Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1880-07-09
Origin of Some Familiar Phrases.

1he origin or phrases is curious ana Interest,"
ing. and speculations in regard to their origin
are very COMMON. The common phrase,
"Catching Tsrtsr," has lis origin variously
stated. Grose, the antq aarisn, says it came
Of g story of an Irish soldier in the imp
service, who, in battle against the Turks,
called out to his comrado that he had caught q
Tartar. Bling him along, theu," was the
rep'y. "He won't COME" answer, d Paddy.
18th, clme you,s.lf." said his comrade. To
whicb the Hiocrnisn responded, "Ah. but he
wou't let me.
you cannot say boo to gots," How often
have persons relieved their ieellogs OF irritation
ct the weakness of others by hurting this phrase
at them Had the latter only known ITS origin
they could have paid the former hack 10 their
own c,ju. The origin is this: When Ben Jon
son. the dranatist, was introduced to noos-
mao, the peer Was so struck With bis homey
appearance that he excaims I'D: What are
you Ben Jonsop7 ? Why, you look as if you
C :uId not say boo to a goose" boo !" ex-
claimed the witty drauatlst, turning to the peer
and making bis bow.
II have bone to pick with you, is phrase
thGt is uucomplimentsry to the ladies at start
Ing. 1t mesos. as IS well known, having On un.
pleasant matter to settle with you, and this is
the origin of the phrase At the marriage ban
quets of the Siclan poor, the BRIDES father,
after the al, used to hand the bridegroom a
bone, saying: Pick this bone, for you have
taken in hand harder task"
The we'll know saying that the shoemaker
shou stick to his last originated with Appelles,
the LIBERATED Gr:ek painter, who set picture
he had finished in public place and concealed
himself behind it 10 order to hear the criticisms
of passers by. A shoemaker observed dcfec'
10 the shoe, and the painter forthwith cor
rected it. The cobber came again the next
day, and, encouraged by the success of bis & st
remark. began to extend his eensure to the leg
of tho figure when the augry painter thrust
out his head from behind the picture and told
the shoemaker to keep to his trade.
"Going the whole hog" This phrase orgi.
mated 10 Ireland, where British shilling has
been called "a hog" time out of miod. Il Ire
land, if fellow happened to have a snilliog
wien he met friend he would auuounc, that
he would stand treat, even if the expense reach
I'd the whole amount-in plain words that he
would ''go the whole bog" to crafty him.
There is mode of declaring by the words
"he has kicked the bucket that person is
dead. There is tradition that one BsIsover,
SCsQQlUR
on the bottom of pail or bucket, kicked the
vessel away 10 order 10 pry into the future, and
1t was all up With him from that moment,
MISS "A woman who opened small
millinery store in the western part of the city
engaged a painter to paint her sign. When
it came home the other day she saw that it
road: "Mrss. j. Blank" etc., and she called
out:
You have got an extra 81 10 Mrs. aud you
must paint that sign over again.
The painter saw the error, but he dida't
want the job of correcting it, so be replied:
Madam, haven You had two husbands2'
Yes, sir"
"You were Mrs. when you lost the first p
81 was"
And do you think woman can 20 on mar
| rying forever aud not eBgtheu out her title
Mrs. means married woman or a widow. Mrss.
meaos woman who has been married twice
and is young enough to marry again, and only
yesterday rich old coon was 10 our shop, aud
said if be had any idea that you we're heart free
he'd como up"
"Oh, we'll you can nail up the sieu," she in
t,nrrupted, and it is there to'day.-Detrou Free
Press.
How Not TO GET LoCtL NEws.-He came
| into our Office, and after paying his subscrip,
| ton, said:
u guess you can stop sending my paper. I've
just subscribed for paper need more"
Just 80" we returned.
He pulled it out of his pocket and handed i,
to us for inspection. 1t was Philadelphia pub.
| licstion, being neatly printed, ornsmested with
handsomely engraved bead and containing
about forty-eight columns of reading matter.
! "a very f.ir looking paper" said We
| but, my dear sir, do you find much new
| concerning our county in it ~
| mo, he didn't know that he had found sny.'
| DO you find anything about our State ?"
| mo he never did,"
And yet he needed that sheet much more thar
| he did his county paper.
Such men are blessings to our community
| What enterprise would flourish without tn EN-
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