Posted by Jonathan Labaree on September 21, 2003 at 11:55:19 from 24.198.196.209 user JLabaree.
In Reply to: Proof Reading (was Winter Holiday Reading Level) posted by Andrew Craig-Bennett on September 21, 2003 at 09:04:13:
Indeed, I recall correcting my English professor during my freshman year in college on this very line. He was reading aloud to the class and said "vanished spirits". While I was loathe to sound so impudent, I thought the difference sufficiently great that it warranted sounding a smartass to correct him. I also, of course, had to explain what sprits were. I think he appreciated the interruption for it gave new meaning to the sentence.
It didn't occur to me that "sprits" specifically suggested Thames barges - that helps complete the picture even further.