The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-10-04
BARRIERS SIGN.

BARRIERS SIGN.
To the Editor Of the Indianapolis Journals
Will you please give the origin of the striped board
post used BARRIERS signa De JONES
SIMS, Ind.
Anciently BARRIERS performed minor operations
in surgery and, in particular, when bleeding was
customary, it was to the barber that patients ap-
piled to be bled. To assist this operation it, be-
ing necessary for the patient to grasp staff, o
stick or pole was kept by the barber-surgeon,
together with the bandaging he used for tying
the patients arm. When the pole was not in
use the tape was tied to it so that they might be
together when wanted, and in this state tape
and pole were hung at the door as sign. AT
length, instead of placing the identical pole used
at the door. pole was painted with stripes in
imitation of the real pole and bandage, and thus
came the sign.
WHITE AND BLACK.
To the Editor Of the Indianapolis Journal:
a. Will you tell me whether black is color9 CO.
Are a black and white horse considered match
team? w. A WooDGATE.
YEDDo, Ind.
a. Black is not strictly color but is desti-
tute of all color; the other hand while white
is not strictly a color it is composition of all
the colors. r. Such team is called cross
match team" There are many such teams; and
in large cities they are, when fine, considered
stylish and desirable
To the Editor Of the indianapolis Journal:
From what language is the word "ams" derved9
The word presents curious example of the
English fashion of shortening words in common
use. 1t comes to our language from the Latin
"eleemosyna," which, in the form of the adjec
tive ''eleemosynary," we still retain. The noun
has, in course of time assumed the following
forms-almosine, almosie, almous. amose
almesse, almoyn, almes, and finally aims
WEARING BLACK.
70 the Editor of the ndia ma polis Journal.
What gave rise to the custom of wearing black as
symbol of mourning2 WIDOW.
1t is said to have come from the circumstance
that Anne. Queen of Charles VIII, of France,
on the death of that king, in 1893, surrounded
her coat-of arms with black in token Of her
widowhood, and clothed herself in black, in op-
position to the then prevalent habit which was
for widows to mourn in white.
WEARING TWO wAToH-cHAINs.
To the Editor OF the indianapolis Journal:
Is the dude fashion of wearing two wa.ch-chains an
old one renewed, onel LENo
ZIGNSvILLE.
II is as old as ITO, when it was the fashion
among the candles (dudes) of that day to wear
two watches, the chains and seals of which
dangled on each side beneath their waistcoats.
Those were fob-chains. They now wear them
across their breasts
SPREAD EAGLE.
To the Editor of the Indianapolis Journal:
Please tell us what is meant by Spread Eagle ora
tory Two SCHOOL Boys
CRY.
1t is defined as "a compound Of exaggeration,
effrontery, bombast and extravaganza, mixed
metaphors, platitudes, defiant threats thrown at
the world, and irreverent appeals flung at the
Almighty.
WHO WAS HE7
% the Editor of the Indianapolis Journals
What general of the Revolutionary war while in
prison a charge of theft, wrote Memoirs of the
Revolutions DRUGGIST.
CITY.
We publish this question as we have failed to
Authors
To the Editor Of the Indianapolis Journal:
a. What American author is said to have never
rode ten miles from his home? (2.) The works of
lished? A STUDENT
We have been unable to find answers to your
questions.
FOoT.SCAP.
To the Editor Of the Indianapolis Journal:
What circumstance gave rise to the term foolscap."
applied to paperi D. f.
KOKOMo.
Notes and Queries gives it that the word
capo," chief or fullsized sheet of paper.
ALL SERENE.
To the Editor of the Indianapolis Journal
What is the derivation of the slang term a serene?"
CfTY. a.
1t is from the Spanish word serena" which is
used in Cuba as countersign by sentinels. 1t
ls equivalent to the phrase, in English, ''all's
we'll"