The Democratic advocate., 1876-01-15
Our @liu,
QUAINT PHRASES.

Do we attend church or make one OF an
eyening party, or wander with an old friend
10 fish or hunt in the baekwoods or be-
come willing or unwilling listeners to the
bud talk in an omnibus or street car, VIC
are certain to hear some trite expressions
which, embodying a chapter Of meaning in
brief sentence, are used by all classes
viii an idea US to their general signi6-
cance, but with no knowledge as to their
origin, original meaning and history.
For example, every lazy fellow is de-
nominated "loafer, and we often join in
bic denunciation of his idle, worthless life,
without so much as wondering how the
convenient word of half dozen letters came
b be so universally employed. For the
benefit of some of those who are in the
habit of using the epithet, We will state
briefly how the name originated;
8 II is we'll known that New York city was
6rst settled by the sober, industrious Dutch.
Dne of these good Dutchmen, who had
ainassed fortune and reared to woman
hood lovely daughter, of whom he was
Justly proud, took a decided dislike to
Young Yankee who he thought was court
ing the latter with view to possessing the
Former. Added to his supposed mercenary
motives, the old man object ted to him be-
cause of certain chronic weariness which
made the young man always appear to
enjoy rest more than any thing, especially
in pleasant society of the pretty Fraulien.
Nexed and troubled, the old man was wont
10 exclaim on the coming of the idle swain
IN the broad accent of the fatherland-
Katrina Mine Cott Here is dot lofcr
< tloyer) Of yours, Katrina! The idle, good
for.nothingW From this angry exhibit
tion of parental displeasure came the handy
american name for an idle, worthless man,
whose principal business seems to be the
nastication of poor tobacco, and exPectora-
tion Of oaths aud vile jests and obscene
stories.
Most Americans have read the history
Df the mirth- provoking adventures of Don
Quixote de la Mancha, and have laughed
At the unlucky adventures of his attend
ant, Sancho Panza. But only small
minority of the number are aware that
teryantcs so named the squire because Of
bis personal pcculiuritics-his very small
legs and redundancy Of stlnlach-thc
words sancho panza, meaning in Spanish,
tpindle shanks and paunch. All will
doubtless remember that the "knight OF
the sorry figure" is said to have been called
by some Quixoda, which, rendered into
English, reads ''lantern,iaws,' >
Jack Robinson is very familiar name,
IND one that is susceptible of quick pro
nunciation. Ii we wish to give any one
% understand that an act was performed
expeditiously, We say it was done quicker
. than he can say "Jack Robinson" Thi.
nimble gentleman had his share of colo
quial notoriety, and in this country and in
England there arc few who have not re
ferred to him so frequently that he is re
earded popularity as one who must have
moved with almost the celebrity Of electric
III. Hence the synonymous use Of hi
name, and the expression quicker thar
ightning.' There are not many name
(hat can be spoken with greater ease thar
Die name Of our friend Robinson therefor
Nc must look beyond the name to the maj
himself if We would discover the charac
lcristic that has given him 30 wide AM
lasting celebrity We are iuforme
that he was person of eccentric habits
tho lived in merrie England good man
FEARS ago. Besides being something of
fecluse, he was noted for prediction fo
attending strictly to his own affairs to tn
liter neglect of those of other people
Trait of character that would at this tim
ender its happy possessor an object Of .
ess Importance than the eighth wonder {
bic world--and if he found il necessary
10 on any matter of business to the hous