The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1884-10-31
Origin Of Popular Phrases.

!
Spanish students of wearing little
ivory spoon as graduating badge Oh
not, is an open question. The subject
of spoons is an inexhaustible one. Their
use by man begins at an early age and
continues almost to the last moment OF
his mundane existence. Although the
reason for the Spanish custom is some
what obscure, to many a satisfactory
explanation will be found in the fact
that their favorite writer, Miguel De
Cervantes Saavedra, in his great book,
Don Quixote, makes his celebrated
character, Sancho Panza, "the short
and fat husband of Teresa-the gov
ernor of Barrataria-he whose SIM
plicity and shrewdness, jokes and pro-
verbs, were so pleasant, and whose wit
| ty conceits fell from him as thick as
drops in shower-a makef of spoonsm
In additional proof of this idea refer
ence is also made to that part of the
story where the knight was condemned
to ''remain for whole year from using
word or going in quest of adven-
tures," and he says to Sancho, "We will
turn shepherds; at least for the term of
my retirement. l will buy sheep and
whatever is necessary for a pastoral
life; we will range the woods, the hills
and the valleys, singing here and sing
ing there; drinking from the clear
springs or limpid brooks or mighty
rivers" "Fore Godr' quoth Sancho,
''that kind of life squares and corners
with me exactly, and / warrant, if
once the bachelor, Samson Carrasco,
and Master Nicholas, the barber, catch
a glimpse of it they will follow us, and
turn shepherds, too" Heaven de-
fend mel" said Don Quixote, "what
life shall we lead, Sancho! What a
melody shall be have of bagpipes and
rebecks, and pipes of Zanioia! One cir
cumstance will contribute much to
make us perfect in our new profession,
which is my being, as thou well know |
est, somewhat of poet, and the bach |
elor Samson Carrasco an excellent one;
and Master Nicholas, the barber, also,
make no doubt, for most or all of that |
faculty are players on the guitar and
songmakers; and so we shall 60 on to
our hearts content" "Alas! SIR" re-
piled Sancho, II am so unlucky that l
shall never see those blessed daysi o
what neat wooden spoons shall make
when I am a shepherd! What curds
and cream! What garlands! What
pretty knickknacks! An old dog am
at these trinkums, which, though they
may not set me up for one of the seven
wise men, will get me the name of
clever fellow"
As to the English and American use
Of the terms ''spoon" and "sposney:"
In the University of Cambridge, Eng
and, the last of each class of the honors
s humorously denominated the Spoon.
Thus, the last Wrangler is called the
Golden Spoon; the last Senior Optime,
he Silver Spoon; and the last Junior
)ptime the Wooden Spoon. The
Wooden Spoon, however, is par excel
ence, 'Tho Spoon" In Forby's
Vocabulary occurs the following:
"A young academic coming into
he country Immediately after this
,reat competition, in which he had
distinguished himself,
vas asked by a plain country gentle
nan, Pray, sir, is my Jack Wrang
erp' No, Sir Now, Jack had conf
entity pledged himself to his uncle that
e would take his degree with honor.
A Serior Optimep' No, SIR why,
that was he then?' Wooden Spoon
Best suited to his wooden head said
ne mortified inquirer" A writer in
he Gentlemen's Magazine, 1905, says:
1t may not perhaps be improper to
lention one very remarkable person
ge, mean the Wooden Spoon This
lckless wight (for what cause know
ot) is annually the universal butt and
4ughing stock of the whole Senate
ouse. He is the last of those young
zen who take honors in his year, and
called Junior Optime; yet, notwith-
anding his being in fact superior to
lem all, the very lowest of the people,
'gregarious undistinguished bachelors
ink themselves entitled to shoot the
)intless arrow of their clumsy wit
yainst the wooden spoon, and to re-
crate the stale and perennial remark
at Wranglers are born with gold
ICONS in their mouths, Senior Optimes
it'll silver, Junior Optimes with
OGDEN, and the low people with
alden ones" At one time, at Yale
llege, the presentation of the wooden
DON to the student receiving the last
,pointment at the junior exhibition
rs attended with considerable cere-
ony.
Sam Slick says: 81 shall escape from
is beautiful critter, for l am getting n
ooney and shall talk silly presently" X
Halls Correction of College Words Ii
d Customs" we are told that both
e adjective and the noun ''spooney"
c in constant and frequent use at
me of the American colleges, and are
morally applied to one who is disliked
her for his bad qualities or his ill
eeding, usually accompanied with the
"a of weakness.
Waiting for Something to Turn Up G
lis expression is from Charles Dick =
s. famous novel, david Copper
Id" Mr.. wilkins Micawber is a
ointment character in the story. He
S been very aptly described as noted n
. his long speeches, ambitious style, "
re of letter writing, alternate eleva-
n and depression of spirits, hearty
petite, reckless improvidence, and
erlasting troubles, and for his con-
lntly waiting for something to turn
:" Thackeray says: "Who does
t venerate the chief of that illustrious
nily, who, being stricken by misfor -
l., OF ~