The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1848-10-13
pictionarr d Americanigms.


rather curious and interesting work has re-
Gently been published bearing the above title. 1t
purports to be dictionary Of The provincialisms
which are in use among US, and is truly an enter
tanning book. In order TO show its spirit we make
the following extracts:
CoUPoN-A financial term, which, together
with the. practice, is borrowed from France In
the United States, the certificates OF State stocks
drawing interest are accompanied by coupons,
which are small tickets attached to the certificates.
At each term when the interest falls due, one OF
these coupons is cut off whence the name,) and
this being presented to the State Treasurer, or TO
hank designated by him. entities the holder to re-
Ceive the interest The coupons attached to the
bonds of some of the Western States have not been
cut off for several years.
Loco FoCo.-The name by which the Demo-
cratic party is extensively distinguished through
: out the United States This name originated in the
year 1895, when division arose IN the party, IN
consequence of the nomination of Gideon Lee as
the democratic candidate for Congress, by the COM
miuee chosen for that purpose. This nomination,
as was customary, had 20 be confirmed at general
meeting of democrats held at Tammany Hall His
friends anticipated opposition, and assembled In
large numbers to support him. " The first ques-
ton which arose, says Mr.. Hammond, " and
which would test the strength of the parties, was
the selection of Chairman. The friends of Mr..
Lee whom we will call Tammany men, supported
Mr.. Variau: and the anti-moBopollsts, Mr.. Curtis.
The Tammanies entered the hall as soon as the
doors were opened, by means of back stairs while
at the same time the Equal-rights party rushed
into the long room up the front stairs. Both par
ties were loud and bostrous; the one declaring
that Mr.. Varian was chosen Chairman, and the
other that Mr.. Curtis was duly elected the presld-
ing officer. A very tumultuous and confused scene
ensusd during which the gas-lights with which
the hall was illumined, were extinguished The
Equal-rights party either having witnessed similar
occurrences o. having received some intlmatlons
that such would be the course of their opponents,
had provided themselves with loco; foco matches
and candles, and the room was relighted in mo-
meut The Courier and Enquirer dubbed the anti
monopolists who used the matches, with the name
4 of Ioco-fooos which was after given to the
l Democratic party, and which they have since re-
| tanned '-HqBlmondS Poht'cdt History OF NeU
! York. Uoi. II, p 49l.
SALT RIvER-To row up Salt River, is a COM
mon phrase used generally to signify political de-
feat The distance TO which party Is R0IDed up
Sal RiUer depends entirely upon the magnitude Of
1be majority against its candidates. Ii the defeat
Isl particularly overwhelming, the unsuccessful party
is roiged up 10 the Uery head igaters 81 oau RtoeT
II occasionally used as nearly synonymous WITT
10 yo,g uD as in the following example, but TINS ap
pIicaiion is rare Judge Clayton made speeci
that fairly made the tumbers hop. lie rouea III
Tories iiD and oUer Sat Riner.- Crockett, lou
Dorm East p 10.
To rom rp Sal Riuer has its origin in the fac
fFal ilefe Is Il suldsl SlCdA4 ~ hiAo'' 50 ~
lucky, the passage Of which is made difficult an'
labofions as well by lis tortuous course as by tn
abundance of shadows and bars. The real applica
zion Of the phrase is to the unhappy wight who ha
the task Of propelling the boat up the stream; bH
in political or slang usage il is to those who an
rotosd up--the passengers, not the oarsman.-J
human.
SMALL PoTAToEs.-An epithet applied TO per
sons and sgnifying mean, cOntenpnble as, h
is very small potatoesH Small potatoes are not f
for eating, aud except for the feeding of hogs an
cattle are worthless hence the expression as az
piled to men. Il is sometimes put into the more EN-