El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-10-15

~ - DECORATIONS have no souls -
originated with sir Edward
~ Coke, a well known legal
! writer of the 18th century, Corpora
I tiOns canEot commit trespass. nor be
! outlawed, nor accommodated, for
! they have no souls.
Diamond OF the First Water."-Ap-
( propriateness in phrase because Of its
resemblance to the sparkling water,
/ but the expression originated in a mis-
l take. The AngIo-SaxOns spoke of the
finest or purest hue or color (AngIo-
saxon heW, cOlOr.) The Norman sup
posed this word to be their own word
! sense
The Cut Of His Jib,'-The foremost
sail of snip is called the jib. and by
its shape indicates, to some extent the
class OF vessel bearing it. In war
time every vessel was carefully scanned
and II the strange craft looked suspi-
CiOus the man on the lookout ex-
pressed his opinion by saying, Il don't
like the cut Of her jib." and the eX-
preston was transferred to the per-
sonal appearance
L would go through fire and water
to serve him. This saying is a relic
Of the old trials by ordeal, when trial
Dy ordeal could be performed by a
deputy sometimes done for hire and
sometimes for friendship The ordeal
Of fire was passing blindfOlded and
pare footed through place where
nine red hot pillow shares were ar
ranged at irregular intervals In the
trial by water the person to be tried
was bound hand and foot and thrown
into pond or river If he drowned,
that was a proof Of guilt, and the
saying. Il would go through fire and
water, was equivalent to saying that
the person using il was ready to sac
rifice life or limb to serve a friend.
Getting into a Scrape Deer dig M
land into holes. to the depth Of a FOOT
These are called "scrapes." To fall
into them often means broken leg,
hence when man finds himself in an
unpleasant position, he is said to have
got into scrape."
'SThe Pig in FOke."
Buying Pig in Poke. Some
Wags put cat in a bag or poke and
sold 1t to a country man as a pig
Poke is still used for a sack in the
south of England Going TO the tav-
ern to have a drink over the bargain.
the buyer opened the bag, and the cat
jumped out Hence the origin of
the proverbs, You should never buy
1 pig in poke" and You let the car
out of the bag"
"Robbing Peter TO Pay Paul In
1850 several estates belonging to West
minister Abbey were granted for the
repair and sUstenanCe of St Paul's
cathedral As Westminster Abbey is
dedicated to St Peter the taking Of
the Abbey funds for the benefit of St
Pauis gave rise to the saying
As Quick as 4Ou Could Say Jack
During the last of the 18th
century in England corruption was
notorious John Robinson, the secre-
tary of the treasury, was known to
use both patronage and money to carry
out his corrupt policy Sheridan de-
clared a member of the house was
employed 70 corrupt every body IN or /
der to secure votes Amid intense ex- !
element voices called out Name him /
or withdraw. Sheridan was in a Z
predicament. but his ready wit aided /
him Sir, ne answered 1T would be I
an unpleasant and invidiOus thing TO I
name the person and therefore I shall /
not do it. But don't suppose there is !
any difficulty in naming hill; I could !
10 It, sir, as quick as you could say !
Jack Robinson
Origin of spin Money
PIN Money. For long after the in
-entiOn OF pins in the 18th century, The
maker was allowed to sell them only
N the first and second Of January. /
They were so expensive that only the
rery rich could buy them and it be- {
anne customary TO give q certain sum
# money to women at their marriage
or buying pins, and on the first and
ecOnd Of January they flOcNed TO the
torres with this pin money
Nine TaiIOrS Make Man. The I
or the dead. the custom was nine tolls
It tellers to mark a man, three times
hree, and three times two &c fe-
male on the tenor bell. and EsE chill
rem under u the trefle bell was used.
nd the old saying. Nine tailOrs make
man. is a corruption Of nine tell I
rs mark man
rains Cats and DogsT'-The male
blossoms Of the willow tree which Z