The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-08-02

preston that we hear frequently employed
during times of political excitement. But
that are the joy of the apiarist's heart.
There IRE two explanations of its origin.
In ancient times the connection between
tanned, and Mahomet admitted bees to
Paradise. The ancients spoke of souls as
bees. Hence il was that the moon was
called a bee by the prieStesSeS of Ceres,
the Goddess of Agriculture. and one who
has become a lunatic or moon-struck was
said to have bees in his head" Now
adays we speak Of Blaine, for instance. AS
having had the presidential bee buzZing in
his bonnet. although we do not mean to
~insinuate that he was at all lacking men
tally.
Another explanation of the origin of the
term is founded upon the fact that the
ment in their caps, which was known by
the name of 'beh." But that sort of a
bee should not buzz. and so. therefore. 1
am inclined TO place credence in the first
theory 1 have given.
When you tell a man to shell out"
meaning thereby that he shall hand forth
which are used in southern Asia. on the
coast of Guinea. in Africa and in the Phil
ippine islands in place. of coin.
Escaping by the skin of his teeth" is
another popular phrase derived from the
Bible. In the book of Job We find these
words: II am escaped by the skin of my
teeth"
Going to my u~ncle's" had its origin in
a hook. At the present time English
pawnshops have spouts down through
which goods are shot when redeemed. Be
fore these came into use, however, pawn
brokers employed a hook to lift redeemed
articles from their storage places. Impe-
cunious Oxford students came to speak o.
pledging their valuahles as sending them
ito the uncus." and this in time became
corrupted into uncle. and hence our pres
ent application of he term.
The term mares 1est' frequently puz-
Zlpd me after i cam to know that mares
did not do their breeding i'm that way. 1t
Is applied. as you know, TO ones making
what is supposed 20 be a great discovery,
but which turns out TO be all moonshine.
of its origin: What we call a nightmare
was by our forefathers supposed to be the
Saxon demon Mara or Mare. a kind Of
vampire. sitting on the sleepcr's chest.
These vampires were said TO be the guard
ians of hid treasures, over which they
brooded as hens over their eggS and the
place where they sat was termed their
nest. When anyone supposes he has made
a great discovery we ask IL he has discov-
cred Il mares nest. or the place where
the vampire keeps guard over hypothetical
treasures
"A pretty kettle OF fish" is a term that
springs from an English fete champetre,
in which salmon is the chief fish provided.
1t is a species of American picnic, in
which. by the side of a salmon river. one
of the king of fish IS placed in a large
cauldron. and. after being cooked. Is par
taken OF In gypsy fashion, The inevitable
gave rise to the phrase that / have men,
toned.
To kick the bucket" comes to us from
pulley is %variously known as a 'buckler''
and a bucket" When pigs are killed
they are hung by their hind legs on o
''bucket.' with their heads downward. and
oxen are hauled up in a similar manner
When swine or cattle are thus placed they
are said to have kicked the bucket