Archive for June 2008

Transatlantic words and actions

Jun 24th, 2008 | By | Category: Personal Columns

“Is ‘trash’ an American word?”

“Yes,” I said.

“Are you sure?”

“Yes”.

Lines from Chapter 6 of Persuasion by Jane Austen were read aloud,

I hate sending the children to the Great House, though their grandmamma is always wanting to see them, for she humours and indulges them to such a degree, and gives them so much trash and sweet things, that they are sure to come back sick and cross for the rest of the day.

“Ah”, I said, “It was hardly an American import, then. The United States …