But those were substatutes of Ms. Hyams’s code for apartment life, which mostly celebrated and mandated intrabuilding socializing. Ms. Hyams, the doting owner of a gray poodle (“she wore it like a brooch,” said one neighbor), organized pet play dates on her floor.

[…] Take heed of filling their [i.e., children's] heads with VVhimzies, and unprofitable Notions; for this vvill ſooner learn them to be malepert and proud, than ſober and humble.

Biting works well against other attacking ants but not against befeathered birds.

Fiercely green-eyed Elizabeth […] is a testament to human indecision in the wrong cases and stubborn decisiveness in others. […] If Lizardbreath had ever given Ben her number, he twists his mouth, he'd never have had his current dilemma.