Will you have a few rather diverting illustrations, taken right and left?
When we are in difficulties, we take our watch to our aunt; the English take theirs to their uncle.
In France, the curé has a certain number of vicaires under his orders; in England, it is the curate who is the vicar's subaltern. On this point, there is no doubt about our being in the right, since a curate is a priest, ordained to take charge of a cure (the responsible care of souls), whereas a vicar (vicarius) is a priest who takes the place of another.
So, you see, that is one to us!
In France, coachmen keep to the right; in England, they keep to the left. The drivers of hansom cabs are seated far from their horses, and are obliged to use very long whips; but, as they keep to the left, the action of the whip takes place in the middle of the road, and thus peaceful promenaders of the pavement are spared many a disagreeable cut.
Well done, John, one to you this time!
The French language possesses the two words éditer and publier; the English language has to edit and to publish. But it must be well understood that it is to publish which means éditer, and to edit which means publier. These Chinese puzzles, so constantly met with, are not useless, however; they are the delight of French examiners in England, and, of course, the despair of candidates, which is easy to understand, if one considers how much easier it is to be examiner than examined.
In England, you "get wet to the skin," in France, we "get wet to the bones," and you know that, when the English go as far as the backbone, the French, not to be outdone, go as far as the marrow of the bone.
In England, people are witty "to their fingers' end"; in France, "to the end of their finger-nails."
The index is placed at the beginning of English books, but at the end of French ones.