Norwich bulletin., 1921-08-16
ODE zNc1DRN4s 1N AMERICAN
 HfsTOK9
0EsfGfx CT FAMOUS AMERICANIsNs

ORIGIN 6F FAMOUS AMERICANIsMS It is impossible t6 look over the col unns of the daily journal, especially during the progress Of vigorous po- AtVa1 campaign, wthor1 encountering numerous expressions and phrases, the hie&ff7g of Which cannot, be acquired thFSdsh q dictionary, But which, to one who is familiar with the current argot of the period, are often quite as vigor- ousl5 expressive as the most picturesque sl&HE sf the Streets.
 For instance, the meaning of ballot box stufine is clear in it's wording, Sbut it's origin was iH New York, where boxes We're constructed with false bottoms so that an unlimited number of spurious ballots could be introduced by the party having control of the polling place.
 The political barrel is supposed to have been the outcome of the remark of wealthy candidate for office, who is said to have remarked: Let the boys know there's a bar1 0 money ready this Sense became general about 1878. The Barnburners was a nickname ] given to certain progressive Democrats about 1885, who were opposed to the Eeonservative HunkeFs. The name is de- rived from >the legend of the Dutchman who set his barn afre in order to kill the rats which infested it, the ana l6ay being that the De1aocf'ats in ques- fiSn would faih destroy all existing institutions in order to correct abuses. Tie Bloody Shirt was an expression during the Reconstruction period of those who would not suffer the civil war t6 sink into oblivion Gut of con eideration for the feelings Of the van d1ished. To wave the bloody shirt was i to harrow up tbe exciting memories of 1 ths var.
 l He bolted the party nomination de- rived it's meaning from it's sporting ap- plioStion to a horse when he becomes dnnsanaeszble on the race track. Ths political boss is believed to have been first applied io Tweed, 6f New York and the phrase Boss Rule is said to have employed by him in political speeches in Chicago.
 The BucktsiIs were a political faction originating in New York in 1915, which
 was opposed to the administration of Governor De Witt Clinton The mem bers wore buektaiis in their hats. Ehe Carpet Basers after the, civil Wkr were Northefners Nho went south
 some with honest intents and others
 with the hope of profit from irregular
 means.
 AS early is 1863 the epfthet copper fh6zd N1s to BS mound in the daily press ef the NeTth aSbfied t6 ESrtherners who leSnpathized with the cause of the South
 fN the cfvfl var.
 TS Sat crow means to recoup or to
 hunailiste oneself. The story from which tthe phrase is dfawn recites that an Ann ericSn who crossed the Niagara river
 Ito shoot on an EnGfishman's land, was leausht By the proprietor and was com. pelied 6H peril of lis life to eat the tHirG
 l Fifty four forty or fight was an al. literstive rs1lyfnS cry, which had a
 great run iii 1924, wdeH tfie location oi
 the h6fthSssterH boundary was in dis
 pufe with Great Britain. Fifty fou1
 forty was the paraffst we claimed
 through our treaty with Russia. The Half Breeds wSs derisive nick. name applied to certain Republicans oi New Yerk@wh6 wavefed fn their party
 allegiance during the fight Over tn.
 United States SSnstorship in 1881. The Hunkers was a local p61itica . term originating in New York in 1S44
 to designate the Conservative Demo
 crats as opposed to the young Dernoc
 raey Sr Barnsurners.
 The Knew Nothihgs was a hickman. for the Ahfefiean party organized ii New York in 1858. Members Of thu Ipsrty answered all questions concernins it with the response, T don't know,
 wk4Aee the popular nan4e.
 Tne Lees Foc6 ~ss { nickname foI . 2 faction 6f Democrats sixty years aze It W&s the result of fight fn Tanr4ar. Han. during which the gas vas turne( of afd the 0ne fzetiea in antfetpstfo,
 of such crisis had cSflAe crowded wftl
 ideo-fdeS matches aid candies 1ere d
 onee lfSHteA
 Mus~atnes was splfed Is an fnde pendent KePublican 4s signifyfns tna he set Himself ap as befnk Bstter tha1