Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1841-02-04
E3faceEs;ssay.
From he NfD Orleans PieSayunr.
"a EO&EITs gIl: CO Rocks:
Eos Ar rmE nor spR,Nos og AnkANsAs.

FUN At THE HOT SPRINGS @? ARKANSAS
Among the thousand and one cant terms
and slang expressions used in the West and
South west. there Is no one that has obtain
ed greater celebrity than that which heads
this article. II comes In play more frequent
ly. is more significant than any other and
when we bear a man say, "l!ere | am, in
town, with a pocset full Of rocks we know,
TO use another common but cant phrase, that
he is 'on hand Cor almost any thing. If
man has the money 20 settle demand, his
pocket is full of rocks , il he is willing
to undertake perilous enterprise, his 'pock-
ct is full Of rocks should he express him.
self well to do in tho world, equally ready
for business or pleasure, he has pocket full
OF rocks and the thing is perfectly under
stood. /. TO this he adds, 'and no poor rela-
tons, then his credit is fully established.
Having said thus much to define the express
sion, we viii now give its origin.
Several summers since, there were assem-
bicd at the Hot Springs of Arkansas a large
number of gentlemen from the different South
eTn and Western States. The utmost good
fellowship and harmony prevailed among
them, until the arrival of two men. opposite
to each other in manners and habits, in all
save one thing-they both contrived to rem
der themselves extremely annoying and dis
agreeable TO the rest Of the visitors.
One OF them was a stalwart, rowdyish ma
tive of the Emerald Isle, whom we shall cali
O'Whacll--a bullying fellow, always branr-
ing of his knowledge Of the at and myst3Ty
OF knocking his fellow men down according
to the latestand most approved methods; in
othuI words, scientific man. He was
then the sole ownerand possessor OF a quar-
| ter nag, named thGin Lightning, and always
ready to make up match whenever ne was
! sure of winning.
The other individual we shall hand down
with the cognomen ofMajor Bluster. So far
as the title goes, he was 'Sure enourh' Ma
jor, who had fought, and CALAMITY too, in the
Last War He was a very small man, but pug
IaciouS in the eXtreme--alwayS engaged in
some fight, and completely ont of his element
unless he was IN quarrel. He wore hick-
! ory-bdrk coat--so called from its being color
ed with a decocton from the bark of that
! trce--whch was very long, and had deep
pockets in the sides. He was always bragg
ing Of his skill at iiinging rocks, of which
there are a plenty in the. vicinity of the
| Springs, and he really could throw them with
force and accuracy which was astonishing.
He, too, was the possessor ofardce nag nam
| ed Pepper.
Strangers to each other. O'Whack and
Bluster were not long in forming an acquaint-
ance, such as it was, with tie gentlemen Of
| the village. BY their intrusions they soon
got the i'll Will ofevery body, until at length
meeting was called and measures taken to
rid the neighborhool Of their presence. Blus-
ter was dangerous character, as ne occupied
a position which gave him the standing Of a
| gentleman; but O'Whack they cared nothing
ahout--he could be driven oil at any time.
A committee was finally formed, whose bus
mess it was to wait upon the latter. They
told him he must do one of the two things
! either clear ont the Major, or clear out him
self; there was no two ways about it--one
| or the other he must DO. O'Whack chose
the former, as matter Of course, and inme-
diatoly set about the business.
! Soon meeting with tie Major on beauti-
| !ul green where all the visiters resoTted, and
which was Invested Of roots, stumps and
rocks, he abruptly accosted him with
! Look here, my little hop o my thumb
| you must lave these diggins.'
"Do tchat?' said the Major, clustering up
TO 0'Whack, who, was nearly four times his
| size.
you mustlave.'
You're Joking
Am IT. retorted O'Whack Now lool;
here, my cocksparrow, toll 20, yo mist
clear yourself--away wid you. niyer was