The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1901-10-03
PECULIAR PHRASES.
Some Quite Odd Expressions.
WHAT THEY MEAN,

phrase which dates back to Puritan
times to certain Hephzibah Merton
1t seems that every Saturday she wat
accustomed to bake two or three dozen
apple pies, which were to last her iami.
Iy through the coming week. These
she placed carefully on her pantry
shelves labeled Tor each day of the
week, 60 that Tuesdays pies might not
be confused with Thursdays, nor those
presumably large or intended for wash
ing and sweeping days eaten when
household labors were lighter. Aunt
Hephzibah's "apple pie order" was
known throughout the entire settle
ment, and originated the well-known
saying.
1t was once customary In France
when guest had stayed his welcome,
for the host to selye a cold shoulder oi
mutton, instead of a hot roast. This
was the origin of the phrase "To give
the cold shoulder"
"None shall wear a feather but he
who has killed a Turk" was an old
Hungarian saying, and the number OF
feathers in his cap indicated how many
Turks the man had killed. Hence the
origin of the saying with reference to a
foaf hor IN opo'o oor
In one of the battles between the
Russians and Tartars private soldier
OF the former cried out, "Captain, I've
caught a Tartar!" "Bring him along
then, answered the officer. II can't,
for he won't let me" !" was the response.
Upon Investigation it was apparent
that the captured had the captor by
the arm, and would not release him
So "catching tartar" is applicable to
one who has found an antagonist too
powerful for him.
"Before you can say Jack Robinson -
owes its origin to foolish John Robin
son, who, when he called on his friends,
always was in such hurry that he
would be off again, without giving his
host more than time to pronounce his
name.
When the Spanish armada came to
the coast OF England, many OF the ships
were driven by the fierce attack of
Drake and Howard and the fury of the
elements north to the Helder river and
South to the Skelder rlver-the Scheld
hence the expression shelter skelter."
"Go to Halifax - That town was q
place of special terror for rogues be-
cause Of the first rude guillotine in
vented there by Mannaye for chopping
Off felons' heads. His ak law was that
the criminal should be condemned
first and inquired upon after"
To "dun" man for debt comes from
the memory of Joe Dun, bailiff OF
Lincoln, who was so keen collector
that his name became proYerb.
The expression "He's a brick" is
first found in Plutarch. The whole
phrase is expressive of every form OF
The Spartans, quick wit
ted and noted for their repartee, were
early trained in both schools. They
were men OF few words, and fewer laws,
and embodied in short phrases their
dislike or appreciation.
Lycurgus was not only a man of few
words but quick action. On being
asked "should Sparta be enclosed ?" at
invasion of the enemy being expected
during the time OF war, he replied ::
"a city is we'll fortified which has
wall of men instead of BRICK" A very
clever story is told of the diplomatic
mission from the court of Epirus. The
ambassador, being shown over the city
by the king, expressed surprise that no
walls were built around Sparta for its
defense. "Walls7" cried the king.
"Thou canst not have looked carefully.
Tomorrow we will go together and 1
will show you the wallis of Sparta" :"
On the following day the King led his
guest to where his entire army was
drawn up. Pointing with great pride
to the magnificent body of men, he
ssThere thou beholdest
the walls of Sparta, and every man
brick"
"By hook and by crook is an allu-
sion to an ancient manorial custom,
which permitted the neighboring poor
to take all the wood that they could
reach aud pull down from the forest
trees, using only their shepherd 3 crook.
How many of us who use Or hear the
familiar expression, "It was Hobsons
cho:ce," are acquainted with the real
sort of selection that Tobias Hobson
offered his guests? This is the genu-
inc version of the tale: The said To-
bias Hobson was a Cambridge Inn keep
er, with forty horses In his stables,
some better, of course, than others.
When a traveller came to request
mount he was obliged to take the