The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1890-05-15
ENCLiSHMEN'S ENGLISH.
An Americans Observations Concerning 8
the Use of Words in London.

Quite at random | make up list OF
articles to which the English assign
names differing from those we lse:
That which we call bowl is here
known as basin. In England you
ask for basin of bread and milk.
That which is known to Ills pitcher
is here called jug.
A donkey is here called moke; in
| America moke is a negro Local
slang for cab horse is "cat's meat
because the meat of horses is peddled
around the streets for feeding to cats.
BY the way, British eats average much
| larger than our American cats, and
/ they are notorious chicken-killers. The
| brindle cat seems to be the common.
| est.
What we call crackers are here
| known as biscuit, and | suspect this is
strictly correct.
| What we call shoes are here known
| as boots, and what we call boots are
| here known as bluchers. There is one
| shoe called the hilo, because it runs
high from the heel up back of the ankle
| and is cut low in front
Our druggist is here a chemist many
of the older practitioners retaining the
old "chymist."
What we call ale is here known rs
bitter beer.
What is here known as hash we
should call 4 stew. and what we call a
hash is here known as Il mince
In England our overcoat becomes a
great coat, our undershirt becomes a
vest. and our drawers become panta-
looms. 1t is said that when George w.
of l.,l, IN T
4 number of Years ago he walked into
haberdashers and, seeking to appear
| to be a native, asked to be shown the
| styles in silk waistcoats. ''Jeems."
cried the proprietor to his assistant,
step this way and show this Hameri-
can gentleman our tiowery weskitsr'
What we call sick the Euglishman
calls ill; sickness here implies nausea
and vomiting. The British usage is
wrong; but the late Richard Grant
White settled that point pretty definite
~ How came the British to fall into
this pcrversion? 1t was, / think, be- |
cause the British can 90 nowhere ex-
cept by water; that travel by water in
duces unpleasant symptoms of nausea
and retching which condition, called
sickness. gradually came to be re-
garded as the correct definition of the
word sickness. | can't imagine how
the British justify their use of the
words hOmesick, heartsick, and love- |
sick.
Here they call a street car tram;
correct. Here, too, an elevator is a lift, |
and that is right.
What we call a telegram is here |
called telegraph; it will probably
never be determined which of these |
usages is the better. Our postal card |
is here post card; cuffs become |
wrists.
That material known to US as canton |
flannel is here called swans down, and |
our muslin is known hereabouts as
"calico."
Our locomotive becomes engine"
and our conductor is here guard" |
What we call "stewingn Culinary |
term) the British call ''simmering;;"
our lunch is here 'luncheon,n and |
our baggage" becomes luggage
Our wheat is called '.corn,n and |
our corn" is called maize or,
sometimes Indian corn. Pigs feet |
are called "trotters." BY the way, a |
theatrical name for bad actor is rot
ter"
\ chill" is here called a ''rigor,n
and the eruption commonly known
among US as ''hiveS" is here known as |
''Dettie-rash.n Candy is known various
" rs ''sWeets," ''sweetmeats, and |
'.lolly."
Writing TO John Smith, your social
equal you are expected to address him
as John Smith, Esq; If he be your
tailor, grocer, etc, you address him as
Mr.. john Smith.
The word apt is exceedingly popu-
lar here. 1t is APT to rain, - apt to
be muddy" man is APT to 90 down
town, Z bank is apt to suspend" etc.
Even the best prints use this word as
synonym for likely" and like"
Another barbarism everywhere preva-
lent in the United Kingdom is the use
of the adverb directly" for the con-
junction 'as soon as"-e. e.. directly |
he went out l shut the door" Charles
Dickens. who was quite slovenly at
times. seems to have been addicted to
this indefensible vice.
What does this British word cleft
tenant mean? l should like to know.
Quite" is another hackneyed word |,
here; it is edged in upon every occa- !,
sion.
The first criticism / would pass upon
the press of London would be for the
indirectness of its speech. When
newspaper writer wishes to convey the
idea that yesterday was pleasant day
he says: Yesterday was not an un-
pleasant day" A good play is mot
half bad, "a humorous speech is not un-
relieved by wit, a riotously applauded
address is mot wholly unaccented by |
demonstrations of approval" and SO
on, an ifsjfn. ct dd naus. Now all this
sort of thing may be subtle and it may
be conservative, but it is not in the
spirit of the Anglo-Saxon, and it veXes
me to find so little of the Anglo-Saxon
in the literature, the speech, and the
practices of the very people where |
had thought to find SO much Chicago
Neags.
Girls and Pets to Match.
A tail, 1.-THE. graceful girl walking
down Connecticut avenue at Il lively