The Portland daily press., 1898-03-03


Land OF STEADY Habits, in reference to
the circunspection Of it's people.
New Jersey was originally called New
Sweden by the Dutch, but when it was
wrested from them by Charles H.. it was
granted to Lord John Berkeley and Sir
George Carteret on condition that it be
named i'll honor of the latter gentleman,
who had valiantly defended the Ise OF
Jersey against the long Parliament. The
people OF this State are most frequently
designated ''claIn catcherS.' The Penn
sylvanians are known as Heather heads, :"
because SO large a portion OF the state
once was dominated by thu leather in
dusGry.
Delaware was called after the bay which
had been named for Lord de la War, Gov
ernor of Virginia in 1911. Delaware is
known as the "Bluo Hen State, and the
reason for this peculiar cognomen Is to
be found N an anecdote of very early
American days At the beginning of the
Revolution there lived in Sussex county
certain Mr.. Caldwell, of a decidedly
sporting turn of mind. He was breed
er of fine horses, but his special hobby
was game cocks, and these, he main
tanned, could only be bred from a blue
hen. No chicken with any other kind OF
mother could, according to his ideas, be
truly game. Mr.. Caldwell distinguished
himself as an officer in the First Della
WhEO hOR llASIb, uup RCIiSGu o1oSlFiA'Ao Va
which was conceded to be his work.
Whenever the officers were sent on recruit
ing service they said they were going for
more of Caldwells game cocks, but,
finally, in reference to his idlosyncratlc
belief in particular kind of mother the
expression "blue hens chickens" was SUI
stituted, and this little joke of the revo-
lutionary officers has chung to the state IN
the form of a nickname ever since.
The nomenclature of the Western States
has been subject to somewhat different
influences, and to an extent Indian names
predominant.
Indiana was taken from the word In
dian, applied in 1858 to grant Of land
north OF and near the Ohio river. OBJ
tanned in that year from company of In
dams. The name Indianapolis is most
appropriate, literally signifying tho city
of Indiana. Terre Haute Is term be-
slowed for local causes, meaning elevated
ground.
Whom pioneer civilization reached the
Mississippi that river was considered an
alogous to the Nile. consequently we find
near it such names as CairJ, in Illinois,
and Memphis, In Tennessee. The people
of the southern part of Illinois are nick
named Egyptians, from the same associa-
ton of ideas.
Minneapolis is combination of the
Dakota words "Minni, water; "ha,
curling, and the Greek ''polis,'' meaning
city, literally, Getty OF the Curling
of the Catholic religion in early times,
being named after a little logschapel built
by the priests Winona is another poetic
al Indian appellation. 1t is term used
to designate the first born, II daughter;
If son be the first bestowed by the gods
he is known in this tongue (Dakota) as
Chaske. Minnesota is the North Star
odo 4aI frCv1, Qaal
The origin of the name Virginia, given
tofher new colonial possession by Queen
Elizabeth as a special honor, is we'll
known. The state is called the mother. OF
Presidents, and her inhabitants are aliud-
ed to as beadles, q term Inherited from
early days, and it refers to the lntroduc-
tidon OF English beadles, with their pa
rochial functions.
In Kentucky names of French deriva-
ton are numerous. Louisville was so
called in compliment to Louis XVI, then
assisting the American colonlsts in the
Revolutionary struggls. After the war
of Independence the tide of emigration set
in in the direction OF Kentucky, and
pioneers from Pennsylvania and Virginia
settled in that country. From 1890 to
1900 America was excited by the French
revolution and Its terribly sensational
Reign of Terror. The result of this
popular interest in Kentucky lives in
such names as Paris and Versailles.
Daniel Boone has also left his impress on
the nomenclature of the state. Not only
is there Bonneville, but he has named
many places after his own fancy. Once,
when camping near the old Red River
Forge he was reading aloud to his COM
panIons from "Gulliver's Travels" They
were all much interested in the kingdom
of Llubbggrudd, so he suggested that the
appelIation be given to the little creek
beside which they were resting, and which
bears the name to this day. | believe the
kentuckians are frivolously known as
corncraokers. Their neighbors, the people
of Tennessee, are CALLED butternuts, from
the color of the uniforms worn by the
troops during the war.
The inhabitants OF Mississippi are desig-
mated tadpoles, really meaning young
Frenchmen (Parisians), an allusion to
their being called crapauds (frogs) from
their ancient heraldio device, three toads
erect saltant which is traced by lcarica-
turist in the present Fleur-de-lys. what
will the frogs say?''.was a common court
phrase at Versailles in 1901.
Louisiana nomenclature is, OF course,
French. New Orleans was called In
honor of the Duo d'Orleans, Regent OF
France. Baton Rouge WAS 80 named by
reason of local feature When the
settlers first reached the site Of the city
they found growing upon the spot
cypress, the bark of which was red. The
tree bad shot up to an immense height,
but was without branches hence the
name (red suick)
The people of Arkansas are playfully
known as toothpicks. in delicate allusion
to the bowie knife of frontier days spoken
of as Arkansas toothpicks:
Straightway leaped the gallant Slingsby,
Into armor of Seville,
With strong Arkansas toothpick
Screwed In every joint of steel.
Oregon is referred to as the web-foos
country on account of the immense rain
fall during the winter months. Its in
habitatns are called either hard cases, as
an intimationItha the law is occasionally
admi nistered In somewhat precipitate
manner, or web feet, for the reason above
stated.
The origin of the name Californiasis
traced to elias Sergas de Esplanian," a
romance published In 1910 and written by
Garcia de Montavo. In this story pagan
queen named Calafia, living in the king.
dom OF California, furnishes an army OF
Amazons to Esplandian, Emperor OF the