The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1873-11-14
Jlle a}larietta 9ournaI.
Marietta, Georgia, November IA, 1878.
For the Marietta journal.
WHATS wHATP"

/ WHATS wHATa"
In this very common expression,
what is "what" in its broad sense ?
Do you say, it is relative pronoun ?
Yes, and relates to what That's
"what's what" The trembling ur-
chin is admonished in threatening
tones of his grandma, that, if he does
not do her bidding she will show him
"what's what"-we think it would
take something more than the rules
Of grammar to convince him that
"what" related to anything but a
sound thrashing in case of failure
on his part. The inebriate warned
by friend that, unless he leaves off
indulging so freely in his cups, he
will find out "what's what" needs
not the warning, and on arising some
fine morning, after a night of drunken
revelry though his face be skinned
and his sight in eclipse can easily see
and feel, that "what' in the closing
sentence of his friends admonitions
related to hostile sidewalks and com
bative lamp posts,
The enfatuated and unpopular
lover, though informed by the rather
petulant father of his lady-love, that
unless he stops visiting his daughter,
he will teach him "what's what" ia
nevertheless caught in the "wee swa
hours ayant the twa, holding stolen
intervie with his love; and the ex-
asperated father speedily and con-
clusively shows the would be son-in-
law, that "what" in his case relates
to a collision between sole-leather
and that part of his carous that got
out of the door last.
The old bachelor is accosted by
an advocate of matrimony |; "Why
don't you get married, and live right
He heayes a sigh, and replies alb
ruptly: "The ladies are so extrava.
giant, they require SO many dresses,
SO many bonnets, gloves, laces, hand
kerchiefs, ribbons, and other things
cad infnitum," to say nothing of
bustles, switches, store teeth, and in
Vulnerable other appendages, that |
couldn't afford to get married, that's
"what's what" Here "what" re-
lates to things innumerable, not to say
unmentionable. A young man is
pressing hard bis suit with an esti-
mable young lady, suddenly the
courtship eliminates in what would
in common parlance be called a
"bustup." Then every one is on
the "qui vive" to find out the cause.
The young lady is interviewed and
answers complacently, "why he
didn't have the "quills," that's what's |
what"
The facinating young man with
Frightening prospects, who has been
picked out for the accomplished Miss
A., very unexpectedly marries the
homely and uncompanionable Miss
B. His friends are astonished and
desire to know his reasons for COM
so rash an act. He replied:
Miss B.: had valuable stocks,
Which, you know saves mussel
To say nothing Of her large iocks,
That furnished stufin for her hustle.
Valuable considerations, and that's
"what's what" A young man is
very attentive to young lady with |
whom he has recently became ac-
the town folks say they
will marry, but alas lie stops as
suddenly as if he had been dropped
from balloon. His friends inquire
of him what's the matter, and he re-
plies somewhat after the manner Of
the fascinating young man, but to q
quite different tune
Miss .----- had no little lambs;
Nothing but her mnssel;
No celatterals, but demapdS
No stufiin for her bussel.
No money, but many demands,
and that's "what what" IT,.
After all, we are far from deter
mining what "what" in this express
ion "what's what" relates to but
are forced to the conclusion that il
sometimes refers to one thing, and
then another, and that the circum-
stances in particular cases determines
wwhat's what AToICs.