COURTESY À LA SUISSE
["The recent complaints of the rudeness shown to English travellers in Switzerland by the natives has been officially denied by the authorities of Lucerne."—Daily Paper.]
You are an idiot, a fool, and a rascal. (Official explanation.) Terms of endearment denoting feeling of the utmost friendship.
Why do you come here? Why don't you stay at home? (Official explanation.) Merely questions asked to stimulate pleasant conversation.
You are a rosbif, a boule dogue, and plum-pudding. (Official interpretation.) Fine names intended to express the greatest possible admiration for British institutions.
If you speak we will knock you down. (Official interpretation.) Merely a kindly expression of concern calculated to produce repose.
You are one brutal, ugly-faced foreigner. (Official interpretation.) A jocular salutation.
You sell your wife at Smithfield—Long live the Boers! (Official interpretation.) A polite attempt to commence a courteous conversation.
Are you English? (Official interpretation.) The highest praise imaginable.
