. In the last few months, however, the real possibility arose that she could step on a land mine.
The once and former Merry England would have found it irresistible, reminiscent of those bizarre historical incidents, like Clarence drowning in a butt of malmsey, that provided material for "Beyond the Fringe. It would have recalled Evelyn Waughs novel about African missionaries that contains the line, "Come quickly, the Bulanga have eaten Lady Tippett! Martyrdom to a noble cause on the one hand, while on the ...