Abyssinia, Henry you". In the 1920s and 1930s Abyssinia was the name for the country now called Ethiopia.) It is mistakenly said that this slang was frequently used by the Henry Blake character throughout his years on the show. In fact, whenever Blake would bid farewell, it was usually by saying "goom-bye", though Blake did use this term at least once. The highly controversial ending to the episode, which has since been referenced and parodied many times, prompted more than 1,000 letters to series producers Gene Reynolds and Larry Gelbart, and drew fire from both CBS and 20th Century Fox. After the
SS Abyssinia liners required for a weekly service. "Abyssinia" and her sister, "Algeria" were the first Cunard express steamers built to carry steerage passengers, a concept that was proved profitable four years earlier by the Inman Line. As completed in 1870, "Abyssinia" carried 200 first class passengers and 1050 steerage. She had a service speed of 12.5 knots and was a full knot slower than "Russia". Both "Abyssinia" and "Algeria" were larger than their near sister, "Parthia". Unlike "Abyssinia" and "Algeria" which were built in Glasgow, "Parthia" had been constructed in Dumbarton. Cunard employed "Abyssinia" on the Liverpool, Queenstown, New York service.