Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1881-11-05

SATURDAY. NOVEMBER 5, 1881.
Origin of Slang.
New York star.

The tendency of the Americans is and
has been for many years toward quaint
and expressive slang" for the terse ex-
preston OF Thought. few years ago
1t was popularity supposed that only the
lower classes of society INDUCED in this
form or expression, but 1t seems at pres
ent to prevade all grades, and the young
lady OF Murray Hill will talk OF tips" at
Jerome Park in a most nOnchalant way,
and suggests that yOu"take tumble" or
''give us a rest" with the most in. rain
OF GOtham's c0arser workings.
Tracing tn ese popular slang phrases
to their origin constitutes an interesting
study, and often leads the explorer into
the deepest depths of literature. Doubt
less thousands of persons have heard the
expression: "What will Mrs. Grundy
sayp" yet not one in a thousand is aware
that it is found in the first act of Nor
toms favOrite comedy, Speed the PlOw."
'TOO thin" is often heard when the hear
er wishes to express disbelief in story;
and it may be found in "Peregrine
Pickle" which was publisher in London
found in Shakespeare's Henry WILL scene
of act V. Cali cry and no WOOL" very
common slang expression, is traced
y
"Hudibars." The Orginial reads:
''Or shear swine, all cry and no WOOL"
For the very Often-heard expression,
what are you giving me?' indicative of
diSbelief-nO less a source than the
Bible is responsible. 1t may be found in
the 38th chapter of Genesis.
BY slightly twisting the words "in pc
jus ruere," in that good old Latin author,
Virgil, we arrive at the saying, "To 60
Othe bad" 'He's BRICK" indicates
that the person spoken of isa good fell
low" and dates from an expression Of
King Agesilaus, who, on a certain Occa-
sion pointing to his army, said: "They
are walls Of Sparta. Every man there
is brick"
There's millions in it," comes from
Mark Twain's novel, "The Golden Age"
and Bret Harte is responsible for ways
that are dark and tricks that are vain"
Many of the slang phrases in use are To-
cal. New York is responsible for "YOu
bet your boots" "Yes, stree, hOrse-fy,"
knights of the green CLOTH" and
thousand like expressions.
Twenty-Five years ago one of the pop
ular phrases was "Syksey, take the butt"
Frank Chanfrau as "MOse" in "Life in
period. "By large majority is found
in WOolf's play of "The Mighty Dollar
'Step down and out" is attributed to
Henry Ward Beecher, and "Not for Joe"
is the refrain of a London concert hall
song which was very popular 10 years
ago. "DOg-gOne it" was born In Indiana.
From the immortal Shakespeare great
amount of slang is derived. In "OthellO"
the bard speaks of "crOcOdile's tears" he
also speaks of a party" and from the
exclamation of Hamlet, You cannot
play upon me-" comes you can't play
that upon me-" meaning that the person
does not accept the truth of the story.
"He's putting "POlOnius," words regard
ing "Hamlet,s" love for "Ophelia," that
he was gone; far gone"
Giving him taffy" is popularity sup
posed to be Of recent origin, but it is
really two hundred years old, and has
been in use in Lundon for fully that
period.
Among the men Of the past decade who
have contributed to the slang of the per-
iod may be mentioned Andrew Johnson,
whose promise, "Pll be your Noses" is
still heard. "ShOO Fly was was origin
ated with Ben. Butler, as applied to S.
8. Cox. ION the raggededge" Is the off
spring of the Plymouth pastor; "GOne
where the wOOdbine twineth" was inyen-
ted bp Jim Fisk; ITO hell across lots"
belongs to Brigham Young; where it
Cakes Ames, when speaking of the plac-
mighty dollar" may be found in Irving's
works, and Truthful James" comes
Bret Harte. "The regular lump tum
prOpah" was evolved from the intellectu-
al true lnwardness of Archy Gordon, a
feullitOnist and journalist Of this city.
The following conversation between
couple of newsbOys in Park row will
give an idea of the American form of the
English language as improved up to
date:
told that rooster to hump him
self"
'Did he acknowledge the corn?"
"'You bet.' If he hadn't I'D just put
mansard over his eye."
'"Hold your horses he's on his MUSCLE
and could lay you out"
"NOt much.' He's 'tOddy BLOSSOM
and hangs up his landlord"
"Thats small potatoes and If | was
his landlord I'd sit down on him."
"That would be the correct thing
Ysu see he's 'badegg,' and I'll make it
warm for him. don't you forget it,"
"All right, let's take nip"
'Have you got the necessary"
'Yes, met an old chap who was dead
gone on piety, and played innocent
and he came down with the 'rhinO'
1t is estimated that two-thirds of the
slang now i'm use originated with Eng
lish tramps and thieves and English
writer's.
Among thieves there is a distinct class
&c oIon fot, Il, -, L.