Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-11-23
STATE MECHANICS

TN the midst Of its other preparations
for entering the family OF states,
Oklahoma seems to have neglected to
provide itself with a nickname. an over
sight that would have been objectionable
at an earlier period in the history Of
the country. but one that is in accord
with the dignifled spirit Of the present
time, when nicknames seem to have
fallen into disuse. Few public men have
them. and. while nearly every other state
besides Oklahoma Is SO equipped, the
nicknames Of many are unfamiliar. Es-
pecially is this true Of the younger states,
with the exception Of Utah. and this fact
is proof Of the decline Of a custom once
almost universal How many persons
know of South Dakota as the Sunshine
state Montana as the Treasure state or
Washington as the Evergreen state? But
who does not know that Pennsylvania is
the Keystone state, New York the EN-
pire state and Virginia the Old Domin-
ion? The proportion of forgotten So
briquets in the following list, complete
with the exception of Idaho. Oklahoma
and Wyoming, is strikingly large:
Alabama, Cotton state; Arkansas, Bear
state; California, Golden state: Colorado.
Centennial state; Connecticut. Nutmeg
state. Blue Law state. Freestone state,
Hen state. Diamond state; Florida, PENN
sula state, Everglade state: Georgia,
Crac ker state. Empire State of the South;
Idaho, -: Illinois. Prairie state. Sucker
Hawkeye state; Kansas. sunfiower state,
Central state. Jayhawker state: Ken
lucky, Blue Grass state; Louisiana, Gre
ole state. Pelican state; Maine, Pine
Tree state, Lumber state; Maryland. Old
Line state, oriole state. Terrapin state;
Massachusetts,. Bay state. Old Colony:
Michigan, Wolverine state, Lake state
Minnesota, North Star state. Gopher
state; Mississippi, Bayou state; Missouri.
Bullion state; Montana, Treasure state
ter state; Nevada. Silver state. Sage
Brush state; New Hampshire. Granite
| state; New Jersey. Garden state, Clam
Digger state; New York Empire Empire state ate
| North state. Tar Heel state. Turpentine
state; North Dakota, Sioux state. Flicker
tail state; Ohio, Buckeye state; Okla
bona, 49,. Oregon. Webfoot state
Keystone state; Rhode Island. Little
| Rhody: South Carolina, Palmetto state;
| South Dakota. Sunshine state. Coyote
state; Tennessee. Volunteer state; Texas.
Vermont. Green Mountain state; Virginia.
Old Dominion, Mother of States Mother
of Presidents; Washington, Evergreen
state. Chinook state; West Virginia.
| mountain STATE Panhandle STATE; WIS
consin, Badger state; Wyoming. -.
| Among the most familiar of all the nick
names is one the origin of which is en-
veloped in mystery. Many reasons are
given for referring to the inhabitants of
Indiana as Hoosiers, but all appear to be
unsatisfactory to critical authorities. One
| is that Hoosier Is a corruption of hush
err once slang term for bully but
that of course does not please Hoosiers
any more than the term Sucker state"
pleases the fellow-citizens Of Uncle Joe"
Cannon. When numerous residents of ILL
nois were wont to travel to Missouri to
mine lead for a portion of the year and
return to their homes for the remainder,
their migratory habits were compared by
satirical citizen of Missouri to those of
the piscatorial suckers" Illinois is also
called the Prairie state" this name be-
| ing appropriate on account of the states
comparatively level surface.
| Virginia's other names are full of meaIH
| ing. 1.-THE Old Dominion" was so calleSl