The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1852-12-08
Number So
ORIGIN OF WORDS AND PHRASEs.
WINDFALL.-The origin Of this term +
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| WINDFALL.-I'he origin OF this term -
said TO be the following: "
Some Of the nobility OF England BY ihg
any trees in the forest upon them, the tim
ber reserved for the uss Of tho royal navy.
Such trees as fell without cutting were tho.
property Of the occupant, tornado was,
therefore perfect God-send in every ssnss'
Of the term, to those who had occupancy.
Of extensive forests. and the windfall iwae.
sometimes Of great value. 5sa u, ass
RoBBING PETER TO PAY PAUL--In the
time of Edward vi, much of the land Of
st. Peter. at Westminster. was siezed by
his majes,y's ministers and courtisrs; bur
in order to reconcile the people TO the rob
berry, they allowed a portion Of the lands,
to be appropriated towards ths repairs ~
St. Paul's church; hence the phrase, "rob-:
bing Peter to. pay Paul"
HES CAUGHT TARTAR.-In some bat.
ties between the Russians and Tarars.
who are wild sort Of people, in the noah,
Of Asia, a private soldier called out, ,,a,a
Captain, halloo there, have caught y
Tartar!'' .,t,,.ss
Fetch him along, then," said The Cap
tain. y. ,,,;n,
'.Ay, but he won't let me, y said the man;
and the fact was, the Tartar had. him.
So when man thinks to take another. in
and gets bit himself, they say ..he -hsp
caught Tartar!' v..., g.' .6e.,ss
HIE! BETTY MARrrN.-Many OF our most
popular vulgarisms have their origin ip
some whimsical perversions OF language.
or Of fact. 81. Martin is one OF the wor.
thies of the Roman calendar, and farm
Of prayer commencing with the woEda,
30, mihi Beate MARITIME" which was cor
rupted to "My eye and Betty Martin. .,.'ssa q
ROLAND FOR AN OLlvER.-Although no
phrase is in more common use, yet tsw
are acquainted with its origin. Ths ex-
preston signifies giving an equivalent
Roland and Oliver were two knights
famous in Romance. The wonderful
achievements Of the one could only b.
equalled by those Of tho other. Hence
the phrase, "A Roland for an Oliver.
MIND YOUR P's AND Q's.-The origin of
the phrase, "Mind your P's and Oh i
said to have been 4 call Of attentionin, ths
English ale houses, to the pints and quarts
being scored down TO the uncon scious or
reckless beer bibber. K Ij,. h. ,a,.,s
HoBsoN's CHoIcE.-Ths expression,
"Hobson's Choice" is proverbial both in
Europe and America. The story Of ito
origin is as follows: .,;5s5 .'as,s LA
Thomas Hsbson was a celebrated car
rier at Cambridge, England, who, to his
employment in that capacity added The
profession Of supplying the students with
horses. In doing this, he made it an unr
alterabls rule that each horse should haye
an equal portion Of time in which to rest
as we'll as labor; and he always refused to
let q horse out of his turn Hence, the
saying, "Hobson's choice: this or nons.n,'
BANKRupT.-Few wsrds have so remark
able = history as the familiar word bank
rupt The money changers Of Italy had,
it is said benches or stalls, in the coursp
Of exchange, in former times, and at these,
they conducted their ordinary business.
When any Of them foil back in the world.
and became inso1vsnt, his bench ,avap
broken, and the name Of broken bench,
or banco ratio, was given to him. When
the word was adopted into the EngIish i
was nearer the Italian than il now 10. Be-.
ing "bankerout," instead Of "bankrupt.s y