植物が好きだった祖父は、晩年近くになって盆栽の「造花」を作るようになった。細い針金に緑色のテープを巻いてそれを何本か束ね、松の枝にする。隣に座って眺めている私は、それを一度も「にせもの」だと思ったことはなかった。一説には、「fake」と「fair（美しい）」は同じ語源を持つそうだ。
My grandfather loved plants, and in his later years began to make artificial bonsai trees. He wrapped green tape around thin wire, and bundled a few such wires together to made the branches of a pine tree. Sitting beside and looking at it, I never even once thought of it as “fake.” One theory has it that “fake” and “fair” in the sense of “beautiful” have the same etymology.
My grandfather loved plants, and in his later years began to make artificial bonsai trees. He wrapped green tape around thin wire, and bundled a few such wires together to made the branches of a pine tree. Sitting beside and looking at it, I never even once thought of it as “fake.” One theory has it that “fake” and “fair” in the sense of “beautiful” have the same etymology.