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HISTORICAL TRIVIA

Did you know the saying "God willing and the Creek don't rise" was in
reference to the Creek Indians and not a body of water? It was written
by Benjamin Hawkins in the late 18th century. He was a politician and
Indian diplomat. While in the south, Hawkins was requested by the
President of the US. to return to Washington. In his response, he was
said to write, "God willing and the Creek don't rise." Because he capitalized
the word "Creek" it is deduced that he was referring to the Creek Indian
tribe and not a body of water.

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In George Washington's days, there were no cameras. One's image was
either sculpted or painted. Some paintings of George Washington showed
him standing behind a desk with one arm behind his back while others
showed both legs and both arms. Prices charged by painters were not
based on how many people were to be painted, but by how many limbs
were to be painted. Arms and legs are 'limbs,' therefore painting them
would cost the buyer more. Hence the expression, 'Okay, but it'll cost
you an arm and a leg.'
(Artists know hands and arms are more difficult to paint.)

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As incredible as it sounds, men and women took baths only twice a year
(May and October) Women kept their hair covered, while men shaved
their heads (because of lice and bugs) and wore wigs. Wealthy men
could afford good wigs made from wool. They couldn't wash the wigs,
so to clean them they would carve out a loaf of bread, put the wig in
the shell, and bake it for 30 minutes. The heat would make the wig
big and fluffy, hence the term 'big wig...' Today we often use the term
'here comes the Big Wig' because someone appears to be or is powerful
and wealthy.

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In the late 1700's, many houses consisted of a large room with only one
chair. Commonly, a long wide board folded down from the wall, and was
used for dining. The 'head of the household' always sat in the chair while
everyone else ate sitting on the floor. Occasionally a guest, who was
usually a man, would be invited to sit in this chair during a meal. To sit in
the chair meant you were important and in charge. They called the one
sitting in the chair the 'chair man.' Today in business, we use the expression
or title 'Chairman' or 'Chairman of the Board.'

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Personal hygiene left much room for improvement. As a result, many
women and men had developed acne scars by adulthood. The women
would spread bee's wax over their facial skin to smooth out their
complexions. When they were speaking to each other, if a woman
began to stare at another woman's face she was told, 'mind your own
bee's wax.' Should the woman smile, the wax would crack, hence the
term 'crack a smile'. In addition, when they sat too close to the fire,
the wax would melt. Therefore, the expression 'losing face.'

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Ladies wore corsets, which would lace up in the front. A proper and
dignified woman, as in 'straight laced' wore a tightly tied lace..

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Common entertainment included playing cards. However, there was
a tax levied when purchasing playing cards but only applicable to the
'Ace of Spades.’ To avoid paying the tax, people would purchase 51
cards instead. Yet, since most games require 52 cards, these people
were thought to be stupid or dumb because they weren't 'playing with
a full deck.'

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Early politicians required feedback from the public to determine what
the people considered important. Since there were no telephones,
TV's or radios, the politicians sent their assistants to local taverns,
pubs, and bars. They were told to 'go sip some Ale and listen to
people's conversations and political concerns. Many assistants were
dispatched at different times. 'You go sip here' and 'You go sip there.'
The two words 'go sip' were eventually combined when referring to
the local opinion and, thus we have the term 'gossip.'

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At local taverns, pubs, and bars, people drank from pint and quart-sized
containers. A bar maid's job was to keep an eye on the customers and
keep the drinks coming. She had to pay close attention and remember
who was drinking in 'pints' and who was drinking in 'quarts,' hence the
phrase 'minding your 'P's and Q's.'

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One more: bet you didn't know this!

In the heyday of sailing ships, all war ships and many freighters carried iron
cannons. Those cannons fired round iron cannon balls. It was necessary to
keep a good supply near the cannon. However, how to prevent them from
rolling about the deck? The best storage method devised was a square-based
pyramid with one ball on top, resting on four resting on nine, which rested on
sixteen. Thus, a supply of 30 cannon balls could be stacked in a small area
right next to the cannon. There was only one problem... how to prevent the
bottom layer from sliding or rolling from under the others. The solution was a
metal plate called a 'Monkey' with 16 round indentations. However, if this plate
were made of iron, the iron balls would quickly rust to it. The solution to the
rusting problem was to make 'Brass Monkeys.' Few landlubbers realize that brass
contracts much more and much faster than iron when chilled. Consequently,
when the temperature dropped too far, the brass indentations would shrink so
much that the iron cannonballs would come right off the monkey; Thus, it was
quite literally, 'Cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey.'
(All this time, you thought that was an improper expression, didn't you?)
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