River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1895-01-10
SLANG SAYINGS.
Most of Them Originate From Popular
of he


songs of the Day.
Few things have so short a life as
street sayings. The cry. in great favor
Of "Whoa, Emmar' went out as soon
as it appeared. Later the current
street phrase took the form of 'All
very fine and large" then old and
young were invited to "Arsl police
man." while Git yer hair cutt' and
Hes the man who broke the bank at
Monte Carlo" were the favorite ex-
pressions of yesterday.
Many street savings have their origin
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 comic
song. and for time possess a peculiar
life and vigor ''Stop the cab. stop the
cab!" was familiar phrase some time
ago, while Don't know yer" flour
ishcd nightly down Whitechapel-
way during the latter days of last
year. All these were from the music
halls or pantomimes, and were used at
all times and under any circumstances.
"Have You seen the Shah?" was quite
a favorite expression on the occasion
of the first visit of the shah of Persia
to this country. Curiosity 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 phrase of some
what ancient lineage, and still lives in
certain circles. The very rude ques-
ton, docs your mother know you're
out?'' is rarely heard nowadays. 1t
originated in 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 in
TERED with other phrases whose vogue
was equally short.
Footballers are not without their
typical phrases. and the words, WHO
killed the referee?" may be frequently
heard proceeding from the months Of
babes and suclzlings' at football
matches. In the early days of the vol
unteer movement members of the aux
iliary force were often submitted to
somewhat similar discourteous treat
ment by the street gamins of the day.
''Who shot the cat?" frequently startled
and Infatuated the gallant civilian de-
tenders of Britains shores. who filled
with enthusiasm. determined to do or
die against tn French colonies" of
1857, who threa ned to blow up the
mouth of the Thames The late Ed
mund Yates, in his recollections, refers
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?'i
''Who stole the donkey? The man
with the white hat" was a common
expression some years ago. Its origin
is said to be found in case heard at a
London police court, where man
wearing white hat was charged with
stealing a costermonger's donkey. In
Manchester the phrase generally comes
to life-a short, but merry life-on the
first day of May. On that day many
of the carriers and draymen are pre-
scented by their employers with white
hats. In these they parade through
the streets. ard thereupon affect tine
risible 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 a
time, and originated in comic song;
but to what can be ascribed the origin
of ''Twopence more, and up goes the
donkey?" "Who ate the cat?' is also a
phrase of doubtful origin, although
Mr.. Farmer, in his ''Slang and Its An
alogies," said that it was leveled at
some bargees who once ate a cat which
had been placed as decoy by gentle
man whose larder had been robbed by
these laborers of the towing path.
"Who stole the eleven days?" is -e-
garded as one of the earliest of modern
street sayings. 1t originated in a Curl
Gus 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 calen-
dar from January 1, instead of
March 25. Eleven days were to be de-
leted by causing the 14th of September
to follow the 3D.. Naturally an outcry
arose among the ill-educated, who
failed to see the advantage of the
change, and who accordingly resented
it. The phrase ''Who stole the eleven
days?'' as was to be expected, at once
became current.
'Get your hair cutr' is a phrase
which has only just gone out, and was
in considerable vogue among naughty,
irreverent street boys, who delighted
in jeering at folk who wore long hair
or boards. ''Who let you out?" is an
other irreverent ejaculation of the
same type. What in the present year
will take the place of such phrases as
"BaclS in minute" Hes just gone
around the corner" and "Ain't he
carryin' on?' familiar short time ago
to thousands of street gamins and
people of an older youth, the future
alone will show-London Million.