# Smelly Gentleman **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 18, 1999, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smelly-gentleman/2068 "1999-07-18T16:38:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 1999, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smelly-gentleman/2068/1 "1999-07-18T16:38:00Z")
Does anyone know if this story is true? If so, who is the smelly gentleman? It supposedly took place in a carriage, if that helps. The man in question was, I think, a well-known writer. Clever guy, but weak in the personal hygiene department. The conversation went like this: Lady: “Sir, you smell!” Man: “Madam, you smell. I stink.” ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 1999, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smelly-gentleman/2068/2 "1999-07-18T16:55:00Z")
That rules out the “clever guy” angle. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 1999, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smelly-gentleman/2068/3 "1999-07-19T05:06:00Z")
I insist that the play on words is clever, despite his other distasteful arributes. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 1999, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smelly-gentleman/2068/4 "1999-07-19T05:07:00Z")
attributes ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 1999, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smelly-gentleman/2068/5 "1999-07-19T05:20:00Z")
IIRC, Dr. Samuel Johnson, the dictionary guy. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 1999, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smelly-gentleman/2068/6 "1999-07-18T20:17:00Z")
I, too, think it was a clever comeback. :o) Peace, mangeorge * * * Work like you don’t need the money… Love like you’ve never been hurt… Dance like nobody’s watching! …Unknown ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 1999, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smelly-gentleman/2068/7 "1999-07-18T20:19:00Z")
Gotta get those UBB codes down. 🙂 mangeorge ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 1999, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smelly-gentleman/2068/8 "1999-07-18T20:22:00Z")
I, personally, would have much preferred the following repartee: “Madam, I smell. You stink!” ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 1999, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smelly-gentleman/2068/9 "1999-07-18T22:24:00Z")
This sounds a bit like some of the exchanges reported between Winston Churchill and Lady Astor. The Dr. Johnson guess also sounds plausible, however. I didn’t find it in Bartlett. * * * Tom~ ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 1999, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smelly-gentleman/2068/10 "1999-07-18T22:36:00Z")
> [@](#): > > I, personally, would have much preferred the following repartee: “Madam, I smell. You stink!” I think you missed the point. As I understand it the apocryphal gentleman was making the point that the verb smell literally means to detect an odor not to emit one. This is the same wordplay that gives the punchline to the joke “How do you keep a skunk from smelling? Cut off his nose.” For what it’s worth, while I’ve never heard the story before, it does sound like a Samuel Johnson anecdote. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 1999, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smelly-gentleman/2068/11 "1999-07-19T03:36:00Z")
I’ve heard the story several times before, and the odorous gentleman has always been Oscar Wilde. Supposedly he didn’t like to bathe, and instead used strong perfumy scents to mask his B.O, which didn’t work very well. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 1999, 9:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smelly-gentleman/2068/12 "1999-07-19T09:13:00Z")
Ok, since it was mentioned, what are UBB codes, and how do they work? Some of us don’t have the time to become IT professionals along with our regular jobs. Sorry, just a little blue collar reverse snobbery. Not that my job’s blue collar, it’s just that sometimes I get this “geekier than thou” attitude thrust at me… ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 1999, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smelly-gentleman/2068/13 "1999-07-19T13:56:00Z")
Dave, Thou shalt go into the page entitled “FAQ’s”, found at the top of the Board. Therein thou shalt find the answer to the great mystery that is UBB. Thou shalt use UBB, thou shalt mystify many with thy skill and smiley-faces. Get thee hither! ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 1999, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smelly-gentleman/2068/14 "1999-07-20T02:32:00Z")
The Samuel Johnson angle reminds me of this probably very apocryphal anecdote: Mrs. Johnson catches Sam in the act with a local young beauty. “Samuel, I am surprised!” “No, Madam, _I_ am surprised. You are chagrined!” (or something to that effect) Bunny, be careful with your archaic prepositions. You’ve just invited Dave over to where you happen to be. (If you think he’s cute, hey, go with it! Just don’t be surprised. 😉 ) If you’re trying to get him to go to the FAQ, the word you want to use is ‘hence’. Whither - to where? Whence - from where? Hither - to here Hence - from here Thither - to there Thence - from there Don’t mess with me, I took a semester of Old English. (And got a serious hangover to prove it! 🙂 ) * * * Cave Diem! Carpe Canem! ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 1999, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smelly-gentleman/2068/15 "1999-07-20T03:04:00Z")
Thank Mike, got it. Still prefer my repartee 😉 ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 1999, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smelly-gentleman/2068/16 "1999-07-20T04:27:00Z")
Hey, my dog has no nose. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 1999, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smelly-gentleman/2068/17 "1999-07-20T15:35:00Z")
Does your nose run and your feet smell? _If so, you’re built up-side down!_