Re: From an old Telegraph book

Paul McKenna wrote:
> 
> "Robert Briggs" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in message
> news:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> > Brian Skinner wrote:
> > > Paddy Grove wrote:
> > > > Robert Briggs writes:
> > > >
> > > > > What does the panel make of this one?
> > > > >
> > > > >     The Hispano-French girl?  (4)
> > > >
> > > > Nothing I'd object too strongly to, assuming the answer is
> > > > ELLE. Did you have an issue with it?
> >
> > The checked letters give E_L_, which allows your solution or Brian's.
> >
> > > I'd be happier with the clue if ELLA was the intended answer.
> >
> > According to the back of the book, that *is* the intended answer.
> >
> > However, I couldn't make up my mind as to which was preferable: I
> > could see arguments for both, and sure as heck wouldn't like it if
> > it was a Saturday crossword and the first one out of the hat was
> > disallowed simply for choosing the "wrong" answer to this one.
> >
> > Now I'll make my original question explicit: which solution, ELLE
> > or ELLA, is preferable, and why?
> 
> "La" is the feminine French definite article, so rounds the clue off with
> more elegance than "le" which is a masculine article.

ELLA is a (traditional) girl's name, ELLE isn't (until the recent Ms.
McPherson), so it fits the clue better.
-- 
Peter T. Daniels                       [EMAIL PROTECTED]