"The landlady of a boarding-house is a parallelogram - that is, an oblong angular figure, which cannot be described, but which is equal to anything"

This quote by Stephen Leacock is a funny way of describing the landlady of a boarding-house. He is comparing her to a parallelogram, which is an oblong angular figure. This contrast is meant to recommend that the landlady is challenging to explain, but is equal to anything. This might imply that the landlady is a strong and capable person who is able to manage any circumstance. It might also mean that she is unpredictable and can be challenging to comprehend.

The quote is also a play on words, as the word "parallel" can suggest "equal" or "similar". This recommends that the landlady is similar to a parallelogram because she is hard to explain, however amounts to anything. This could be analyzed as a compliment to the landlady, as it indicates that she is a strong and capable person.

In general, this quote is an amusing way of explaining the landlady of a boarding-house. It suggests that she is a strong and capable person who amounts to anything, and is hard to describe. It is a smart play on words that indicates that the landlady is similar to a parallelogram in that she is challenging to describe, however amounts to anything.