"no suicides permitted here, and no smoking in the parlor"

Sub-subs! Do not let this poor benighted blog commit suicide out of loneliness or neglect. It would ruin the virtual counterpane, and I do hate to clean up blood stains, virtual or no. Don't make me go all Tiger Mother on you (to mix eras, genres, cultures, etc.)!

OK, breathe deep, seek peace (bonus to the first person who cites the source in a comment).

I'm continually struck by the humor in this book! Why did I not recognize it the first time I read it? There are countless examples in just these first few pages. Lord, Melville's good. But I'm also stricken by his use of language (news bulletin! The language is lovely. Yes, I know.). But it really is lovely. I noted this passage:

Huge hills and mountains of casks on casks were piled upon her wharves, and side by side the world-wandering ships lay silent and safely moored at last; while from others came a sound of carpenters and coopers, with blended noises of files and forges to melt the pitch, all betokening that new cruises were on the start; that one most perilous and long voyage ended, only begins a second; and a second ended, only begins a third, and son on, for ever and for eye. Such is the endlessness, yeah, the intolerableness of all earthly effort.

 It brings to mind Gerard Manley Hopkins; I think you know I adore his use of language and rhythm and meter.

And I have a little bonus from Moby Dick in Pictures. In chapter 18 (His Mark), Queequeg is asked to make his mark to sign the contract. In my print edition, that mark is portrayed as an Iron Cross (you know, that symmetrical Germanic cross), although the footnote reads thus: "The cross printed in the American edition as Queequeg's mark (and imitated here) is not a "queer round figure," and was probably supplied by the original typesetter in place of the figure Melville had drawn in his manuscript." Here, in contrast, is Matt Kish's interpretation of Queequeg's mark. I think it's much better, don't you?