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Post by sueinbc on Feb 14, 2009 13:10:39 GMT -5
I just finished reading a book called "Six Geese A-Slaying" by Donna Andrews (she writes very good humorous cozy mysteries set in Virginia www.donnaandrews.com/index.shtml ) and at the very end, one character is asking her mother to say good-night to many people; the mother replies "And all the rest of the Waltons..." Sue
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Post by wetherwacky on Feb 14, 2009 22:51:36 GMT -5
"The Waltons" has become an Americanism. Such as O.K., Tippecanoe and Tyler Too, things like that. I'll explain...
Democrats were playing up Martin Van Buren in the election of 1840 by starting "O.K." Clubs. They said that Van Buren was "Ol' Kinderhook" (a complement). The Whigs turned it around, making fun of both Van Buren and the president before him, Andrew Jackson. Those early republicans said O.K. stood, not for "Ol' Kinderhook," but for "Ol' Korrect" (an insult.) This made two jabs in one phrase. It meant that Van Buren was stuffy, and that Jackson spelled horribly, which, in fact, he did.
William Henry Harrison was Tippecanoe. He was general in the battle of Tippecanoe around the Illinois area. Tecumseh and William had a sort of rivalry, the Indian vs. the General. Sometimes it got comical the way they bickered, just not when it came to battle. Harrison wanted to contact the president to ask him to resolve issues between frontiersman and the Indians. Chief Tecumseh said that the president "is so far off he will not be injured by the war; he may sit still in his town and drink his wine, whilst you and I will have to fight it out." Tyler, of course, refers to John Tyler, Harrison's V.P and our tenth president. Sadly, William Henry Harrison died of pneumonia a month after his inauguration. He hadn't worn a coat during his speech, and it was pouring rain.
So much of our history is just hidden deep in our language. Just look for it and you'll be amazed!
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Post by wetherwacky on Feb 14, 2009 23:06:36 GMT -5
I looked at the book's description. Maybe it's in paperback. It sounds hilarious!
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Post by ncwaltonsfan on Feb 14, 2009 23:15:57 GMT -5
That's a fascinating explanation,Joel. I have sometimes wondered how "O.K." got started. Now I know. In some chat rooms and on some message boards I visit, when people say "good night", I think about "The Waltons". Once when I was leaving work,everybody told each other bye for the evening and somebody yelled, "Good night,John Boy!", and everybody laughed if I remember correctly.
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Post by sueinbc on Feb 15, 2009 13:12:40 GMT -5
I looked at the book's description. Maybe it's in paperback. It sounds hilarious! It's not out in paperback yet because it's too recent, but all of her previous books are. I recommend starting with "Murder with peacocks" which is her first book. I get my copies from the library, so you could try that route as well. Enjoy! Sue
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