In Athens once I thought I'd have a go at one of the guides showing
American vandals about the wonders of the Acropolis. There was a crane set
up inside the Parthenon. I approached our lady guide and with a solemn
expression asked her, "What's this gonna be when you finish it? Hotel?"
With a patient expression she turned my way, shaking her head sadly, and
slowly asked, "Why me?"
That's when I realized Athenians had been putting up with tourists half a
thousand years longer than the Romans.
On Dec 22, 2014 11:02 PM, <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> >There is another item in Chapter 16, the Australian's greeted Twain with
> >the question/remark "Is he dead?.  His play, with that title, was not
> >written until 1898 but he was in Melbourne in 1895.  I suspect the Aussies
> >were harkening back to The Innocents Abroad.
>
> I'm sure it's a reference to Innocents Abroad -- at least it's always
> seemed
> obvious to me. It was one of his most popular books, if not THE most
> popular, and it makes perfect sense that people would repeat a famous line
> in his presence.
>
> -- Bob G.
>