fall and autumn

[Kim & Rima McKinzey]

>... "Since the autumn of the Berlin Wall a decade ago, rightist
>violence has become a fact of German life" (IHT, August 2, p. 5). This makes
>me think that a New York Times slot man or drudge makes it his business to
>replace the word fall with the posher but in my opinion uglier word autumn.

More likely some stylistic rule that makes the change.  Reminds me of
that list of songs printed somewhere, that included "African-American
is the Color of My True Love's Hair."

RIma