This week, the C.S. Lewis class at Louisiana College will begin reading C.S. Lewis’ The Weight of Glory. Reading through the introduction I came across a funny story by the editor Walter Hooper that I thought would be great to share.
It took some time for an American, such as myself, to adapt to English “conveniences.” I see, for instance, from my diary of 7 June 1963 that during a longish visit with Lewis we drank what seemed to be gallons of tea. After a while I asked to be shown the “bathroom,” forgetting that in most homes the bathroom and the toilet are separate rooms. With a kind of mock formality, Lewis showed me to the bathroom, pointed to the tub, flung down a pile of towels, and closed the door behind me. I returned to his sitting-room to say that it was not a bath I wanted but…”Well, sir, ‘choose you this day,’” said Lewis, bursting with laughter as he quoted the prophet Joshua, “that will break you of those silly American euphemisms. And now, where is it you wanted to go?”
