This is interesting and worth the read.
>
>
> > 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.
> > *********************************
> > In George Washington's days, there were no cameras.
> > One'simage 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)
> > ******************************
> > 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.
> > *********************************
> > 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.'
> > *********************************
> >
> > 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.'
> > *********************************
> > Ladies wore corsets, which would lace up in the front. A
> > proper and dignified woman, as in 'straight laced' wore a tightly tied
> > lace..
> > ********************************
> > 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.'
> > **********************************
> > 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'.
> > **********************************
> > 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.)
> >
> > Good things to know: I would add another-The term ‘getting
> > fired’ originated when Tom Watson the Founder of the IBM Corporation
> > was fired from his job at another company. Seems he had several of
> > their products stolen while he was on his sales route. Tom’s boss took
> > his desk and chair to the front of building and set them on fire, an
> > example to other employees to be more careful or that they will be
> > ‘fired’ too. True story, a part of the IBM indoctrination, my first
> > day on the job with IBM.
Historical trivia, interesting
Linear Mode
