All, This is the sort of (Way.... off topic) reply that should properly be addressed to the sender only.
But... J D S wrote: > these swords protruded out to the left of the rider and if two of these > gentlemen met in a narrow lane there would be a clash of swords I have not been keeping close track of this thread. Did we cover the excellent and venerable reason why the English drive on the left? Consider a (right-handed) knight - riding on the left side of a road - meeting an oncoming knight, who is also riding on his left side of the road. Should they draw their swords with their right arms, they will be in the best position to defend themselves, and to do battle with each other. Perhaps that's common knowledge?? - or at least a popular trivia question. Since we are so far off topic, let's take right-handed knights one step further. Staircases in medieval castles were usually built right into the walls and were in the form of spirals. A Master Mason building a castle would know to make his stair cases spiral clockwise as they ascended. Thus an attacker coming up the stairs would have to fight with his left arm while a defender retreating backwards up the stairs could fight with his right. I hope this was not a waste of time. Medieval studies, chivalry, and castles are interests of mine. Bob J D S wrote: > > Hi Gang > > I realize I am a bit late with this but here goes. > Mr Schilke hints darkly that it is we insular islanders who are 'sinister'. > I believe the answer lies in our distant past. > In olden days the English gentlemen would carry swords partly for their > personal protection and also because it was the style of the times. This > sword was a manly thing nearly three feet long -------not like the sneaky > continental dagger--------- worn at the waist and so that it came quickly to > hand, usually on the left hand side of the wearer. When our fine English > gentlemen were riding horses of course these swords protruded out to the > left of the rider and if two of these gentlemen met in a narrow lane there > would be a clash of swords possibly leading to bad feeling, name calling or > in extreme cases loss of blood. To avoid this the nobility took to riding > their horses on the left of the lanes so that the worst that could happen > was that a peasant walking in the mud would be hit on the back of the head > with the 'gentleman's' scabbard. With the introduction of the motor car > of course it was the Landed Gentry who first had them and they just > continued this practise to the present day and countries where we "had an > interest" were made to drive on that side also. > Of course the explanation above begets the question. Why do the others > drive on the right????????????? > Regards, > John > 53.2n > 2.5w > > -----Original Message----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of John Schilke > Sent: 08 March 2002 19:17 > To: [email protected] > Subject: Re: Right or Wrong > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: Chuck Nafziger <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > > I get the impression that several people on the list think that driving is > done on the left side of the road in China. Not so, only in Hong Kong is > driving done on the left. All of mainland China drives on the right. The > Japanese also drive on the left. Is there a trend here whereby left side > driving is only done on isolated islands? > > What about India, formerly part of the British Empire? I am asking because > I really don't know. > > John Schilke > 122W36, 45N21 > > - > > - -
