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 U.S. 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.)

If you don't send this
fabulous bit of historic knowledge to any and all your unsuspecting friends,
your hard drive will kill your mouse.