The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1876-06-22

Captaing Fudge, who, upon his return
from voyage, how ili-fraught soever his
ship was, always brought home the owners
a good cargo of lies; so much 40 that now
aboard ship, the sailors, when they hear 9
great liegtDld, cry out, Y on fudge itr'
The word cant isderfved from the name
of clergyman in Cromwell's time, who
was conspicuous, even among the Round
heads, for his long prayers, his frequent
use of Scripture language, and the man.
ner peculiar to the stern old Puritans
His name was used to the Cavaliers, and
We hear it still in daily conversation to
designate any whiny, hypocritical, relig-
ious conversation.
Dun is word of similar origin, the
name of a bailitf in the time of Henry
| MI, so stern and severesthat he never
failed to collect II debt; so, when men
grew wearysof q man who never paid
they grew to exclaiming: "1'll have it,
any way; I'll Dun him."
| have lately read of a cOnceitel men,
Der of Congress, Col. Buncombe, who
was constantly upon his feet, making
long, wordy speeches, containing nothing
but his own Qualification. On one occa-
sion, when the worn out members were
leaving almost in body, he exclaimed
You can all go, gentlemen. can just
as well finish what have to say to myself
do not speak for you, but for Buncombe.' -
The word was adopted at once, and the
expression, "it's all for buncombe," is
heard every day.
In the early ages of the Christian era
lived an Arabian physician and chemist,
a DR.. Geber, whose life was spent in en-
deavoring, by chemical processes, to turn
the baser metals into gold. He was one
of the very earliest writers on chemistry,
but so obscure was his style of compost
ton, that his name, Geber, has given us
the word gibberish, expressing collec-
ton of words with no meaning attached.
But the little story wrapped up in the
word Ounce is quite a sad one, and shows
us quite convincingly that fame and
honor, one century, may turn to contempt
and disrespect the next. This word, so
commonly used in anything but com
pin. entary manner, comes from the name
of man so celebrated for learning that
he was termed the subtle doctor,' and
SO full of genius that though dying at the
early age OF thirty, he was known far and
wide on account of the knowledge he pos
sesscd. His name Was Duns Scotus, and
he was one of the famous schoolmen edu-
Gated at the Cathedral schools founded by
the brilliant Charlemagne. But alas for
fame! In after years, at the revival of
learning, the works of the once famous
schoolmen fell into disrepute, and men
began to look with contempt upon the
followers of Duns Scotus. They began to
say sarcastically: He is Duns man."
and finally, He is Ounce" 1t is
enough to make a man turn in his grave !;
but as this thing has been going on a
thousand years or SO, it is to be hoped
poor Duns Scotus has become used to it
by this time
1t is quite curious study to trace the
lineage Of some words now considered
very inelegant, but VIC find, If we carry
our investigation far enough into the shad-
owy past, which is, however, illuminated
by as brilliant lights in the realms OF
prose and poetry as any we can produce
in the present day, that these despised
words were then in high favor, and used
by the best writers. Such word is
"bully,' used by Shakespeare, Scott, and
even Irving. The use of "jolly," in the
sense of extremely, is centuries old, and
We find this expression in theological
work published in London in 1866: "All
was jolly quiet at Ephesus before St. Paul
"Cut tllltuCl. VIC dlSO uuU hdtuCTluc
saying to Petrucio:
IT'S like you'll prove jolly surly groom.
In Otway's "Nenice Preserved" con-
side.ed by Goldsmith the finest tragedy IN
the language after those Shakespeare pro-
duced, we find what would now be con-
,sidered an objectionable expression,
viz: Pump me not for politics.'
Dreadful to say, Pope and Dryden
both speak Familiarity of taking snack,
and such words as rile,, slack, splurve,
sQuelch, etc, were used by the very best
old writer's. To speak Of absquatulating,
and of doning In the sense Of stealing,
were also considered quite proper.
Words, in the course of time, change
their Specification very materially. Wretch
formerly was a word of endearmcnt. Viii
lain meant only a bondman in the feudal
times; the gossip was the sponsor in bap-
tism, and idiot was person in private
life, distinguished from those who held
office. Knave meant servant; and in
an early version of the New Testament
we find Paul, kaaoe of Jesus Christ"
Bacon, in his Pathway Unto Prayer"
says: Let us pray for the preservation
of the Kings most excellent Majesty, and
for the prosperous success of his entirely
beloved son, Edward, our Prince, that
most angelic imp."
Gascoigne, in an old hymn, has these
words:
o Israel. o household of the Lord
. Abrahams 6ra's, Y word OF blessed seed,
o blessed flock that love the Lord indeed!''
And SO one could easily continue ad in
fnitum, for as another has beautifully said,
" Words possess an endless, indetinable,
tanta.izing charm. They paint HUMANE
ty, its thoughts, longings, aspirations,
struggles, failures-paint them upon a
canvas OF breath, in the colors of life.'
Maria T. Woodbridge, In Cincinnati
Times. s..s. . 81. u ~