The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1874-03-14

VIRUS anu hahies. 40 trace tncm out Is
sometimes to 6nd an original meaning as
opposite as possible to their present signi-
fcation. Custom, or chance, Or variance,
slight at first, but widening as time passes,
brings the word at last to mean anything
but its primitive sense. A few curious
instances are subjoined "Boon compan-
ions are reputed, and justly too, to be
among the surest assistants 10 pulling q
mans house down, and reducing him TO
poverty and his family to want. The
origin Of the use Of "boon," as meaning
"convivial," is as follows;--In ancient
times, il was the custom when man in a
rural district had house TO build or any
other heavy undertaking in hand, for his
neighbOr to assist him by the ''boon" or gift
Of days work. The same custom is
partially observed still, especially at the
raising Of the frame Of the building.
After the days work came the supper--in
course of time abbreviated TO unlimited
drinks" Hence the phrase ''boon com
panions." The same indulgence in some
places now follows "raising," and many
a man can trace back his first introduction
to intemperance, when lad, to a day
begun in gratuitous labor, and finished in
gratuitous drink-costing nothing at the
beginning, but dear enough in tho long
run Many man thus became, in quaint
old English, 'bottle- -thrall," that is TO
say, slave to the bottle.
The common salutation "How do you
dol" seems particularly redundant and
awkward sentence, but in its origin was
much more sensible. Dor pronounced as
we pronounce do, in old English means 10
"be able" to thrive, or to prosper. The
word is still thus used in Scotland, and
many parts Of England. allow do you
dOU p means how are you thriving1
Are you well and able? Burns used the
word both in its affirmative and negative
forms He doicna see poor man want,
that is he scan not see;' and "As Ang's
| dor, AS long as | can.
"Elf.lOcks" are popularly supposed to
mean hair tangled like that Of an "elf" or
fairy. But the elves took better care of
their toilets than-that, and amused them
selves by ceiling" or twisting the hair Of
human beings, and the names of horses.
Thus Shakespeare This is the very
Nab that plaits the names of horses in
the night, and cakes the elf-locks in foul
sluttish hairs"
Persons have noticed the word agavel.
kind" applied to the laws of inheritance in
some parts of England, meaning the dis
tribution Of the estate Of man deceased
among all his children-the opposite plan
to "primogeniture," " which gives the land
to the eldest son. A "gavel" or "cavel"
means stick, as also grasp" or hold.
In this sense the Speakers hammer Is
called gavel. The Kentish landowner
inscribed the names Of the different parts
of bis estate on "gavels" or pieces of wood,
which were kept in a box. The settle
ment Of the estate required only the
simple process Of drawing lots from this
box, each heir inheritiug the parcel which
he drew out.
"I give and bequeath," phrase used in
wills, is often regarded as legal surplusage.
But il is not To"qnethe" in old English,
means to speak or declare. Hence the
common expression ''quoth he" To give
and bequeath is to give and declare the
gift.
The young people are fond of riddles
They may be interested in knowing that
"rede" means to advise or counsel, aredel''
subject to be taken into consideration,
and hence comes riddle. The well-known
writer Carlyle, who knows a little Of
everything, and chiefly delights in puzzling
his readers by what he himself knows,
says in one of his books, "Rede us this
riddle"
To "steik," in old English, means "to
shut aStoke" means ashut up Thus
Chaucer Then hadst thou the gates
stoke" Hence comes the word astoker,"
meaning the man who 6lls the furnace
with coal, and "steiks" or shuts the door.
The above specimens of the curiosites of
English are selected from compilation
just published, made by Charles Mackay,
the popular Scotch magazine writer His
book he styles, not rery happily, "Lost
Beautiesof the English Language" Few
of his ancient specimens deserve that
designation, though there is much that is
amusing in the volume. As scientific
work it lacks accuracy. To close our
draught On It's pages to-day, note on
wedding" may please the ladies. A
"wad" or "wed" is wager, a bet, pledge,
or plight. Therefore, in the Episcopal
marriage service, the bridegroom says
"and thereto | plight thee my troth. "
Wedding means pledging. But the lady
says sand thereto giue thee my troth,
delicate concession that the brides word
is as good as her bond, and-perhaps--a
great deal better than the bridegroom's
pledge"
CuRr FOR LocKJAw.-A correspon-
dent Of the Scientific Amencaa recon-