The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-08-18

cess. People of this. the lumber state
are foxes both on account Of the
abundance Of this annual and because
the lives Of many were passed In the
woods. Marylanders are "crawthump-
ers. "A name applied to Holsters by
fishermen.
Massachusetts il the Indian name
for blue hills" Ii is the bay" state
because il was once Massachusetts
Bay Colony and the people are
beans" ON account of the favorite
dish. which every one knows is theirs
To say nothing Of their knowing Con-
siderable more than beans Is the
popular conception.
Michigan is the lake" state and the
people are wolverines" Minnesota.
the North Star" on account cf the
insignia Of It's seal. Its people are
''~gophers.- the allusion being to the
ncney-combed condition Of the state
due TO the small bodies of water.
TADPoLES.
Mississippi Is the bayou state and
its citizens are "tadpoles." Sebraskans
are called bug eaters" because . bird
so naimea ami believed tn be OF evil
omen by the rural population f~requenfs
that part of the country. People living
ia Nevada are sage hens" in e
Hampshire, granite boys" IN Yer
mont, Green Mountain boys" in
South Carolina "weasels:" in Virginia,
'~Eeadues;'' in Wisconsin, badgers"
New J~erseyites are clam catchers,~
because this Is the principal occupation
OF the poorer classes. Ohioans are CALI
Ell buck eyes" because of the abund-
ance of a tree by this name. the nut OF
which bears Il strong resemblance TO q
bucks eye. North Carolinians are cali
ed tar heels. This sobriquet goes
back 10 war times, when the people
came out of the pineries TO fight. About
the same time Tenneseeans were dub
bed .'~butternuts' on account OF the
color of the clothes they wore. Gun
fiints," rs applied 10 the citizens OF
Rhode Island, goes back tn the door re-
bellion of 1872, when the arms OF this
old description were pulled out from
the garrets where they had lain I'M
used for years.
Texas is the lone star state be-
cause that was the emblem of her nag
before she was admitted into the union
and is still upon the state sea
"~Beefhcads," the people are called,
since their chief occupation is cattle
raising. Alabamians are lizards
people of Florida 'hy-up-the-crceks;'
I'm Georgia they are "buzZards;' IN
Connecticut "~muskrats."
The people of Arkansas are tooth
picks" which is a playful allusion TO
the bowie knife that does such good
service in that part of the country. An
old American ballad says.
Straightaway leaped the gallant Flfng-
by
Into armor of Seville,
With Il strong Arkansas toothrick
Screwed in every joint of steel.
Oregon is the 'webfoot" county be-
cause the excessive rains in winter
render its climate as only a webfooted
animal can appreciate. The people are
called hard cases" the explanation to
be found in the habits of the early
settlers.
The stones of the Rock Creek bridge
al Washington, ID. c., are named AFTER
the avenue of the city. The name
.Pennsylvania'' appears on Ii key
stone of the bridges arch. This fact
i cited by some as the explanation OF
why the state, named after the most
peaceful of all early American Settlers
is called the keystone state" But q
better explanation is found in he cir
cumstances attending the signing OF
the Declaration of independence. Six
colonies had cast their vote in the at
firmative. six as opposed to the meas
ure. John Morton, representing Penn
sylvania, cast the vote that broke the
tie, and by so doing he gained for his
state the honor of being the keystone"
in the arch of liberty.-Chicago Chron--
icle.