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

taign,.
1t would almost seem as though words
and symbols were as anxious to keep their
age a secretas ladies are reputed to be, SO
youthful and iaunty do some of them APP
pear, which really have the dust of ages
Cinginy to their forms, and could tell us,
il We knew enough to make them impart
their mystery, interesting stories Of Greek
"c Roman customs, and curious tales of
the long ago 1t strikes us strangely to
Sc" 4 small character preserving its form,
and surviving all the attacks of time, I'M
changed, while the generations which
gave it being have passed away, their
cities crumblel into dust, and tleir very
nation become simplya remembrance. Yet
the d"llar-mark 81 is such an instance,
the oldest symbol known to the human
race i'll use, as Il late writer in one of our
magazines proves, Tor thousands Of years.
Long, long ago, before Britain was discov-
erred, Al lNriaIl navigator, sailing in search
ot 4 new country and a new home, raised
ut Cadiz a temple to Hercules, and within
It placed two pillars of gold and silver,
their capitals engraved with curious char
actcrs which no one could read, but which
We're supposed to be the chains which bound
the earth and sea together. These pillars
~
upon Charles Y. becoming Emperor of
Germany, in the new coat of arms they
became the supporters of the device The
Imperial mint was established at Seville,
and upon the standard dollar as the most
prominent figure was placed the pillars
with the scroll twined about them, the
very device used at this day to represent
the almighty dollar. Long before this
time, however, the pillars were used by
the inhabitants Of Scandinavia as house
h"td gods, and it was their custom, upon
'mlgtallnSto some unknown land, as they
ncarcd the shore to throw the pillars over
h"ard> and where they landed was always
fhcntw home made. Farther back in the
ages than this, even, was the first Jewish
temple, ANA at the entrance to this was
placed as we are told in II. Kings, two
pillars, which are supposed to have rep
resented the pillars of cloud and fire. To
those VIII" are acquainted with this history
1t IS rather amusing to be told that the
character is simply Il combination of the
letters |. 5, intllnatlng that our youthful
america invented this, the most ancient
"t symbols, which was in use ages before
Columbus was born Equally mistaken
Is the idea that the symbol is a contraction
at the Spanish word pesos, meaning dol
lars. or that the original way Of writing
the character was s, from tho dollar be-
ing piece of eight reals.
The English pound (c) owes the hori-
I"ntal bars TO the same symbol, for in
the time of llcnvy WILL, when the pres
ent pound was introduced, these pillars
had com. to be recognized as the estab-
ll>hcd money symbol. The L came from
the Latin l.b'n, a balance, and signitied
STANDARD by which to weigh the precious
metals
The word dollar comes from the Ger
man, and means valley. 1t seems that, in
the c.rly part of the sixteenth century,
Tier" lived in the little town of Joachim
lsthal, IN Germany, a powerful noble
family. From the year 1j17 to 1926 the
Counts of Schlick were accustomed to
coin pieces of money weighing an ounce,
which, from the town, were called Joachim
Is thllcr, This being rather too much
ct a mouthtul, the word was shortened to
thalcr, and gradually changed to dollar.
The symbol of the cross, which one
naturally connects with the time Of our
savior, dates many centuries back Of the
Christian era, and extends so far in the
shad"Ny past that the time of its birth is
lost in darkness. We find that it was an
ornament among the Etruscans; that it
was engraved among Assyrian hieroglvph.
les, used in connection with Hindoo
neurological figures, and even found in
the Mexican antiquities Of Central Ameri-
ca. 10 the Greeks and Romans the cross
was known also, not only in the common
form, but in all the varieties that we have
at present. so how, or where, or when it
originated will probably never be known.
The exclamation, Hurrahr' how often
have we heard it shouted as the healthy,
registering school-boy rushed past, or the
excited politician expressed his liking for
one candidate or another, little dreaming
OF the tar-Of origin of the word so COM
monty used. 1t seems it is really derived
from hnrri, which was introduced into
Germany by the people who wandered
into Europe from Central Asia, where it
is in use TO this day, as one of the names
of the God Nishnu. When the Hindoos
have anything difficult 10 accomplish they
cry llarri. Harrir and the exclamation
is frequently heard upon the Ganges if
boat strikes upon a sand bank, or the cur
rent is strong and it is desirable for the
boatmcnt to use all their strength. 1t is
used, in short, whenever the need of aid
is felt, and would signify in our language,
God help u.s."
1t is also said that The expression we
hear so commonly used, "Dear me-" and
which, when critically examined, seems,
to mean nothing at ali, lis from the Italian,
bio Milo, Ny God" SIS
The word tumbler has curious and
ancient origin. In the old times, among
the early Saxons, eaclI one had his own
particular drinking horn or cup. Usually
it was horn beautifully carved, and
sometimes studded with precious gems.
This drinking horn was often disposed of
by will, and was considered one OF the
most important gifts TO be bestowed, and
as further instance of its value it may
be stated that before the custom of wit
Messing by seal was introduced in the
transfer of land, the drinking horn was
given as Il proof Of the contract. NJ ention
is FOUND ofa.Saxon family holding their
estate from Canute simply by possession
OF his drinking horn. The shape of the
drinking horn and glasses atterward was
such that when filled they had to be
emPtled at once, as the stem was pointed,
and from their propensity to tumble over
comes our word tumbler.
The word porcelain is from the Spanish.
and means little pig! Think of, our ex.
quisite po9celafn, dainty enough for
Queen Titania herself to sup nectar and
ambrosia from, and then Of the disgusting
hog rolling in mud and squesli1k tar
more Justify for "mQrey sthah aevefs por,
Oliver Twist dared to. What can be the
connection2 1t is in this WISE In 1913
the Portuguese effected at settlement al
Macao and through them the finest speci-
mems of porcelain were brought into
Europe. They had formerly applied the
name porcelain to cOwrie shells which
represented Oriental money, because of
their resemblance to the pink backs Ct lit
tie pigs, and atterward, as the translucent
and exquisite CIIfn4 re fesaiEf the
Cowrie si,sak itw6sscM& 3 tM Mme
name
The word .philepena comes from the
German tongue. and the original @wofdy
cseu'ebehein, has quite romantic story
connected with it. 1t was the custom