I enjoyed reading the response re. this phrase and the suggestion that it
has been altered. Years ago, my younger sister heard this mentioned and
misheard it as "To the Matterhorn." To this day, we often offer this toast
in jest and, when in Zermatt, my husband and I sent a card with these
regards home to my sister.
Becky McGovern
At 07:39 PM 6/10/99 -0700, you wrote:
>The phrase merits its own subentry in the OED:
>
>Manner sb.(1) 3b. to the manner born: in Shaks., destined by one's birth to
>be subject to the (specified) custom. In later echoes often: Seeming to be
>congenitally fitted for some position of employment.
>
>1602 Shaks. Ham. i. iv. 15 (Qo, 1604) But to my minde, though I am natiue
>heere And to the manner borne, it is a custome More honourd in the breach,
>then the obseruance.
>1893 Times 26 Apr. 9/5 Yankee experts to the manner born.
>
>"To the manor born" must therefore be judged a mistake, a pun, or a
>creative rehearing, depending on one's estimation of the writer or favorite
>critical theory. Nevertheless it appears, in spite of the best efforts of
>parents, that a manner cannot be entailed. Conversely, the suburbs of the
>90s are evidence that manors make men. Them's the breaches.
>
>
>At 05:34 PM 6/10/99 -0700, you wrote:
>>Dear List,
>>
>> I wonder if anyone can shed light on my confusion about a well known
>>phrase, "To the manner (manor) born." I have seen this in both
>>forms, (Howells, W.D., LITERARY FRIENDS AND AQUAINTANCE. NY and Lond:
>>Harpers, 1900, p. 200; Duberman, Martin, JAMES RUSSELL LOWELL. Boston:
>>Houghton, Mifflin, 1966, p. 85.).
>> Who first used this phrase, is one form a mistake? Let's take a
>>poll!
>>
>> Cordially, Mark
>>
>>Mark Stirling
>>Up-Country Letters
>>
>>
>
>RICHARD NOBLE : RARE BOOK CATALOGUER : JOHN HAY LIBRARY : BROWN UNIVERSITY
>PROVIDENCE, RI 02912 : 401-863-1187/FAX 863-2093 : RICHARD_NOBLE@BROWN.EDU