BIRDS OR DOGS?
[TO THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR."]
SIR,—The saying respecting the different European languages, attributed to the Emperor Charles V., has quite a new render- ing in your article "French and English," which appeared in the Spectator of July 30th. The version with which I have long been familiar is as follows :—" Speak Spanish to your God, French to your friend, Italian to your mistress, English to your birds, German to your horses, and Bohemian to the Devil."
The reason given for speaking English to birds is owing to the hissing sound made by the frequent repetition of the letter " s " in our language. The quotation "English to your dogs" I have never met with before, often as I have heard the saying in conversation or read it in print.—I am, Sir, eco., Hughenden, Surbiton, August 4th. JAMES F. COBB.
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