davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1880-06-19
FAMILIAR PHRASES.
Curious and Amusing Origin of
Many of Them.

Troy Times
The origiOn Of phrases is curious and
interesting, and speculations in re-
gard to their origin are very common.
The common phrase Catching Tar
tar'' has its origin variously stated.
Grose, the antiquarian, says it came
out of Il story of an Irish soldier in the
imperial service who, in battle
against the Turks, called out to his
comrade that he had caught Tartar.
Bring him along, then,' was the re-
| ply. "He wont come,n answered
Paddy. "Ihen come along yourself"
said his comrade. To which the Hi
bernian responded, "Ah, but he won't
let me-"
"You cannot say boo to a goose ~
How often have persons relieved their
| feelings Of irritation at the weakness of
others by hurting this phrase at them!
Had the latter only known its origin,
they could have been paid back in
their own coin. The origin is this:
When Ben johnson, the dramatist,
was introduced to a nobleman, the peer
was so struck by his homely appear
ance that he exclaimed, "What! you
are Ben Jonson? Why you look as if
you could not say boo to a goose.n
"BOOW exclaimed the witty drama
tist, turning to the peer and making
his bow.
The phrase "Putting the cart before
the horse" can boast Of great antiq-
uity, having first been quoted by Lu-
cien the great Greek writer, nearly
100 years ago. Francis Rabelais, the
French satirist and wit, whose Cor
gantua" was published in the year
1888, has the phrase "He placed the
carriage before the steed.n No deriy-
alton Oft can be given, but the mean
ing is very obvious, and refers to
those who begin to do a thing at the
wrong end. 81 have Il bone to pick
with yOu' is a phrase that is uncom-
to the ladies at starting.
1t means as is well known, having
an unpleasant matter to settle with
you; and this is the origin of the
phrase: At the marriage banquet Of
the Sicilian poor, the BRIDES father,
after the meal, used to hand the bride
groom a bone, saying: "Pick this
bone, for you have taken in hand
harder task"
The well-known saying that a shoe
maker should stick to his last origi
lated With Appelles, the celebrated
-'Itth painter, W llO set Il picture
which he had finished in public
place and concealed himself behind it,
II order to hear the criticisms of pas
iers by. y shoemaker observed de-
ect in the shoe, and the painter forth
With sccrcted it. The cobbler came the
lcNt day, and, encouraged by the
uccess Of his first remark, began to
Xtend his cCnsure to the leg of the
igurc, when the angry painter thrust
nut his head from behind the picture
nd told the shoemaker to keep to his
rade.
"lhcres a good time coming, boys
GOOD time coming,o was written thir-
ears ago by Dr. Charles Mackay,
nd sung with very great popularity
" Henry Russell in his concerts
the British Islands.
"Going the whole hog This
hrase originated in Ireland, where Il
'ritish shilling has been called "a
og' time out Of mind. In ireland,
a fellow happened to have shil-
ng when he met his friends, he
'ould announce the fact that he
ould stand treat, even if the eXpence
.ached the whole amount-in plain
ords, that he would "go the VIII Ie
og' to crafty them
The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1880-06-19
4 Record of BIrths.

An honest farmer of Caithn,ss, re-
cnrding the births of his children i'm
the family Bible, wrote: " Betty was
born on the day that John CathCl lost
his gray mare in the moss. Jenny
was born the day they began mcuding
the roof a. the kirk. SANDY was born
the night my mother broke her leg,
and the day after Kitty gaCd away
with the sOdgCrs. The twins, Willie
and Marget. was born the day Sandy
Bremen biggct his new barn, and the
very day after the battle o. Waterloo.
Kirsty was born the night o. the great
fech on the Rodsmas, atwceu Peter
Donaldson and a south country drov-
er. Amy was born the night the kiln
gaed ON fire, six years syne. Forlyc.
the factor, raised the rent the same
year. David was born the night ~
the great spcat, and three days afure
Jamie Miller had n lin frac the fairies. %
Chambers Journal.
The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1880-06-19
CHARACTER NOT TO HI MEASSRED
IN a SINGLE DEED.
Echoes From orr Colleges.

Extract from the address OF !. P. Trotter, before
the Philomahean Society Of Mississippi College.
If we know anything Of the
character of Others, how is such infor-
nation gained except by observing
their conduct? Then how are we to
decide with regard to the motive of
one deed except by combining it with
others? He who judges one act with
out considering others and surround
ing circumstances, is very poor
discerncr of human nature.
Some thus judging, condemn our
honored Senator, Lamar, for voting
against the reconciliation of silver.
Again he has been bitterly Ccnsurcd
for his absence from his seat at Wash
ington, during the late election at
Jackson, for United States Senator.
Taking the two acts apart from his
reasons, and from his political life,
before and after, one might reasonably
doubt the purity of his motives. By
taking a single deed, and isolating it
from al the rest, one might find
reason to complain of the Son of God
Himself. Take surrounding circum-
stances together with his entire life,
and where is found the man to i'm
pugn the motives of Mississippi's
nOblest son?
Viewing the political history Of our
Senator, from its beginning to the
present day, and taking into the field
of memOry's telescope, his fidelity to
the cause of patriotism, liberty, and
his country, through the changing
vissitudes. Of its memorable history, |
his political character stands out in
all its glory and grandeur, before
the admiring gaze of Il broad spread
and happy people, as bright star Of
the Western Continent with its lIstre
and untarnshed by the
of the few, spreading, by
his powerful efforts, the feelings Of
and love, common cause
and common interest, on every hill
top and in every valley Of This mighty
The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1880-06-19
Insane From Scandal.


St Paul Globe,
In st. Paul they tell a story Of
Maggie Flynn. She loved and was
loved by a worthy young man, who
hoped soon to make her his bride, but
SANDERS envenomed tongue poisoned
her reputation, and caused her lover
to cancel their engagement. She,
suffering unjustly from the cruel
blow, lost her reason and would have
been carried an incurable patient TO
the insane asylum had not the en-
ploycs of her quOndam lover inves-
iigated the stories affecting her
character, and ascertained their utter
groundlessness. He was travelling,
but they ordered him home, told him
the good news and sent him to claim
Maggie before she could be carried to
the madhOuse. She was with the
Sheriff, who was about to convey her
to her destination, when the young
man came into her presence. At the
sight Of him, the clouds that lower ed
on her intellect broke away, and
bridal wells, not straight jackets, were
in order.
The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1880-06-19
ONE WAY TO CARRY A STATE
Hon. TOV Carr Was Rallied Under
The sherman Banner.

From the Winston Index.
Tom Carr is an individual of tbe
cOlored persuasion, and Vegetables
somewhere in the Webster country ;
rom has been somewhile Democrat.
but recently fell into bad company,
and went back on his former profes-.
sions: Tom says, however, that his
apostacy is only temporary, that he
wanted to take ride on the cars and
visit the State Capital, and in an evil
hour happening to fall in with the
Internal Reveuue Collector and gen
eral Radical Roustabout, Charles d.
frazee, and after hobbling with him
a night or so, the inducements offered
by the Collector, were more than Tom
could bear, and so he fell from grace,
as he says only temporarily. After
the usual courtesies, when Tom and
the Collector met, and the destroying
of the usual quantity of "red liquor"
the Collector proposed that if Tom
would go 10 Jackson to the Radical
State Convention, in the interest of
John Sherman, and cast the vote of
Winston county in that behalf, that
his expenses should be paid, there and
back, and that he should receive in
addition, $25 in lawsul money. Upon
this Toms cupidlty was excited ,andnu-
merous and sundry "drinks," together
with the opportunity of showing him
self off before the Radical bell-wethers
at jackson, looming up in the near
future, he accepted the proposition at
once, and in company with the Collec-
tor and one or two other bright partic-
ular stars of the Radical party went
to Jackson as duly accredited delegate
to their Kangaroo Convention, from
Winston county, his credentials being
we presume, by the Collec-
tor himself, regardless of any express
sion of preference by the Radical
party of this county. Tom says he
had high old time in Jackson, and
says he would not have missed the
rip for five times the amount paid
him for his services.
Now, all We wish tc know in regard
to the matter is, where did the mony
come from. Certainly not from the
pockets of the Republican, officials in
his State, as the man at the White
House issued a circular sometime
ince, forbidding the levying of con-
ributions upon government officials ;
hat is his public circular said as much,
nut he might, perhaps, have issued a
private circular commanding them to
shell out" However, as we have no
means of knowing whether a private
was made, we are compelled
o accept his public document as the
My one issued and the supposition
aturally follows that the money
T,t .
Mr.. Sherman was certainly hard-up s
II adherents, when he was compelled |
} resort to such dishonorable means +
securing follower, even if the !
loney was contributed by his subord
lates in office. We will refer to this &
latter again during the canvass. a
The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1880-06-19

Before the invention of paper, many
devices were had recourse to for
writing materials; inscriptions were
engraved on rock and the letters filled
up with lead; they were also cut on
prepared tablets Of stone. of which
kind were the tables given to Mnses,
containing the ten commandments,
The AsSyrian~ stamped the impress Of
their letters upon baked bricks and
cylinders Of clay, which were after
wards baked. The Greeks and Romans
used their wooden boards covered
with coating Of wax. They were
written upon with metal II, lus. and
the writing could be easily effaccd
when no longer needed. Plates Of
metal and thin sheets Of ivory werc
also employed, and the skins Of ami
mails, either i'm the form Of parchment
or in less prepared state. The leaves
Of trees were used. Those OF the
talipot trees are still used in some
parts Of the East, The uapvrus or
paper-reed, Of Egypt. superceeded all
other material, whenever it could be
obtained.
The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1880-06-19

In the flush of this June-lighted weather
An arch without cloud overhead,
| We are gathered in sadness together
Unwilling Il shaft to our dead.
As fair as their records of glory
1t stainless stands under the Sky,
A beautiful, white sculptured story
Of deeds that we cannot let die.
No need of the verse euogistic,
On the banners of life they have fllrled
Though the pale brotherhood of the mysti,
Have received them from out of the world
In their strength of courageous endeavor
In the heighth Of their heroic worth,
They have gathered green garands forever
And crowned themSelyes-eycn on earth
The scene of the drama has shifted,
Ihey nave slipped from our presence
away;
With the veil of humanity lifted,
Ihey stand i'll the light of day.
Like the gloom that star has fOrsaken
When high in the heavens it starts,
80 the shadows OF time they have shaken,
Away from their souls to our hearts.
oh 1e, whom we miss from our numbers.
Who have passed from the realm Of our
years,
Can the voice of our grief pierce your
slumbers,
Do you thrill at the sight of our tears?
Are OLD ties replaced now by others?
So completely that we are forgot?
have ye passed to such peace, oh! our
brothers,
That all earth is as if it were not,
Is the robe of Gods life of such texture
No carth-threads can wander acroSsY
ms living that panied, pleased and ycXcd
you,
Is it all irretrievable loss?
Or across the dim, shadOwy portal,
Where each will be called in his hour,
In the heart of the mighty Immortal
Does our memory bloom like flower?
Oh ! give us your blessings our brothers
In spiritual union to-day;
Spill the wine of your pure love for others
Down into our clalice of clay.
The coal of your lives immOlatiOn
Lies lit Oh the alter of years,
And we pour out our sacred OblatiOn
OF reverence, and honor, and tears.
Ye have known the religion of giving
Free succOr to brothers in need,
Ie have shown to the dying and living
A love all regardless of creed.
The bread of supreme self denying
1e broke-and the breaking Sulliccd.
TO teach to the living and dying
The simple religion Of Christ.
life is an eternal type-settcr,
This world is Il wonderful Press, 4
Zach day is a mystical letter,
That stands for defeat or success.
And God is the mighty proot-readcr
Who takes the damp sheet in his hand:
What has passed into print-from the
leader"
70 the trillingest " local '--mu,t stand.
he sheets Of your lives, beloved brothers.
Have dropped at the proOl-readcr's icct
Are numbered with millions of others
Whose Journals Of Time are are complete.
We trust and believe that all errors
Were surely set right in the end.
incc death TO Il man has few tcrrOrs
Who hath laid down his lite for his
friend.
The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1880-06-19

TIE V. K NJ. railroad has generous
" consented 10 issue excursion tickets
at six cents per mile, one way, from
all points on their line to Clinton, to
be good for the round trip from the
18th to the 25th inclusive. This is
done to give an opportunity to all who
desire to do so to attend the interest
ing Commencement Exercises Of that
College, and especially to hear the
great orators, Lamar and Roanc on
the o31.
The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1880-06-19
From the Whitwoith Beacon.
NOTES BY A GUEST OF THE ''PRESS
ASSOCIATION"

We have lately had the good fortune
to be thrown with the "Press Associa.
ton Of Mississippi,n and being present
at their councils. We observed that
respectful mention was made Of their
| constitution, which, like the mag
niiicent mirage Of the Brocken, APP
pears formidable in the distance, but
upon investigation is found only to be
myth. The unity and good feeling
that perVaded their meetings might
be initiated by the methodist Confer
ence" with advantage.
There were no satires, clothed in
polite language, which makes them
wound only the deeper; no double en-
tenure, that could suggest ridcule,
and thus strikcan unfair blow. There
was no literary 'Je1iries," or ruthless
"Swift"-sceking whom they might
dcvour - but abandon Of care, and
brothcyly love beamcd upon every
cOuntenanCG.
We had thought, perhaps, that
some of the members would mount
a "dragon-winged, leaden. hoofed u
Pegasus, but these knights of the
quill have found their hobbies take
them just as near Parnassus,n and
are not quite 50 unmanageable; there
fore, wisdom and good humor prevail
ed in their councils, and their ideas
were expressed in terse and elegant
language. Surely the "Press Of Mis-
sissippi,n with its great "Power," is Il
mighty lever for good.
The President, r.. II. Henry, with .
the courtesy Of Sir Philip Sidney, pre-
sided with irreproachable dignity. /
His address was full Of practical ad-
vice, with occasional flashes of oratory.
The Sidney Smithn of the occasion
was Col. Cooper, Of The Comet, an
editor noted for his humor, as well as
sound sense. His essay, read in YazOo
City, was rcplcte with wit and humor.
When be said good laugh had
to "eXpand and make rotund
the physique,n | involuntarily looked
around to see if that laughing audience
was not swelling "wissably,o as the
sisters did who drank tea with "Mr.
their shepherd"
Mr.. Cooper was accompanied by
lis lovely daughter, whose modest
charms, united with piquancy and
grace, made her Il most delightful adj
unct to the party. If it is not irrel-
want, we would here say there is
lothing more touchingIy beautiful l
han the affection Of a father for a !
is less earth in it than {
caven. Majastically it flows ON to Y
he ocean Of eternity, and knows no !
BIB.
The dark eyed "man Of destiny" .
tho met his Waterloo" in Nicks- f
urg, was present Like all who pos \
The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1880-06-19
A. II. WIDNEY.
A New Hat and an Old Cheese.

mockiug bird"
A. II. WIDNEY.
A New Hat and an Old Cheese.
Exchange.
Probably the meanest trick that
was ever played on white man was
played last week in this city, and the
fact that there is no vigilance COM
mittee here is the only reason the
perpetrators of the trick are alive. A
business man had just purchased a new
! |stiff hat and he went into saloon
with half a dozen friends to fit the hat
on his head. They all took beer and
passed the hat around so all could see
it. One Ofthe meanest men that ever
held country office went to the bar
tender and had Il thin slice of Linn
burger cheese cut off, and when the
party were looking at the frescoed
ceiling through beer-glasses, this
wicked person slipped the cheese
under the sweat-leather of the hat,
and the man put it on and walked
out. The man who owned the hat is
one of your nervous people who is
always complaining of being sick and
who feels as though some dreadful |
disease was going to take possession |
of him and carry him Off. He went
back to his place OF business, took oil
his hat and lald 1t on the table and |
proceeded to answer some letters. lie !
thought he detected smell, and
when his, partner asked INN If he
didn't feel sick, he said he believed
he did. The man turned pale aud
said he guessed he would go home.
He met man on the sidewalk who
said the air was full OF mlasma, and
i'll The streetcar man who sat next
to him moved away to the end OF the
car, and asked him If he had just come
from Chicago. The man with the hat
said he had not, when the stranger
said they were having great deal OF
there, and he guessed he
would get out ana walk, ana ne pulled
the bell and jumped OFT. The cold
perspiration broke out on he forehead
Of the man with the new nat, ana he
took 1t OIL to wipe ms forehead Wnen
the whole piece OF cheese seemed TO
roll over and breathe, and the man
got the full benefit OF 1T, and ne came
near 1alntllg away. TIC goG nome,
and his wife met nm ana asked nm
what was the matter? lie SAID he {
believed modification had set III, ana
she took one Whlft as ne TOOK or ms
lat, and said she should thlnk IL mad;
: Where did you get INTO ~" sad
'he. Get into lt?" SAID the man,
have not got INTO anythlngi put |
ome deadly disease has got hold OF
ne, and snail not I'VE" She toId
lim If any disease that smelleq ike !
hat had got hold CT INN and was f
,oing to be chrome, she felt as though !
lie would be burden to himself II he
ived very long. she got his clothcs d
III, soaked his feet III mustard wafer,
md he slept. The man slept and ,
Ireamed that a smallpox flag was !
lung in front Of his house and that he ,
vas riding in butcher wagon to the q
The wife sent for doctor, t
nd when the man OF pills arrived, f
he told him ali about the case. Ihe :,
octor picked up the patients new nat,
ried it on and got a snltt. lie said 1
he hat was picked before 1t was ripe. g
he doctor and the wife held post q
lortem examination of the hat and
)und the slice of Limburger. Few i
nd short were the prayers they said" II
The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1880-06-19

The Rhode Island clans appear small to
a stranger; but they bear generous ratio
to the size Of the State.
The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1880-06-19
From the Whitworth Beacol
IN MEMORY,
BY MISS JOHNNIE HUNT

Poem read at the unveing Of the monument
who led during the yellow fever epidemic
The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1880-06-19

Seventeen year locusts are invading
the wheat fields Of Ohio.
The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1880-06-19
JOHN M. sMYLIE.
REll ESTATE AGENT.

LESSONS WISHING 10 SELL, RENT. Or
- arehase Real Estate viii find il TO their in
1s W eaiii or correspond with US in reference 70
~ III III give special attention 10 business before
- ~ T. United States Land once, Homestead bn-
- ma Homestead Proofs, purchase or locate
49, 4 4 Scrip, OF Warrants. Any and All kinds
,a-,la ,aa---1a Business solicited
~. furnish Maps, Field Notes, etc. Certified
~ lIoin the originals for less than they can be
4 ~, = Where p. o. Box 49,,
e-lTl JACKSON, MISS.
The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1880-06-19

rs LOtc5 >tai Wheu il llStlA.
The editor of the Nazoo Herald, Col.
McCullum, the "Addisonn of Missis-
sippi, was quiet "Spectator,n who
SAID little, but thought largely.
The Canton Mate, who wrote that
touching poem, "The Sock That Baby
Wore,n was present, as well As the i'm
perturbahlc " Joncsie, - Of the Winona
Advance, who is now the popular
President.
With eyes unimpassionCd and slow,
Col. Hamilton, Of the Solar Ray, sur
veyed the animated scene. Sparkling
rcpartec and profound sentiment, alike
undisturhed his serenity. Near him
was a representative of the Macon
sun, a Vpritable "Tom Sawyer
whose chief amusement, upon this oc-
casiOn was in officiating rs valet to the
Colonel.
Conspicuous in the Association was
Col. Mayors, Of the PascagouIa star.
-" Deep on his front onerayeu
DeIihCraliun sat, HnI public care.
Mr.. Richmond, his associate, was ac-
companicd by his lovely little girl,
who was like daisy among the beard
ed grain.
4 youth, with the musical name Of
- Homer and an expression Of coun-
tcnancc bctraying the true genius Of
poetry, won many encomiums.
The editors of the University Maga-
zine, fresh from their Academic bow
ars, were present. They wisely left
the Olympans undisturhcd i'm their
and took notes of the civ /.
ing present. rather than the dead
past.
The "Chcvalicr Bayard" OF the Con-
vcntion was the young editor Of the .
EazoO Sentinel.
The dignitied Mr.. Rogers, of the .
Herald, was the discreet .
'Fabius,n - who had an eye to the liqui-
lation of the Monumental debt.
The editor Of the Sub-Soilcr, Mr.. /
Silas Barr, Is a "Cincinnatus,' not F.
lnly ornamental but useful. The .
summit Times was represented by the .
interesting and agreeable Mrs. Pat
on. The New Idea by the refined .
md accomplished Miss Smith. The
Whitworth Beacon, by the dignified
md amiablc Misses Cain and Fore
ythe.
1t was altogether most enjoyable
rip. These potcntatCs Of letters do .
lol deal in feeble platitUdcs, and stale
pl,es. hut i'm racy comments upon the
urrcnt events Of the day. We could
70 on chronicling the names of those
We met. but time and space forbid
They viii live i'm pleasant memory,
md Notwithstanding many Of them
rave been devils" and still hold
with such spirits. we hope
o meet them on that bright day which
will have no evening or night.
DORJAS.