The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1881-11-30
Origin of 0Iten.Uscd Phrases.

"To the victors belong the spoils:"
This phrase, as a political sentiment,
was first enunciated by William l..
Marcy, ex-governor Of New York, a
member Of President Jackson's cabinet.
"A government Of the people, for
the people and by the people" This
famous expression, which has been
quoted oftener perhaps than any other
noteworthy sentence ever uttered, was
first used by President Lincoln, in his
memorable speech at Gettysburg, No
vember 10, 1863.
"Plato, thou reasonest WE'LL" From
Addison's tragedy OF "Cato." The lines
showing the connection are as follows:
1t must be 50. Plato, thou rcasonest we'll;
Else whence this pleasing hope, this fond de-
This longing after immortality?
Or whence this sacred dread and inward hor-
rOr
OF falling into naught? Why shrin!s the soul
Back on itself, and ~startles at destruction?
IT'S the divinity that stirs within lis;
IT'S heaven itself that points out a hereafter,
And intimates eternity to man.
"Hcly orders" A phrase in use
among members of the Church of Rome
and Church Of England, and denotes
entrance into the order of priesthood.
Holy orders are conferred by q solemn
act of ordination by bishops and invest
the recipient with q sacred character
distinctly apart from the laitT."
"Beuefit of clergy" An expression
referring to o former state of the law CT
England, where q clergyman had the
benefit Of being exempted from prose-
cution for alleged crimes and offenses
before any civil tribunal. In course Of
time some laymen who could read
claimed and were allowed the same
privilege, "Beneft of clergy" was
finally abolished in the reign of George
".
"Woolsack." A name given to the
seat of the lord chancellor of England
in the house of lords. Tt (the scat)
consists Of a | large bag Of wool covered
with red cloth, but though fashioned
like Il seat is without back Or AIMS.
The woolsack is said to have had its
origin in the circumstance of wool
being auciently . staple article OF prod
nee in England.
"S5ationer." When books werc null
tiplicd 10y the invention of printing,
they were sold hy booksellers At stGlls
stationed at the gates Of universities
and other places ; hence booksellers
became known as stationarii. or station
ers, by which designation they have
! since become chiefly known.
Yankee Doodle" The name Of an
! air adopted as O national tune by the
United States. The verses were con-
posed bv DR.. Shaclburg, q physician
in the British army III Ameri'a about
1855, and ralmea off hy him SIS a cele-
bra.ed air on a body Of American
militia.
"Charitv covers q multitude OF sins"
4 perverted declaration CT ST. Peter,
whose words, as lie was exhorting
tho Christians scattered throughout
Asia Minor 70 II good and gracious life,
verc:"And, above all things, have fer,
vcut charity Tor rather love, 'agarn ]
among yourselves F.; for charity "lllcoVer
the multitude Of sins" =.
"rcndcrfoot." The very appropfl'
ate term used on the frontier to de-
scribe any one inexperienced in the
ways of the countrv-one who has never
been scout West" before.
newspaper" The origin of the
wcrd newspaper" is not, as many
suppose, from the fact of its containing
new things; but in q former time
(l795 to lS30) it was customary to put
over the periodical publications of the
day tho initial letters of the compass,
N. E. ". S., to show that the journal
had information from all quarters of
the globe, north, east, west and south.
Hence the use of the word "news"
before all papers Of general informa-
ton.