The daily morning journal and courier., 1894-11-14
QUEER LONDON STREET SAYINGS.
Most or Them arc Short-Livcd. IEram fha Iondnn NiIua.i

From the London Million.l
 Few things have so short life as street sayings. The cry. in great fa- vor with boys of all ages some years ago. of Whoa, Emma" went out as soon as 1t appeared. Later, the cur rent street phrase took the form of "All very fine and large" then old and young were invited to "Arsk a police man," while "Git yer air cutv and He's the man who broke the bank at Monte Carlo" were the favorite ex- pressions of yesterday.
 Many street sayings have their ori- gin in a music-hall song. Thus, "He knocked 'em in the Old Kent Road" with those already given, belong to that category. Many similar phrases are taken from the chorus of a comic song, and for a time possess a peculiar life and vigor. Stop the cab! stop the cab" was a familiar phrase some time ago. while Don't know yer" fourished nightly down White chapel way" during the latter days of last year. All these were from the music-halls or pantomfmes, and were used at all times and under 9any cir cumstances.
 Have you seen the Shah?" was a favorite expression on the occasion of the first visit of the Shah of Persia to this country. Curiously enough, when his Persian majesty visited these shores three years ago. the phrase was rarely, if ever, heard. Do you see any green in my eye?" is a phrase of somewhat ancient lineage, and still lives in certain circles. The very rude question, Does your mother know you're out?" is rarely heard nowa- days. It originated in a music-hall song of some six or eight years ago. Another phrase of a similar type, Has your mother sold her mangle?" is now decently inferred with other phrases whose vogue was equally short.
 Footballers are not without their typical phrases, and the words, "Who killed the referee?" may frequently be heard proceeding from the mouths of babes and stockings" at football matches. In the early days of the vol unteer movement, members of the aux Hilary force were often submitted to somewhat simtlat 'disceairteous treat ment by the street gamins of the day. "Who shot the cat?" frequtntly star tied and infuriated the gallant civil ian defenders of Britain's shores, who, filled with enthusiasm, determined to do or die against the French colonels" of 1857, who threatened to blow up the mouth of the Thames. The late Ed mund Yates, in his recollections. re- fers to the use of. this phrase, and speaks of the indignation felt by the volunteer when some street boy yelled from the rear. "Who shot the cat?"
 "Who stole the donkey? The man with the white hat" was a common ex- precision some years ago. It's origin is said to be found in a case heard at a London police court, where a man wearing 8 white hat was charged with stealing a costermonger's donkey. In Manchester the phrase generally comes to Hfe-a short, but merry life-on the first day of May. On that day many of the carriers and draymen are pre- sented by their employers with white hats. In these they parade through the streets, and there upon affect the nsible muscles of the small boy, who immediately cries out, "The man with the white hat!"
 The phrase, What, again? and so soon?" was very common once upon 8 time, and originated in a comic song; but to what can be ascribed the origin of "TWopence more, and up goes the donkey?" "Wiho ate the cat?" is also phrase of doubtful origin, although MT. Farmer, in his Slang and its Analogies" said that it was levelled at some bargees who once. ate g. cat which had been placed as 2 deeoy by g gen. tleman whose larder had been robbed by these laborers of the tow-path. "Who stole the eleven days?" is re- garded as one of the earliest of mod ern street sayings. It originated in a curious way. In 1751 the proposal to alter the style of the calendar from the Julian to the Gregorian- was carried out, and by act of Parliament it was decided to date the new calendar from January 1, instead of March &. Flew en days were to be deleted by causing the 14th of September to follow the Sd. Naturally, an outcry arose among the who failed to see the ad- vantage of the changes and who &C., cordingly resented its The phrase "Who stole the eleven. days2 as; was to be expected. at once beeams cur rent. s 5s,y ,.s Al g g;e. &!
 "Get your hair eutY ia 4e phrase which has only just gona out, and was in considerable vogue anpng naughty, irreverent street boys, rha deatghted in jeering at folk who wore long hair or begrds. "Who let you out?"f is an4 other irreverent ejaculetiop of the same type. What in the present year will take the place of such phrases, as "Baok in 8 minute" Hes just gone round the corner," and Amt he a-carryin' on,'' faniliar . sAprt time ago to thousands of street gamips and people of an elder youth the future alone will show, @ ~ < ty ls 5S