Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-11-14
ORIGIN OF ODD PHRASES.
Genesis Of . Number Of Familiar Slang
Expeessions.

Genesis OF . Number Of Familiar SLAM
Expeessions.
From the Chicago Press.
Says the antiquarian Grose: Catching
Tartar comes from the story of the Irish sol
der serving in the Austrian army. During
battle with the Turks he cried out TO an officer
that he had caught q Tartar!
Bring him here, was the order
"'shure an he won't comet replied the
Irish captor.
Then come along yourself exclaimed the
officer, impatiently.
Faith, yer honor, ! can't He won't lie,
met"
Hence in Catching Tartar" it is obvious
you have taken another in only to get caught
yourself.
It'll slrs blue" applied to anything tina.
moves along tediously. originated with early
theatrical entertainments. when long waits be-
tween the scenes caused the play 10 drag until
daylight
"A gone coon" has . revolutionary origin.
An American scout dressed himself in raccoon
skin and asoended tree to reconnoiter the
enemy. While thus engaged he was surprised
oy British soldier, out hunting, and the latter,
installing him for a genuine coon. leveled his
gun to fire.
Hold on" cried the startled spy, 'if you
| 'coon!"
The Englishman, however, was 90 terrified
tnat ne dropped his gun and fed.
| NY beard Is In your hands' was q term
oIten used by the Persian merchants when
not as represented the seller placed himself at
| the buyers mercy.
| "To bite the thumb" at another implies an
Insult, as witness the remark Of Sampson in
,homeo and Juliet" 81 will bite my thumb ut
men, which Is disgrace to them if they bear
"Mugwump" came from the Indian word
mug-quomp." meaning "a great man." In
Ellot's Indian Bible it stands for captain
follows:
When steamboat travel ON the Mississippi
was at Its zenith racing was one of its exciting
features At such times, while all hands were
GREATNESS and anxious, the captain would cry
OUT
Paint her red, boys r. which, in other words
than river slang meant to fill the fire box with
resin, SO that quick, hot fire could be had.
Ihen the fire boxes would be thrown open,
and If it was night, says one who was an eve
witness TO such a scene, 1.-THE effect was simply
grand As far ahead as the eye could see the
river would be deep red from reflection, FORM
ing beautiful picture which, once seen, could
never be forgotten" =.
Hence. among the boatmen, ''to paint the
town red was intended to carry an idea of the
happy time in store for them at the end of their
trip =
'Halcyon days." meaning quiet, peaceful
comes from the tradition that during the incu-
patton OF the halcyon or kingfsher-a bird
Saio TO oreed In the sea-therei is always a calm.
Inc poet embodies this idea in his couplet:
Amidst ids, S our arms ss quiet YOU shall be
AS haicyons Drooding on winters sea-
ITO crack joke originated with the witty
Douglas Jerrold. friend. telling him good
story, suddenly remembered that he was re-
peating what he had told him before and
apolOglzed.
a joke to crack it,
"Potter's field" was the name Of an ancient
puTlai ground for strangers in Jerusalem on a
hill overlooking the valley of Hinnom In later
years the epithet has been applied to the plots
where the poor and unknown are given sepul-
ture.
trembling like an aspen" comes from the
Deliel lhat the tree still shakes on account of
the part 1t played in the crucifixion.
What will Mrs Grundy say?'' was asked by
one lhos. Morton many years ago. and had
reference to the anticipated gossip of family
trouble from great newsmonger of that
name.
He is brick" we believe, originated with
Plutarch in his life of Agesilaus, King of Sparta
sire, said a certain diplomat, when visit
ing his Kingdom and noticing with wonder the
absence OF any great evidence of defense in his
principal towns. Il have now seen thy chief
towns, and am surprised to find no walls raised
for their protection. Why is this?"
, indeed, replied the king, smiling, II fear
thou hast not employed thy vision we'll Come
with me and will show thee the walls of
Sparta
Ihereupon the king lie his guest out upou
the Plains, where his army was drawn up in full
Dattie array. Pointing to the serried columns
ne cried with o look OF triumph:
Behold thou the walls of Sparta-10, 900 men
and every man q brick!'
'ieetotalers" has peculiar origin. An
English orator unfortunately suffered. and
speaking OF total abstinence invariably pro-
nounced 1t "t-tt-tOtal abstinence" In deri-
sion his supporters were nicknamed ''teeto-
taiers" The epithet, however. has long since
lost its sting to become q term no one need be
ashamed to bear.
"As high as Gilderoy's kite. which burned its
tai In the sun, Is synonymous with cutting
on ones nose to spite the face" the meaning of
which is evident Gilderoy was Scottish out
law who infested the highlands Of Perthshire.
IN retaliation for the capture of a couple of
MS followers he renewed his depredations with
more than former fury until the aroused people
turned out en- masse to bring him to justice
AS a mark OF triumph he was hanged high
above the heads OF his confederates, seized at
the same time.
II acknowledge the corn originated in the |
nails OF Congress in 1923, when Andrew Stewart |
declared in a speech that Ohio, Indiana and |
Kentucky sent their hay stacks, corn fields and |
louder to New York and Philadelphia for SALE |
One Wlckliffe OF Kentucky called him to order, |
saying that those states did not send hay stacks
or corn fields away for sale |
We'll. what do you send" inquired Stewart. |
I'VE send cattle, horses, mules and hogs"
very well; what makes your cattle, horses, |
mules and hogs? You feed 500 worth of hay |
to horse You just ruminate and get upon |
the top OF yonr haystack and ride off to market.
How is it with your cattle2 You make them
carry $50 worth of hay and grass to the eastern |
cents bushel to fatten hogY" 100 -. : |
Why, thirty bushels |
Then You put thirty bushels into the shape
OF q hog and make it walk off to the eastern
market"
-, 4r. Speaker, cried Wickcliffe, springing to |
his feet at this point ~ acknowledge the corn"
AN UNDERr AKER,s EIND