The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1892-01-16
SOME QUEER PHRASES
ORIGIN OF SOME OF THE SLANG
OF THE DAY.
sCstohing . Tartar" "Psint Her Red,
"a Gone Coon" "Hs's . Brick"
aud Many Other Well
Known Exprsssions.


the Irish soldier serving in the Aus
trian army. During the battle with
the Turks he cried out to an officer
that he had caught Tartarl
/" Bring him here. was the order.
"'Shure and he won't comet" re-
piled the Irish captor
q Then come along yourself ex-
claimed the officer impatiently.
Faith. yer honor, ! can't He
won't let mel''
Hence in catching Tartar. +" it Is
obvious you have taken another In
only to get caught yourself
"A gone coon" has Revolutionary
origin. An American scout dressed
himself In raccoon skin and assembled
a tree to reconnoiter the enemy. While
thus engaged he was surprised by a
British soldier, out hunting and the
latter. mistaking him for genuine
coon, leveled his gun to fire.
Hold onl" cried the startled spy,
'if you won't shoot I'll come down!
/ am gone 'coon!''
The Englishman however, was so
terrified that he dropped his gun and
fed. S
ITO crack joke" originated with
the witty Douglas Jerrold. A friend,
telling MIN o good story. suddenly
remembered that he was repeating
what he had told him before. and
apologized.
Never mind, replied the wit lit
don't hurt joke to crack it,
"Mugwump" came from the Indian
word ''mug quomp." meaning "a
great man" In Eliots bible it stands
for captain"
Painting 1t red" it is claimed,
originated as follows:
When steamboat travel on the Mis-
sissippi was at its zenith racing was
one OF its exciting features. At such
times while all hands were breath
less and anxious the captain would
cry out:
Paint her red. boysr which in 9TH
or words than river slang meant to
| fill the fire-box with resin, so that a
| quick, hot fire could be had.
Then the fire boxes were thrown
open. and. II it was night says one
who was an eyewitness to such a
scene, the effect was simply grand.
AS far ahead as the eye could see the
river would be deep red from reflec-
ton. forming beautiful picture,
which, once seen could never be fok-
gotten. +"
Hence. among the boatmen. S{o
paint the town red" was intended to
carry an idea Of the happy time in
store for them at the end OF their trip
What will Mrs Grundy say was
asked by one Thomas Morton many
years ago and had reference to the
anticipated gossip Of family trouble
from q great newsmonger of that
name.
He is brick" we believe origin
ated with Plutarch in his life OF Age
silaus, King Of Sparta
Sire" said certain diplomat,
when visiting his kingdom. and motto.
ing with wonder the absence of any
great evidence OF defense in his prin-
cipal towns, Il have now seen thy
chief towns, and am surprised to find
no walls raised for their protection.
Why is thisp"
Indeed replied the king smiling,
II fear thou hast not employed thy
vision well. Come with me and will
show thee the walls Of Sparta"
There upon the king led his guest
out upon the plains where his army
was drawn up In full battle array
Pointing to the serried columns he
cried with a look OF triumph:
..Behold thou the walls OF Sparta
ten thousand men and every man
a brickv'
.Teetotalars" has peculiar origin.
An English temperance orator I'M
fortunately suffered. and. speaking
OF total abstinence. invariably pro-
nounced it .t-t-ttotal abstince." In
derision his supporters were nick
named ..teetotalars" The epithet
however. has long since lost its sting
to become q term no one need DO
ashamed TO bear.
IL acknowledge the corn" origi-
mated in the halls of congress in 1928.
when Andrew Stewart declared in a
speech that Ohio. Indiana and Ken
lucky sent their haystacks, corn fields
and fodder to New York and Philadel-
phia for sale One Wickliffe. of Ken
lucky, called him to order. saying that
those states did not send haystacks or
corn-fields away for sale.
Well what do you sendp" inquired
Stewart
I'VE send cattle, horses. mules and
hogs'
VERY well; what makes your cat
tie horses. mules and hogsP You
feed 800 worth OF hay to horse
You just ruminate and get upon the
top OF your haystack and ride of to
market How Is 1t with your cattleP
You make them carry $50 worth Of
hay and grass TO the Eastern market
How much corn does It take at thirty
three cents bush6l to fatten hogr'
why. thirty bushels."
Then you put thirty bushels into
the shape Of hog, and make II walk
of to the eastern market
mr.. Speaker. cried Wickcliffe.
springing to his feet at this point ID
acknowledge the corn"
l t
Hsw InAians Faint.