Saki Quotes and Dead Animals

A head and a few wing feathers and that's it.

White throated sparrow.
December 19, 2024 at 12:07pm.
Manayunk, Philadelphia, PA.

"If we could understand sparrow-language," said the Duke serenely, "I fancy we should hear something infinitely worse than 'strawberry-leafed nonentity.'"

-Saki, The Chronicles of Clovis, "Ministers of Grace"

Identification was hard due to being squashed as flat as a pancake, but it has come to my attention that this is actually a short tailed shrew.

A belated Happy New Year to one and all. How auspicious that I encountered such a perfect specimen on the first day of the new year.

Short tailed shrew.
January 1, 2025 at 12:27pm.
Cynwyd Heritage Trail, Bala Cynwyd, PA.

"I did not chide Constance for her morbid fancies; as a matter of fact the same sensation, of being pursued by a persistent fretful wail, had been forcing itself on my rather over-tired nerves."

-Saki, The Chronicles of Clovis, "Esmé"

The Bishop does not see why a man should not be a gentleman as well as a Christian. (2)

-Saki, The Chronicles of Clovis, "The Unrest-Cure"

The Bishop is sorry to hear that Miss Huddle has a headache. He is issuing orders that as far as possible no firearms shall be used near the house; any killing that is necessary on the premises will be done with cold steel. (1)

This is probably my favorite dead animal photograph thus far.

Mouse.
November 3, 2024 at 2:06pm.
Manayunk, Philadelphia, PA.

He was neither a wit nor a croquet champion, a hypnotic force nor a begetter of amateur theatricals. Neither did his exterior suggest the sort of man in whom women are willing to pardon a generous measure of mental deficiency.

-Saki, The Chronicles of Clovis, "Tobermory"

Once they arrive at the supper-table they seem to enter thoroughly into the spirit of the thing. There's nothing in Christianity or Buddhism that quite matches the sympathetic unselfishness of an oyster." (2)

-Saki, The Chronicles of Clovis, "The Matchmaker"

"I think oysters are more beautiful than any religion," he resumed presently. "They not only forgive our unkindness to them; they justify it, they incite us to go on being perfectly horrid to them. (1)

Eastern bluebird.
December 26, 2024 at 4:33pm.
Chatham, NY - found in wood stove chimney.

"Constance is one of those strapping florid girls that go so well with autumn scenery or Christmas decorations in church."

-Saki, The Chronicles of Clovis, "Esmé"

Mouse.
December 9, 2024 at 10:55am.
Roxborough, Philadelphia, PA.

"[T]he fanatics in the library were evidently too immersed in their monstrous machinations to dally with the solace of teacup and hot toast."

-Saki, The Chronicles of Clovis, "The Unrest Cure"

"It was not the appointed day for curry, but the little orange envelope involved a certain departure from rule and custom. Her brother said nothing, but his eyes thanked her for being brave."

-Saki, The Chronicles of Clovis, "The Unrest Cure"

She disapproved of early morning tea and auction bridge, of ski-ing and the two-step, of the Russian ballet and the Chelsea Arts Club ball, of the French policy in Morocco and the British policy everywhere. (2)

-Saki, The Chronicles of Clovis, "A Matter of Sentiment"

She disapproved of many things; some people went as far as to say that she disapproved of most things. Disapproval was to her what neuralgia and fancy needlework are to many other women. (1)

Small snake.
November 7, 2024 at 9:20am.
Wissahickon Valley Park, Philadelphia, PA.

"A very useful kind of name," said Clovis; "with a name of that sort no one would blame you if you did nothing in particular heroic or remarkable, would they?"

-Saki, The Chronicles of Clovis, "The Talking-out of Tarrington"

House mouse with rubber band.
November 17, 2024 at 3:56pm.
Manayunk, Philadelphia, PA.

When one lives among greyhounds one should avoid giving life-like imitations of a rabbit, unless one want's one's head snapped off. (2)

-Saki, The Chronicles of Clovis, "The Peace Offering"

My dear boy, I can ask the County to a Greek play, or to a costume play, but to a Greek-costume play, never. It doesn't do to let the dramatic instinct carry one too far; one must consider one's environment. (1)

Bird.
December 1, 2024 at 8:48am.
Manayunk, Philadelphia, PA.

Common garter snake.
November 22, 2024 at 101:10am.
Forbidden Drive, Philadelphia, PA.

"That woman's art-jargon tires me," said Clovis to his journalist friend. "She's so fond of talking of certain pictures as 'growing on one,' as though they were a sort of fungus."

-Saki, The Chronicles of Clovis, "The Background"

"He nurses the illusion that he is one of the lost arms of the Venus de Milo, and hopes that the French Government may be persuaded to buy him. On all other subjects I believe he is tolerably sane."

Saki, The Chronicles of Clovis, "The Background"