MSGID: 1:153/716.0 6cfe56c0
REPLY: 2151.englisht@1:2320/105 2b1a228f
CHRS: IBMPC 2
Hi, Mike!  Recently you wrote in a message to ALEXANDER KORYAGIN:

ak>  -----Beginning of the citation-----
ak>       When I was a poor man and had a solicitor once when
ak>  they found a pram in the dust cart, he got me off, and got
ak>  shut of me and got me shut of him as quick as he could.
ak>  ----- The end of the citation -----

ak>  What is the pram pram in the dust cart? What does he mean?

MP>  Pram

          Short for "perambulator"...


MP>  is a "British" word for a baby carriage or stroller, i.e.
MP>  something you lay or sit a baby in which has wheels so
MP>  you can push it around while you walk behind it.

          Yes.  In my experience, however, the traditional English pram has
coil springs with large wheels & probably cost more than Doolittle could
afford.  :-)


MP>  Dust cart I believe is a rubbish or trash bin,

           That's my take on it.  IIRC Eliza's father was a dustman... i.e.
what Canadians might also refer to as a garbage collector.


MP>  likely also with wheels.

           YMMV, but my initial experience with such things occurred 20-30
years ago when the City of Vancouver started using them.  It would be my guess
that at the time of writing the dust cart was the equivalent of a garbage
truck.


MP>  I don't understand how throwing an old pram out in the
MP>  in the garbage would get a person into legal trouble.

           I reckon that if someone with more $$$ than sense put it out with
the garbage or ordered a servant to get rid of it & Eliza's father took
advantage of the situation others might believe he'd stolen this item.

           While I don't know what the laws WRT such matters were in England
100 years ago, the citizens of Vancouver are required to place their garbage
on city property when they want it to be collected... after which the city is
deemed to be the rightful owner.  But the garbage & recycling crews around
here are fussy about what they'll accept, and others often take advantage
after midnight.  :-Q




--- timEd/386 1.10.y2k+
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