The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1884-08-27
origin ofsome Curious sayings.

Ielt coins called rdps were in common
use, made Of such bad metal that what
passed for halfpenny was not worth
a farthing. Hence the cant phrase.
mot worth rap.n The mama was
In all probability derived from rnppen.
a small Swiss coin, value about half q
farthing.
walk your chalks." A very sim
pie explanation of this expression may
be given. English ale-house freoueuf-
ers, when they have been drinking
long enough to make boast Of being
sober, and to dispute a point with each
other, will chalk long line on tho
] ground and then endeavor one after
another to walk upon it without swery-
ing to right or left Those who sue
ceed are adjudged to be sober e., to
have walked their chalks.
Cooking your goose According
TO Notes and Queries cooking YOUR
goose" Is thus explained: THE King
of Sweden's Goose-The King Of Swe-
den coming to town of his enemy's
with very little company. his enemy,
to slight his forces, did hang out n
goose for him to shoote; but perceiving
before night that these few soldiers
had invaded and set their chiefo houlds
on fire, they demanded Of him what
his intent was To whom he replied;
ITO roast your goosew
''Scot-free." Scot, according to
Cowel (Law Dictionary. signifies a
certain custom or foliage. The right
OF voting in England was formerly in
those who paid scot and lOt. "Scot-
free, therefore, is free from such Gus
tom or foliage.
Strain at gnat." The Moorish
soldier when he drinks unfolds the end
OF his turban and places it over tho
mouth OF his bota, drinking through
the muslin to strain out the pnats.
whose larvae swarm in the water Of
that country.
'Pl go through fire and water TO
serve you" The Bishops of Roches-
ter possessed the manor of Southaeet.
in Kent, before the conquest. and. as
not unusual in ancient times, the court
OF Southfleet had the power of trying
ana executing felons. The jurisdie-
tion extended not only tOacts Of felony
done within the village, but also over
criminals apprehended in another
country. An instance of this kind in
the year 1900 is mentioned by +.
Blount in his Ancient Tenures." 1t
was of two women who had stolen
some clothes in Croidene (supposed to
be Croydon), and the men of that
place, having pursued them 10 South
heet, they were imprisoned and tried
by Lord Henry de Gotham, and other
discreet men of the country, who ad-
judged them TO undergo the fire ordeal
or examination of the hot iron. Rv
this foolish test one of them was excul-
pated and tho other condemned. The
two chief species of trial by ordeal
were those of fire and water. Both
these methods might be performed by
deputy; but the principal was to an
swer for the success of the trial, the
deputy only venturing some corporeaI
pain for hire, or, perhaps, for friend
hip. This" says Blackstone, ''is
till expressed in that common form of
peech of going through fire and water
o serve another" Hale tells us in
he time of King John, the purgation
'er ignem ct aquam, or the trial by or
eal continued; but 1t ended with this
ing
by hook or by crook" The des-
ruction by the fire of London in 1866.
uring which some 13, POO houses, etc,
,ere burnt down. in very many eases
bliterated all the boundary marks
equisite to determine the extent of
md, and the sites occupied by build
lgs previous to the fire. When tho
lbbish was removed disputes arose
mong persons as to the position and
Ntent of their property, which prom
ed not only interminable lawsuits,
ut created the serious evil of delay
e the building of the city until these
sputes were settled. Impelled by tho
ecessity of coming TO a moro speedy
,ttlement, it was determined that the
aims and interests of all persons con-
erned should bo referred TO tho judg-
lent and decision of two of the most
xperienced land surveyors of that
ay, and in order tV vsUape from the
Tils which delay must occasion, the
ecision of these two arbitrators was
} be final and binding. The survey
IS appointed were named Mr. Hook
i'd Mr.. Crook. Hence arose the say
& above quoted.
''He's a brick.n Plutarch, in his
10 of Agesilaus, King of Sparta, gives
J the origin of the quaint and familiar
Iying. On a certain occasion an ann
lssador from Epirus, on diplomatic
ission, was shown by the King over
IS capital. The ambassador knew Of
Ie monarch's fame-knew that though
lly nominally King of Sparta, he was
ller of Greece-and he looked to SEQ
assive walls rearing aloit their en-
titled towers for the defense Of tho
wn; but found nothing of tho kind.
G marvelled much at this, and spoke
it to the King.
''Sire," he said, 81 have visited most
the principal towns, and 1 find no
alls reared for defense. Why is
is?"
"Indeed, Sir Ambassador, replied
gesilaus, ''thou cans't not have looked
refully. Come with me tomorrow
orning and will show you the walls
Sparta"
Accordingly, on the following morn
g, the King led his guest out upon
Q plain where his army was drawn
} in full battle array, and pointing
oudly to the serried hosts, he said:
There thou beholdest the walls Of
'arta-10, 900 men, and every man
ickr'
20. in corner" This is an express
On denoting something not noticed at
st, but seen afterwards; something
rtially hidden, as 1t were, in an out
-the-way place or corner. In French
W queue" is the thong by which
ais are fastened to legal documents.
le queue is always in the corner of
G document.