BRITICISMS VERSUS AMERICANISMS 327 



long numerous words expressing things associated with modern trans- 

 portation and rapid transit, such as ' street-car/ ' railroad/ etc. 



Perhaps it may be well just here to call attention to some of the 

 ordinary terms and expressions heard in England which strike an 

 American as being quite odd and peculiar. It is to be presumed that 

 the good Britons will not be offended if we, using the same license as 

 themselves, venture to call such expressions ' Briticisms.' Let it be 

 distinctly understood, however, that this is not intended as an oppro- 

 brious epithet, but only to signify a word or an idiom which is peculiar 

 to Great Britain and not familiar in America. For surely the English 

 people have the right to employ whatever terms they may choose both 

 in their colloquial and in their written speech. 



If an American in London wishes to use a language that is readily 

 understood, when he goes to the ticket office he must call it the booking 

 office of the railway station. There he must ask the clerk, or rather 

 the ' dark/ for a first single or a second return, instead of a single fare 

 (first class) and a round trip (second class). He must then have his 

 luggage labeled, not his baggage checked, and, having secured his 

 brasses or labels, not his checks, he sees his box, not his trunk, put in 

 the proper van and then takes his seat in the carriage, not in the car. 

 Before the train starts off, the guards slam the doors of the carriages, 

 turning the handles, and at the conductor's whistle the engine-driver 

 starts his locomotive-engine. The points all being set for a clear track 

 ahead, the train speeds along the metals, passing perhaps a shunt ing- 

 engine about the station and a train of goods-vans. 



The variation of British from American usage is not more note- 

 worthy in railway parlance than in other circles. If an American 

 goes shopping in London, he must call for a packet, not a paper, of 

 pins ; a reel, not a spool, of cotton. If he desires to buy a pair of shoes, 

 he must call for boots, unless he wishes low quarters or Oxford ties; 

 if a pair of overshoes, he must ask for footholds or galoshes; if a soft 

 felt hat, he must ask for a squash hat, or if he prefers a Derby, he 

 must ask for a billy-cock hat or a bowler; if he wishes a pad of paper, 

 he should request a block of paper. If he goes to a restaurant, he indi- 

 cates whether he desires his meat underdone, not rare; if he wishes 

 corned beef, he calls for silversides of beef; if beets, he calls for beet- 

 root ; if chicken, he calls for fowl ; if a cereal of any sort, he calls for 

 corn ; if cold bread, he must order cut bread ; and if he desires pudding, 

 pie, jam, preserves or candy, he must order sweets, short for sweet- 

 meats. If the waiter should fail for any reason to give him a napkin, 

 an American should ask for a serviette; and when he has finished his 

 repast, he is handed a bill which he may pay with his cheque, or, if he 

 prefers, with the cash from his purse, not his pocket-book. 



If in England you find no bowl and pitcher in your room, you are 



