The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-11-01
ouesr SMILES,

The Pal Mall Gazette calls attention to some
odd idioms in the speech of the common people
of EDgland:--"A countryman, giving evidence
before a magistrate the other day, spoke of
man in a state of exhaustion as being as faint
as beams a novel illustration, and one that
sounds odd (beans being generally regarded as
a fortitying aliment), until we remember that
the intensely sweet smell of their blossoms iG
said to have bad effect on those who fall asleep
under its influence. And this suggests the ques-
ton, what may be the origin of many OF the
simiitudes we hear in common talk and how
did they possibly find the way to general accep.
tance? Many of them seem TO have been con-
structed IN defiance OF rather than according to
the homeopathic rule OF SGnluld SLnLCg6dS.
Fine as hvepence' we may suppose to date
from u time Wnen some now obsolete coin of
that value was issued brand new from the mint;
but il is not easy to imagine how ninepence
should have ever become type of rectiUude
any more than l o'clock or trivet. How mad
is. halter, or how grave is mustard.pot, that
they should be made bases of comparison? Is
a roach more healthy than any other fish,
that it is selected as the standard of soundness?
considering that tree (as far as we know
never makes any futile attempt atmoving at all,
it ely has right 10 resent being compared
with lame man. Why as slow as a top
which sometimes spins so fast one cannot see it?
and what is the meaning of 'as fast as hopsP
If il alludes to the vine, no WeVer rapidly it may
grow, its speed cannot be quite than OF an eX-
press train; if to jumping on one leg, we all
know that even in short distance race the odds
are rather in favor OF two legs. 1t was good
commentator to say, what is now out of
fashion, that any one behaved ike q man OF
wax if that meant of fine growth; trump, too,
is intcllgbe, but who can conceive 1t tlalterlng
to be likened to brick? as metaphorc9l com
parsons give an opportunity of showing some
wit and humor, it is rather surprising that none
of our punsters and riddle.makers should have
taken up the manufacture. 1t is good opening
for young man in the funny line"
Curious Facts An the Election Returns.
On the vote for Governor, at the late election,
in two counties there was tie vote-Hardin
and Van Writ.
The remaining counties were equally divided
forty-thIee for Thurman, and fOrty-three for
Hayes.
Judge Thurman carried the county of High
land by four votes, and General Hayes carried
WASHINGTON by the same number. Hayes car
ried Knox county by three votes; Thurman,
Madison by eighteen.
With these exceptions Judge Thurman car
ried his counties by maorities ranging from 1862
IN Stark and 20S in Scioto, the lowest, to 1905
in Franklin, and 1866 in Monroe, the highest
majority he received in any two counties.
General Hayes carried Paulding by 50 majO-
rity, and Gallia by 80, Ashtabula by 1854, Lo.
rain by $685. the lowest aud largest majorities.
The twelve counties of the Western Reserve
give HAYES a majority of l9,96l, rather less than
the proportionate majority it used to give against
General Jackson during his Naturalization
Columbus (OhiO) Statesman.