Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1860-03-24
POPULAR CATCU-W0RDS.

One of the most extraordinary facts connect
ed with the nature of that extraordinary being,
the Public, is the intense qualification and
solace which it derives from the repetition and
re-application of sayings and phrases which are
in themselves almost meaningless As the COW
finds comfort in chewing the cud, MS some men
take delight in chewing tasteless substances, as
Others are made happy pro tempOre by whistling
or brushing up their hats, even so the sheer
force of familiarity breeds an indefinable delight
in many hearts when they hear repeated with
emphasis some popular catch-word, the origin
of which is utterly unknown to them.
Theatrc-goers have often observed that the
mere appearance of a popular comic actor
generally produces a grand burst of laughter.
If he grin or wink the applause is redoubled,
and the more sensitive look around at each 9TH
er in inexpressible sympathy. But if it be un-
derstood that he is going to joke, how the house
is silent, and when he does fairly speak, no
matter what flat nonsense, how the whole house
comes down with a scream of laughter. He
who attains this pitch of popularity need,trou-
BILE himself very little in future. He has got
so far as to substitute q sort of electric action
for the greater labor of thought, and electricity
is the most enjoyed of the two. 1t makes no
difference either what the play is, or if it be IA
miliar to the last degree to all present. 1t may
run for hundreds of nights, SO long memory
and sort of semi-sensuous association keep
up the electricity. Just so children would as
lief hear the old fairy tales as a new one. Just
so, 500, people take extraordinary comfort in
repeating familiar phrases.
Does your mother know you're outp' Who
can forget the tremendous run that phrase had
some twenty years ago. How it was cried,
sung, whispered, vaudevilled, and otherwise
spiccd to suit the extraordinary popular demand.
When an orator could say nothing else of an
opponent, he intimated that his maternal parent
was Ignorant of his temporary absence, or in
quired in a sarcastic manner if such was not
the case, and 10 his opponent was foored.-
10 inquire of foreign gentleman, 'est-ce que
la mere de Monsieur salt an juste que son fills
est sortii " was a tremendous hit in fact all
manner of appearances were popularly submit
ted to the great test of motherly care.
Take your time, Miss Lucyv subsequently,
incorporated into a lively song as its refrain
had also great success, though on somewhat
better grounds, since it includes very Wise
maxim, being nothing more or less than the
Latin festina lente,' or Hasten slowlyp Still
more rational was the very popular catch-word
of It'll never do to give it up so, Mr.. Brown =
one of the most cheering, inspiring, and sensi-
BILE of popular sayings ever introduced into any
language. 'Sich getting up stairs'-also Tyr
icised-was a concise enough expression for
any sort of fuss, and Out of the way, Old Dan
Tucker was too emnently in keeping with
the character of the American railroadng, 90.
ahead public, not to become a household word
'Will you be goodP oh--ye-es Some of
our readers may perhaps remember this now
entirely obsolete phrase, which was in its time
extensively shouted, and even placarded about
the corners by some enthusiastic deyotees 10 its
irresistible humor.