When spellcheck insists I have misspelled "colour"...
Oh dear sweet American spell check, is it a classic American egoist philosophy that only the "I" is important and that the "u" should be eliminated where it can be?
I may concede that "learnt" is wrong and antiquated, and perhaps rightfully sacrificed for the sake of the logical "learned." Pronouncing "schedule" with the cold and hard "sk" sound instead of the gentle forgiving "shhh" sound has made Canadians sound less pretentious and more kind than the British.
But the "u", how that one letter adds a simple delicacy to the usual normalcy of typing "colour," "ardour", and "behaviour".
So tonight I raise my glass, tip my hat, and curtsy deep to senseless and pleasurable battles against the efficient and inane: to long nights playing Chopin etudes, to wearing large brimmed hats, to packages of pastry and sweets. It's a losing battle, but do not forget. Practicality may take away the custom of white kid gloves during summer and spring, lonely conversations in telephone booths on rainy days, and decorative walking canes. But you will never, NEVER take away our Queen's English!!!
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