LL-L: "Folklore" LOWLANDS-L, 27.DEC.2000 (03) [E]

[Lowlands-L]

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 L O W L A N D S - L * 27.DEC.2000 (03) * ISSN 189-5582 * LCSN 96-4226
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From: john feather [johnfeather at sceptic1.freeserve.co.uk]
Subject: Folklore

"Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable" (Centenary Edition, 1970) has,
under "Sand":
"The sand-man is about. A playful remark addressed to children who are
'sleepy-eyed'. Cp. THE DUSTMAN HAS ARRIVED under DUST."

And:
"The dustman has arrived, or more usually nowadays "The sandman is about",
the "dustman" having lost popularity in nursery talk since the association
with refuse collecting. The phrase means that it is bedtime, for the
children rub their eyes, as if sand or dust was in them."

"Was" for "were" in the last sentence is slightly odd in a book like this,
which despite the lapse should obviously be on every little Lowlander's list
for Santa next year.

Despite the introduction of terms like "refuse collector" and "waste
disposal operative" the word "dustman" is still (I believe) the normal word
in England for the person who collects (unsorted) rubbish from houses.

I hope I haven't asked the following question before.

What difference is there in the USA between the usage's of the words "trash"
and "garbage"? Many years ago, as a newcomer to the USA, and upstate New York
in particular, I asked the building superintendent (BE. "caretaker") where to
put the "garbage". She feigned incomprehension until by means of a
lot of shouting, pantomime and the other usual ways the English have of
communicating with obstinate foreigners I conveyed the sense of what I
meant, which she identified with "trash". Is there in fact any difference
between the two terms, by geography, social class, age of user (or
generator) or anything else?

BTW, I hope everyone will remember not to sweep their home in any direction
on New Year's Day. Don't say you weren't warned.

A Happy New Year to all Lowlanders.

John Feather johnfeather at sceptic1.freeserve.co.uk

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