This exchange is apocryphal (it does not appear in print until the
nineteenth century) but is supposed to have occurred in some version
between John Custis, of Williamsburg (1678-probably 1749), a member of
the governor's Council, and his wife, Frances Parke Custis, daughter of
Daniel Parke, governor of the Leeward Islands. (And the body of water in
question is supposed to be the Chesapeake Bay.) Custis's letter book has
been published by the Virginia Historical Society, and you'll find a
biography in the Dictionary of Virginia Biography, volume 3, pages
636-639.
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Sara B. Bearss
[log in to unmask]
Senior Editor, Dictionary of Virginia Biography
The Library of Virginia
800 E. Broad Street
Richmond, VA 23221-8000
Friends don't let friends split infinitives.
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-----Original Message-----
From: Discussion of research and writing about Virginia history
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Craig Kilby
Sent: Friday, March 06, 2009 5:56 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [VA-HIST] Need help with a famous, venomous exchange
I am hopeful that many of you will know the exact famous exchange I am
looking for may be found, or just know it off-hand. I have read it many
times and am drawing a blank as to the particulars. In fact there is a
whole story about them I have read many times.
It had to do with a very unhappily married couple. Please do not
admonish me for completely butchering this incident, but hopefully
enough of what I present below will ring enough bells for some one to
correct me.
This couple were driving along in a carriage one day, and as usual in
their normal "harumph" attitudes. At one point, it goes something like
this: (I know this is all wrong, which is why I ask to be
corrected.)
Scene. The man gets so angry he starts driving into a lake.
Her: Sir, you are driving this carriage into a lake.
Him: Yes I am. And I would sooner drive into the Gates Hell.
Her: Drive on!
Later in the story, she dies and he erects a tombstone with one last
blast at her for all eternity.
I know I am messing this whole thing up, but hopefully someone can
direct me to the proper source. I can't even think of their names.
Craig
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