Evening star., 1936-05-14

ing the striped trousers, long-tailed
coat and high hat so familiar to the
American newspaper reader.
Answers Suggestion in Star.
This information was divulged to-
day in answer to an editorial sugges-
ton in The Star of Monday in which
It was said w. P. A. officials might
do worse" than to put some Of their
workers to tracking down Uncle
Sans" origin.
At that time W. p. A. workers had
been compiling material on the elu-
from sources in New York. the Lii
brary Of Congress. on the West Coast
and in the Middle West.
The story Of the Uncle Sam and
his origin will be embodied in the
American Guide, the first volume of
which is to be published this Fall.
When completed the Guide will be an
exhaustive treatise on points of cur
rent and historic interest throughout
the United States.
Sponsors of the work, in which sew
eral hundred research experts are en-
ployed, believe it will serve the prac-
tical purpose of keeping the American
tourist at home, where he can fa-
miliarize himself with American land
marks instead of seeking these aboard.
First Reference In 1913.
Perhaps the first printed reference
10 Uncle Sam" in the sense of a Ma
tional symbol was contained in the
Post Of Troy, N. Y, published Sep
tember Z, 1913. The reference follows:
Loss upon loss, and no i'll luck STIR
ring but what lights upon Uncle Sans
shoulders, exclaimed Government
editors in all parts of the country. The
Albany Argus of last Tuesday laments
the disasters and disappointments of
our border war in most pathetic
strains-"
In a note of the same issue, the fol-
lowing reference appears:
This cant name for our Govern
as John Bull"
Through checking Of all available
material the w. p. A. workers found
the term Uncle Sam" gradually
spread through New England and
westward.
Early Account Verified.
One of the first efforts to trace the
source of the nickname was made by
one John Frost, writing for the Book
OF the Navy, published in 1842. Mods
ern research has verified to a sub
stantial degree the early writer's ac-
count, headed Uncle SAM" which
follows:
Much learning and research have
been exercised in tracing the origin
Of odd names, and odd sayings. which,
taking their rise in some trifling oc-
currence or event, easily explained or
well understood for time, yet, in the
course Of years, becoming involved in
mystery, assume an importance equal
at least to the skill and ingenuity re-
quired to explain or trace them to
their origin. The Swan with two
necks,' The Bull and Mouth All my
eye. Betty Martin and many others,
are Of this character-and who knows
but, an hundred years, hence, some
learned commentator may puzzle his
brain to furnish some ingenious ex-
PLANTATION of the origin of the national
appellation placed at the head of this
article. To aid him, therefore, in this
research. will state the facts as they
occurred under my own eye.
Wilson's Inspected Provisions.
Immediately after the declaration
Of the last war with England, Ebert
Anderson of New York, then a con-
tractor, visited Troy. on the Hudson.
where was concentrated and where he
purchased large quantity of pro-
visions-beef, pork. etc. The inspec-
tors of these articles at that place
we're Messrs. Ebenezer and Samuel
Wilson. The latter gentleman dn-
variably known as Uncle Sam) gen.
orally superintended in person a large
number Of workmen, who, on this
occasion, were employed in overhaul
ing the provisions purchased by the
contractors for the Army. The casks
were market E. A.-U. S. This work
fell to the lot of facetious fellow in
the employ of the Messrs. Wilson, who,
on being asked by some of his fellow