Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1906-07-06
ORIGIN OF sklooo
AND "23.w


. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..
Twenty three for you:" says the
man with money when approached by
some one who was never known to pay
an honest debt. Twenty three for
you!" say the tinhorn or the would be
gamblers when one in their midst has
lost his last white chip. "2S for YOU
says the hard-hearted young lassie
who revels In slang expressions when
she has shaken hands" with one Of
her admirers. "23 for you" or just
"z3" by its lonesome IL used by 10
many different persons that It would
take columns to tell about 1t.
There Is no escape for the person
who IL riled upon hearing slangy ex-
pressions. as "23" II an epidemic all
over the country and In heard wher-
ever the English language IL spoken.
For all we know 1t may have been
translated In Hebrew. Dutch or Gaelic
as It's popularity IL ever increasing.
1t undoubtedly In the product Of the
sporty element but 1t has wedged It.
self into even the "most exclusive cir
| cles." Society DANES have been
known to use 1t with vigor upon ap-
propriate occasions as It must be adj
mitted that 1t Is very expressive and
the mere utterance Of "23" tells all
there is worth telling about a person
| il "all in.''
'23 for me- murmurs the prospectOr
when he returns to camp after long
quest after the bonanza that but rare
ly materializes and his companions
ask no more questions. '23 for that
man." remarks the business man to
one of his subordinates referring to
one OF his customers who has con-
tract big bill and who il very dila-
tory about RENTING the much-de-
sired. He's 23ed.'' calmly observes
the blue-coat when he finds some in :
dividual who has spent his whole
weeks salary In a vain endeavor to
acquire the reputation Of being a
sport" and who has drunk so much
booze that his muscles become over
taxed and to whom the sidewalk or an
alley Is as comfortable as the feather
lest OF feather beds A looney IL often
/ referred to as a "23" and some per-
sons who stuff off, because they are
tired Of life write "23' upon a slip OF
paper az an explanation OF their sud
den departure. They consider 1t suff-
! cient explanation, and 1t Is.
| But where, oh where did this ire
| II 10
nearly every person one meets IL
ready to tell where and when and all
the circumstances attending It's or
igin. but It has never been definitely
settled as to who Is the original per-
petratOr OF the outrage which has
who advocate accepted English" In
fact "23" Is rapidly becoming accepted
English so universally is 1t used.
One Of the most plausible theories
| advanced as to the origin Of "23'
comes from the railroad telegraphers
years. In many different capacities b,
telegraphers On some roads 1t /.
used as general managers signal Il
gain possession of busy wire.
Upon such occasions when "23' Il
sent all operators clear out. A railroad
telegrapher's Interpretation of "23" Il
| "clearout," ''vamoose." 'skidoo.
you're dead one" and SO on.
Some say that it originated at Sin,
Sing prison where II is said that 1t /
just % steps from the man corrido
!, to the entrance of the workshops
| Every morning with the exception O
Sundays and holidays the convicts as
semble in the main corridor and. fall
ing in line and each man placing hi
hands upon the shoulders OF the ma
in front of him, they march % step
To the work shops II there Is any
thing a convict hates more than tn
guards it is work and when the
would assemble in the mornings the
would whisper among themselves 80
for u.s." OF course this is only hear
CO.,
Then il is said that it was carrie
!. by one Of the convicts to New Yor
City where its then mysterious mean
| .,,v I'D I'D