Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1912-08-27
ORIGIN OF SAYINGS.
Whence Came Expressions Familiar
to all Men.

to all Mon.
"The lions share" embodied the
sarcasm Of old Aesop, in whose fable,
at the conclusion of their joint feast,
the animals announce their wish to
divide the booty, the lion claiming one
quarter by reason of kingly preroga-
tive, one-quarter for his superior cour-
age, one-quarter for his dam and cubs.
"As for the fourth quarter" said the
lion, "let who will dare dispute 1t with
me-"
Every man for himself and the
devil take the hindmost," is a cynical
slogan derived from the Spaniards. 1t
is said that his Satanic Majesty once
conducted a school of magic at Tole-
do. At the end Of the term the grad
uating class was, it appears, made to
run through a long subterranean hall
the president Of the institution being
entitled to the hindmost II he could
catch him.
"A feather in ones cap" is derived
from Scotland. Among the woodcraft
enthusiasts 1t was the custom for the
individual first to kill a woodcock, to
pluck feather and place it in his cap
oliver Cromwell conferred dignity
upon this expression, when, on his re-
| fusal Of the English crown, he observ-
| ed: Royalty is but feather in q
mans cap; let children enjoy theil
rattle"
A thoroughbred gamecock shows
only red and black feathers, and q
cross breed is known by a white feath.
er In Its tail. Hence, ito show the
| white feather" conveys a strong notion
Of cowardice, from one point Of view al
least.
One may search the Scriptures ir
vain for any allusion to Jobs turkey
The expression "As poor as Jobs tur.
key" had its origin in the brain Of g
humorist, Sam Slick" He described
this bird as being possessed Of but one
feather in its tail, and as Of so feeble g
constitution that 1t was only by lean.
ing against fence that 1t was enabled
| to gobble.
The ancient Greeks are responsible
for the expression, ITO throw dust ir
ones eyes," Epaminondas, wishing tc
surprise the Lacedemonians, is said tc
have caused 1000 cavalry to advance
In front, kicking up great dust that
the wind blew into the faces Of the ene-
my, thus binding them to a flank
movement he was executing with q
view to taking the coveted heights in
their rear.
Barking up the wrong tree may be
referred to the mistake sometimes
made by hunting dogs when game flies
from tree to tree
to be traced to an old Hebrew custom
On the transfer of an inheritance the
successor received a shoe belonging to
the deceased owner. 80.
For many years in front of the pull
pit in Scottish churches persons under
censure sat during the service. After
ward they stood to receive public re-
buke. From this practice we derive
the stool Of repentance"
ITO eat humble pie" is to be ascribed
to the fact that in feudal days the UNI
bles, inferior parts Of deer, were baked
in pies for the poor retainers.
whole hog or none" refers to the al
legged custom Of Mahomet to allow his
followers to eat all except one portion
of a pig, which portion, however, was
not specified. The result, therefore
was that II Mahometan did not who'll
ly avoid the use of pork he might as
we'll run the risk of consuming the
whole hog as to eat any portion there
of.-New York Press.