The weekly intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1891-1901, 1895-01-19
SLANG SAYINGS.
Most of Then Originate From Populss
Songs Of the Day.

Most of Then Originate From Populss
Songs Of b Day.
Few things have so short q life -
street sayings. The cry. in great favor
with boys of all ages some years aga
of whoa, Emma!'' went out as SCOT
as it appeared. Later the current
street phrase took tho form Of "Aa
very fine and large" then old and
young were invited to .Arsk u police
man." while Git yer hair cit.' and.
Hes the man who broke the bank at
Monte Carlo" were the favoritc ex.
pressions Of yesterday.
Many street sayings have their origin
in q music hall song. Thus, nc
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 q time possess n peculiar
life and vigor. 'Stop the cab. stop the
cab.' was a familiar phrase some timc
ago.. while Don't know yer!" -four
ished nightly down whitechapci-
way during the latter days Of last
year. All these were from the music
halls or pantomimes, and were used Mt
all times and under any circumstances.
Have you secn the Shah?" was quite
q ~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
shore three years age. the phrase was
rarely fever heard. do you see any
green in my eyer Is a phrase OF some-
what ancient lineage, and still lives in
certain circles. The very rude ques-
ton. Does your mother know your'rc
out?' Is rarely heard nowadays. 1t
originated In . music-hall song Of some
six or eight years ago. Another phrase
OF q similar type, ''Has your mother
sold her mangle?" Is now decently i'm
TERED with other phrases whose vogue
was equally short.
Footballers are not without their
typical phrases. and the words, "who
killed the referec?" may be frequently
heard proceeding from the mouths Of
babes and sucklings" ut football
mstcheA- In the early
unteer movement mem
Hilary force were ofte
somewhat similar disc<
ment by the street ali
Who shot the cat?' frequently startIlU'
and Infatuated the gallant civilian de-
fenders Of Britain's shores, who filed
with enthusiasm, determined to do or
die against the French colonies" Of
1857. who threatened to blow mp the
mouth Of the Thames. The late Ed
mundY Yates. in his re~collections, re1era
10 the use Of this phrase, and speaks OF
thA fAAs0AAetnA Gala L.. sk. .-l---~.
when some street boy yelled from the
rear, Who shot the cat:"
who stole the donkey? The man
with the white hat" M . common
expression some years ago. Its origin
Is said to be found In o case heard ct .
London police court, where . man
wearing q white hat was charged with
stealing . oostermonger'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-
scnted by their employers with white
hats. In these they parade through
the streets, and ~thereupon affect the
risible muscles Of tho small boy, who
immediately cries out; The man with
the white hat"
The phrase, "what. again? and 50
soong" was very common once upon .
time, and originated in . comic song;
but to what can be ascribed the origin
of "TwoPence more. and up goes tho
donkcyg' WHO ate the cat?'' IL also
phrase Of doubtful origin, although
Mr.. Farmer, In his ''Slang and fts An
alogies," said that IL was leveled at
some bargees who once ate o cat which
had been placed as a decoy by q GENTLE
man whose harder had been robbed by
these laborers of the towing path.
Who stole the eleven dayY?" II re-
gsrdcd N ono Of the earliest Of modorn
street sayings. 1t originated In . curl
GUS way. In 1881 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 l, instead Of
March IS. Eleven days were 70 BE- de-
1eted by causing the 18th of September
to follow the ID. Naturally an outsrf
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." Is was to be expected, ut onco
became current
Get your hair cut" Is n Phrase
which has only just gonc'out. aud was
In considerable vogue among naughty,
irreverent street boys, who delighted
in jeering NJ folk who wore long hair
or boards. who let you oute" Is an
other irreverent ejaculation of the
same type. What In the present year
will take the place Of such -p<rssss@.-
"Rack In q minaJe.- Hes just gone
~roead the corner" and SAINT he .
carryin' mp" familiar y short time q
TO Thousands OF street gamins and
people Of an Older youth, the future