J. C. Duffy on the Couch

The original artwork for this amusing cartoon by J. C. Duffy was sold on eBay in April. The cartoon is a bit wordy, but does that justify the editorial decision to take the word Doctor out of the caption? I've been reading the caption to myself both ways, and I prefer the longer version that the artist wrote. I think it has a better rhythm.

J. C. Duffy, "I really don't see how giving you a six-letter word for a
sixteenth-century crested metal helmet helps my problem, Doctor."
Original artwork for The New Yorker, July 26, 1999, p. 64

J. C. Duffy, "I really don't see how giving you a six-letter word for a
sixteenth-century crested metal helmet helps my problem."
The New Yorker, July 26, 1999, p. 64

J. C. Duffy Cartoon, eBay Winning Bid

http://www.ebay.com/itm/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&_trksid=p4340.l2557&hash=item3f1696f673&item=270961931891&nma=true&pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&rt=nc&si=Zv4PhLp6HocGRC23iqci2JeQ2LI%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc#ht_500wt_1413

J. C. Duffy Cartoon, eBay Item Description

http://www.ebay.com/itm/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&_trksid=p4340.l2557&hash=item3f1696f673&item=270961931891&nma=true&pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&rt=nc&si=Zv4PhLp6HocGRC23iqci2JeQ2LI%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc#ht_500wt_1413

J. C. Duffy, "I really don't see how giving you a six-letter word for a
sixteenth-century crested metal helmet helps my problem."
The New Yorker, July 26, 1999, p. 64

J. C. Duffy, "I really don't see how giving you a six-letter word for a
sixteenth-century crested metal helmet helps my problem, Doctor."
Original artwork for The New Yorker, July 26, 1999, p. 64

Note:  My previous post on J. C. Duffy can be found here.

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