Well I know that my detestation of "whilst" has raised the hackles of some of my English chessfriends here, so it is only with trepidation that I broach this subject. But this evening I was watching " The Prince and the Showgirl," which has some very long and completely risible scenes that purport to depict the coronation of George the Fifth (probably actually shot at that of Elizabeth the Second) that just drove me nuts. What is it about rich people wearing tiaras and ermine that excites admiration in anyone, instead of laughter?

And what does all this bowing and curtsying really do but foster the deeply obnoxious notion that some people are just naturally our "betters?"