Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1854-05-02
ORIGIN OF WORDS AND PHRASES.

- lie cut DIDO. 1t is told in his.
tory that Dido, queen of Tyre, about
eight hundred and seventy years before
Christ, fled from that place upon the
murder of her husband, and with a col.
ony settled upon the northern coast Of
Africa, where she built Carthage. Being
in want Of land, she bargained with the
natives for as much as she could surroud
with a bulls hide. Having made the
agreement, she cut a bull s hide into thin
strings, and tying them together, claimed
as much land as she could surround with
the long line she had thus made. The
natives allowed the cunning queen TO
have her way but when anybody played
offa sharp trick, they say he has cut
a Dido and the phrase has come to
our day.
"He's caught Tartar" I'm some
battle between the Russians and the
Tartars, who are wild sort of people
in the north of Asia, a private soldier
called out " Captain, hull on there I've
caug ht Tartar ~ Fetch him along,
then ~ said the captain. "Ay, but he
won't let me- said the man and the
fact was, the Tartar had caught him. So
when man thinks to take another in,
and gets bit himself, they say" He's
caught Tartar
" Carrying the war into Africa. I'm
one of the famous wars between Carthage
and Rome, about two thousand five hun
dred years ago, Hannibal, q Carthagenian
leader, and one of the most wonderful
men of antiquity, led his army into
Italy, and for several years continued to
threaten the city and lay waste the sur.
rounding country. Scipio, a Roman
general, saw the necessity of getting rid
OF Hannibal and his forces; so he deter
threaten tsatfhagea az ar%d and dtR 4dAA Asa %sks and
necessary for Hannibal to return home
for its defence. This scheme had its
desired effect and in all time this retail.
ating upon an enemy, by adopting his
own tactics, is called " carrying the wal
INTO Africa
The term Yankee is supposed to have
originated with the Indians, who called
the English Yongees, which came at length
to the Yankees.
"Hoosiers''-the people of Indiana are
called Hoosiers. and it is said to be an
abbreyiation OF "Who's here ga ques-
ton which used to be shouted aloud by
the traveller in that quarter, when, amid
the tall grass of the prairies, he heard
voices, or saw the smoke of log cabin
but could see nobody.
suckers" is the designation of thu
people of Illinois, because, as it is said
the Galena miners usedto appear in spring
about the time the suckers, large fish
OF the West, ascended the rivers. e lo'
"Wolverine" is the title of citizen ol
Michigan, because an animal of that name
resembling theraccooH, is common in that
State. ..s. ... -. !
Buckeye" is tree resembling til,
catalpat and it is common in Ohio; SO
Ohio is called the Buckeye State, and the
citizens Buckeye.
'Corn-crackers" is the nickname of the
kentuckians, as compliment to the soil
and climate, which furnishes the people
with abundance of corn, and appetites to
devour it.
'John Bull' is the title given to Eng
land and Englishmen, because it is fancied
that there is surly, grumbling manner
about the people of that country, which
reminds one of bull.
Empire State"is name given to New
York, because of its great extent, popu-
lation and wealth. H.
Pennsylvania is called the "Key Stone
State" because of its central position.