Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1876-11-24
For the Curious.
NOTES ON THE ORIGIN OF COMMON WORDS
AND THINGS.

advantage: Among the many curious
things we find everywhere, 1t may be in
teresting to notice few of them. Suppose
we inquire into The origin OF certain words,
customs, etc. Take, for instance, the word
humbug. II is a corruption of Hamburgb.
| At one time during war on the continent
OF Europe, 50 many false reports we're fab
ricsted at Hamburgh, that finally, when
any one wished TO show his disbelief OF
statement, be would say, "That came from
Hamburgh," or "That Is Hamburgh, or
Humbug," which thus came 10 imply un-
belief or incredulity.
The word lady is derived from an Anglo
Saxon word, aud signifies elver OF bread.
II originated from the custom which pre-
vailed among the wealthy English people
of early times Of distributing money and
food 10 the poor. Certain days were set
apart for this distribution, which were call
ed lady-days, or eIIl-days. The word purse
meant receptacle for arms, and was not
invented 10 mean simply place Of safety
| for money.
Gloves were introduced into England IN
| the tenth century, but were only used by
the wealthy people, and considered very
valuable. AS New Years gins they were
| quite popular, or sometimes "glove-mon-
ey" in place Of them. "Pin money" origi-
mated in somewhat the same manner. Pins
were so costly that money spent or laid
aside for them was called "pin money"
and IL became so important that 1t grew in
TO the name of dover, which was settled
upon the lady at her marriage.
Altar Of roses was discovered by acci-
dent. The wife OF an Eastern mogul had a
small canal Of rose-water, and as she was
walking one day upon its banks, she no.
ticed thin film upon The water, which
proved to be an oil made by the heat ofthe
sun. The Egyptians we're very famous in
The manufacture OF perfumes, and at the
museum in Alnwick there is some oint-
ment preserved In AN alabaster vase which
still has a very powerful odor, hotwith-
standing il must be between two aud three
thousand years old. The word hermit
comes from Greek word, meaning des-
ert place, because deserts were usually
sought 10 avoid persecution.
Sandwiches were named from Lord
| Sandwich. II is related OF him, that one
| haJ III BauIOIub hOubti OSluB very biuCu
fascinated by play, for twenty-five hours
| he was uncoD Dsclous of fatigue and hunger,
when suddt My, becoming aware Of them,
he ordered some food TO be brought, which
| proved to be some beef and two slices of
bread. Placing them together he ate them.
His friends gave them the name of sand
wiches, and in his memento he declared
| this act to be the most important one Of his
| administration.
The origin Of elecling members by bal
| lots came from the Grecians. When a
member was 10 be elected, each member
threw small crumb OF bread into bask-
| ct, carried by servant on his head, and
whoever differed, fattened the pellet at
one side. Fortnight comes from The Anglo
| Saxons, who counted time by night, and
means fourteen-uight.
Merry-pin means merry mood, and
originated in The custom Of dividing tan
kards flom each other hy pegs or pins, and
obliging each one to drink TO precisely the
next pin. II proved 10 be more than some
of them could bear, aud thus came the ex-
| preston, He is in a merry PIN"
The invention of the game of chess is
claimed by the Chinese and the Hindoos,
with more authority in favor OF the latter.
The Hindvo version is as follows: A GER
tain HindUo prince OF pressed his people In
a most cruel manner, and Nassir, Brah-
min, deeply srieved al their sorrows, de-
termined to try If lie could not prevail up-
on the prince 10 be more..lenient. With
this idea In view, lie invented a game
where the king, weak in himself should be
protected by his subjects. As soon as the
prince heard of the new game, he sent for
tue inventor 10 come and teach him, who
improved the opportunity 10 make known
what the game really taught. Another ac-
count is that il was invented by The Queen
of Ceylon iu the second century, 10 amuse
her husband with an image Of war al The
time his capital was besieged. From the
word chess comes our English word check,
and also exchquer.
There are certain fashions prevalent
among different nations which seem TO us
very absurd. For instance, the ladies in
Japan gild their teeth, in the Indies they
paint them red, in Guzerat black. In
Greenland the women paint their faces
blue and yellow. Tho Peruvians and 9th
er Indian tribes fatlen their heads, while
other nations maltreat their noses. The
Chinese shave off their hair, and allow
their finger nails to grow 10 great length.
They wear white for mourning, they drink
their wine warm aud tea cold, and pupil
reciting turns his back to the teacher. They
also cramp the feet Of the women. 1t is
stated that a certain Emperor thought the
ladias ton fond of calling on each other and
gossiping, and in order to keep them more
at home Obliged them to adopt this custom.
The Hindoos believe that amer death the
soul passes into the body OF animals, 10
live through another term Of probation on
earth. Among them the COW and the mon
key are sacred. The Mahometans are very
superstitious concerning the beard. They
believe that the divine Image in man rests
there, and that the angels have charge Of
every hair. Two centuries ago our ances-
tors used TO wear pasteboard covers over
their boards in The night, lest they should
turn upon them and rumple them In their
sleep. The japanese and the inhabitants
of Thibet are not satisfied with devout
prayers, sacrifices, offerings TO the gods,
&C., but they also pray by machinery.
They have a square post, eight feet long,
and near the centre is fixed vertically
wheel, which can be reached by the hand,
and which moves In an axle passed through
the post. On each Of the three spokes Of
the wheel two small Eings are strung. Ev-
cry person who turns This wheel as he pass
es by Is supposed to obtain credit in heav-
en- for as many prayers as the number OF