The Evening critic., 1882-02-24
Origin Of Popular Phrases.

81. louls tioDe-D Democrat
Wiad l0n IS dad OS.-This expression
comes from the printing office, where the
similarity in form of tho slower case" or
small "p" and "a in font OF Roman letter
is always perplexing TO the typographical
novice, especially IN "distrlbutlng or
"throwing into a case" a mixed heap OF type,
technically known as "pi." II is enormously
supposed by some that the expression came
from the score chalked down In public houses
OF Ps and Q's (meaning pints and quarts not
paid for by bibulous customers.
Nhiist.-One who believes in Nihilsm,
which, according TO Webster, holds the doe.
rine that nothing can be known; that IL 1 =
skepticism carved to the denial of all knOwl-
edge and all reality. 1t is probably applied to
the Russian communistlc agitators because
they advocated the principle of doing away
with all government; ana the inference Is that
II this were carried out Russia, as a nation,
would cease 10 exist.
UstyyNct.-This term Is one used In civil law,
and Is n compound of two Latin words, usns,
use, ffuctuS, fruit, and means the right OF
using aud reaping OF frnits or things belong
ing 10 others, without destroying or wasting
lhe subject over which such right extends.
This was the sense In which the word ''usu-
fruct' was used by samuel ]. Tllden In his
letter Of acceptance as the Presidential nolnl-
nee OF Inc Democratic party In 1876.
PUtfiH1 lOul root IL iaU.-This ex preston, like
many other slang phrases OF the present day,
has legitimate origin, and was suggested by
tho custom In Hindostan, that when the title
10 land IN that country Is disputed, two holes
are dug In the ground and used 10 incase a
limb OF each lawyer engaged to settle the con
troversy, and the one who tired first LOST his
clients case
IOpsy-turry.-W things are In disorder
they are often said 10 be "topsy-turyy. This
expression is derived from the way In which
turf used for fuel is placed TO dry, the turf be-
ing placed downward; and the expression
then means top side, turf-way.
CockHeg.-rhe term was originally applied 10
a IN ~
made an order In reference 10 the feast Of the
King OF the cockneys, held on Christmas day.
The term "cockney school" was also applied
10 a cOtefie OF writer's consisting OF Hazlitt,
Keats, Hunt, Shelley and some others. In
popular slang the word "cocIney" " Is used 10
designate dandy OF the lower classes OF
society,
BetftT Late Man Nerey-Thls expression
originated in 1857 lin the reign of Philip and
Mary with Dumas Tussen, who put 1t into his
"fiye Hundred Points OF Good Husbandry, u
but II became among the household sayings
when put by John Bunyan, the halflnsplred
tinker into his immortal "Pilgrim's Prog
ress."
TASTES IA the Air.-First used by Robert
Burton, In his "AnatOmy OF Melancholy" over
$50 years ago, and since Appropriated by
Dean swift, Henry Fielding, Philip sidney,
Collcy CiDDer, Charles Churchill, William
shenstone and innumerable others, until II
has become very common expression.
SfCHep0H JQcksOa.-It.ls related that at the
first battle Of Bail Run, July ~, 1861, al q
nloIncnt when the day was apparently lost O.
the Confedcrates, JacksOns brigade made 81
hlm stand that some one cried out "Here +
Jackson standing ike stone wall" And
thereafter ''sionewall jackson" became IA I
s0brlquet.
II Is estimated that the total length Of sub
marine telegraph cables IN the world is 6l, 1Ol
miles, having money value Of about 500
100000
In wyoming, where woman suffrage Is ostab
lished, a man and his wife ran for the SANE
ONCE, but on different tlckols. The husband
was elected.
The observatory ON Mount Etna T. flushed
il IL 0,6b3 feet above the level Of Tie sea- oi
1,4S3 feet higher than the Great 81. Bernard
Monastery.