Friday, February 14, 2020

That's "Psmith"

     "The name is Psmith. P-smith.
     "Peasmith, sir?"
     "No, no. P-s-m-i-t-h. I should explain to you that I started life without the initial letter, and my fther always clung ruggedly to the plain Smith. But it seemed to me that there were so many Smiths in the world that a little variety might well be introduced. Smythe I look on as a cowardly evasion, nor do I approve of the prevalent custom of tacking another name on in front by means of a hyphen. So I decided to adopt the Psmith. The p, I should add for your guidance, is silent, as in phthisis, psychic, and ptarmigan."

(from Leave It To Psmith, by Sir Pelham Wodehouse)

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