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Discussion Groups / English Usage / January 2004painted drainpipe
What is a "painted drainpipe"? In Dorothy Sayers' "Busman's Honeymoon" there are a few references to one, in the sitting-room of a cottage. I think of a drainpipe as strictly an outdoor item, but are there decorative ones? The pipe in question holds withered pampas grass, and is large enough for eight feet of "old pot-chain" to be dropped down it.  SignatureSML, always ready to re-read Lord Peter novels ess el five six zero at columbia dot edu <http://pirate-women.com> > What is a "painted drainpipe"? In Dorothy Sayers' "Busman's Honeymoon" > there are a few references to one, in the sitting-room of a cottage. I [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > The pipe in question holds withered pampas grass, and is large enough > for eight feet of "old pot-chain" to be dropped down it. I assume it's a length of real ceramic drainpipe used as a tall vase and painted to suit the room's decor. If it's intended to contain dried pampas grass, there's no need for a base. The pipe would stand safely on the its wide end. where another length of pipe would fit into it when a drain was being laid. I expect this pipe is a recycled left-over from previous building work, pressed into service by the householder who couldn't afford a purpose-made vase of that size. An eight-foot length of old pot-chain would coil up easily in such a pipe. I don't recall the story, but the chain may be there to weight the pipe for greater stability. Alan Jones >> What is a "painted drainpipe"? In Dorothy Sayers' "Busman's Honeymoon" >> there are a few references to one, in the sitting-room of a cottage. I [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] >don't recall the story, but the chain may be there to weight the pipe for >greater stability. I've known the book for 50 years or so, and I've always envisaged it as Alan describes. It could, however, be metal (cast iron) rather than ceramic. SignatureKaty Jennison spamtrap: remove number to reply > > What is a "painted drainpipe"? In Dorothy Sayers' "Busman's Honeymoon" > > there are a few references to one, in the sitting-room of a cottage. I [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > wide end. where another length of pipe would fit into it when a drain was > being laid. Ah, that gives me a very clear picture. > I expect this pipe is a recycled left-over from previous > building work, pressed into service by the householder who couldn't afford a > purpose-made vase of that size. Or preferred not to spend money on it. I believe _Busman's Honeymoon_ is where I learned the word "cheeseparing". (For those with retentive memories--I did read it before _Gaudy Night_. Bad planning.) > An eight-foot length of old pot-chain would coil up easily in such a pipe. I > don't recall the story, but the chain may be there to weight the pipe for > greater stability. That's not why the chain is there. SignatureJerry Friedman is another Lord Peter fan. > > I assume it's a length of real ceramic drainpipe used as a tall vase and > > painted to suit the room's decor. If it's intended to contain dried [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > Ah, that gives me a very clear picture. Agreed. Thank you, Alan. > > I expect this pipe is a recycled left-over from previous building work, > > pressed into service by the householder who couldn't afford a [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > is where I learned the word "cheeseparing". (For those with retentive > memories--I did read it before _Gaudy Night_. Bad planning.) What a shame! Similarly -- although not quite as bad -- I read "Gaudy Night" before any other Lord Peter story. There ought to be a warning on the cover. [snip!] SignatureSML ess el five six zero at columbia dot edu <http://pirate-women.com> > I > think of a drainpipe as strictly an outdoor item, but are there > decorative ones? You may be thinking of a downspout. A drainpipe is much bigger, more heavily constructed, usually either cast iron or ceramic, and mostly underground. There should be some exposed drainpipe in your basement or crawl space. SignatureJohn Varela (Trade "OLD" lamps for "NEW" for email.) I apologize for munging the address but the spam is too much. > I think of a drainpipe as strictly an outdoor item, but are there > decorative ones? The pink ones, certainly! http://www.neilinnes.org/didnt.htm#mypinkhalfofthedrainpipe Pierre SignaturePierre Jelenc | H o m e O f f i c e R e c o r d s | * Ethan Lipton * Marwood * The Cucumbers * T h e G i g o m e t e r | * Switchblade Kittens * Pawnshop * www.thegigometer.com | www.homeofficerecords.com |
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