don't understand this extract

Question

"To be the subject of alms-giving is trying, and to feel in duty bound to appear cheerfully grateful under the trial, must be still more so; but whatever his secret emotions, he swallowed them, while still retaining each copper this side the oesophagus. And nearly always he grinned, and only once or twice did he wince, which was when certain coins, tossed by more playful almoners, came inconveniently nigh to his teeth, an accident whose unwelcomeness was not unedged by the circumstance that the pennies thus thrown proved buttons."

By "thus thrown proved buttons" means "thus thrown proved to be buttons" and thus is an ellipsis?

And what does "this side the oesophagus" supposed to mean?

I mean I think it's obvious he's saying that he's keeping them in his oesophagus, but what does "this side" even supposed to mean? Any elliptical construction?

Mr Wordy · Accepted Answer

I agree with your interpretation of "thus thrown proved buttons".

"This side the oesophagus" means "this side of the oesophagus". This omission of "of" is old-fashioned or literary/poetic. It doesn't mean he's keeping the coins in his oesophagus, it means he's keeping them on the side of his oesophagus nearest to his mouth -- which, unless some other scenario is physically and anatomically possible, presumably means in his mouth. In any case, I understand it to mean that he didn't properly swallow the coins. I think there's also a play on words here, between his swallowing his emotions and swallowing the coins.

Nona the brit · Answer

The way I interpret this passage (without context) is that this man is a beggar and people throw coins to him to catch in his mouth (presumably the 'trick' inspires more coins). He is ashamed at having to get money in this way (it's a trial to him) and he has to 'swallow his pride' to beg. Thereby leading us open to a rather wry joke about doing his best to not also swallow the coins (keep them in his mouth and not let them go down his throat/oesophagus).

Yes, prove to be buttons. Some nasty people would trick him by throwing buttons instead of pennies for him to catch.

Wholegrain · Answer

Also, I found something peculiar in this passage. He says "this side" as if he was indicating a side with his finger instead of "the side of the oesophagus" which I think would make more sense, at least to me.

Mr Wordy · Answer

wholegrainAlso, I found something peculiar in this passage. He says "this side" as if he was indicating a side with his finger instead of "the side of the oesophagus" which I think would make more sense, at least to me.

"This side" means the mouth side of the oesophagus, as opposed to the stomach side. "This" is relative to the narrator's point of reference, which is obviously outside the beggar's body.

"the side of the oesophagus" would not make any sense here (at least, not to me).

Wholegrain · Answer

I was picturing an oesophagus that was leaning toward a side. Now that I think of it, after I read your post, it's quite a stupid explanation.

don't understand this extract

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