of life, and not in opinions; that Christianity, as it existed in Christ, is a life rather than a belief.-Evans's History of Religions, with Additions by an American Editor, CONIACKER. A counterfeiter of coin. CONNIPTION FIT. This term is exclusively used by the fair sex, who can best explain its meaning. As near as I can judge, conniption fits are tantrums. TO COUNT. To reckon; suppose; think. Newman. You'll pass muster! a proper fine fellow. Doolittle. I calculate I be. Newman. Ready to enter on duty? Doolittle. I should be glad to know what kind of way you count to improve me.-D. Humphreys, The Yankee in England. Count St. Luc. Read the superscription. You can read? D. DARN. An expletive in very general use among the vulgar, instead of damn. Now let me see, that isn't all; I used 'fore leaving Jaalam, To count things on my finger-ends, but something seems to ail 'em. DASSENT, for dares not. It is vulgarly used in all persons and numbers. DEAD HEADS. Persons who drink at a bar, ride in an omnibus, or railroad car, travel in steamboats, or visit the theatre without charge, are called dead heads. These consist of the engineers, conductors, and laborers on railroads; the keepers of hotels; the editors of newspapers, &c. DEAD HORSE. Work for which one has been paid before it is performed. When a workman, on Saturday night, includes in his bill work not yet finished, he is said the following week to work off a dead horse.' DIPSY. A term applied in some parts of Pennsylvania to the float of a fishing-line. DOBBER. A float to a fishing-line. So called in New York. DOUGH-FACES. This term may be regarded as nearly or quite synonymous with another not very much unlike it in form-the English "nose of wax." Generally it means a pliable politician-one who is accessible to personal influences and considerations. It was first applied, however, by John Randolph, of Roanoke, to such Northern members of Congress as manifested especial willingness to fall in with the views and demands of the South on questions involving the "peculiar institution," alias slavery. "These Northern dough-faces," he said, with an intensity of contempt, which may be imagined only by those who have seen and heard him in his sarcastic mood. [J. Inman.] Thanks to a kind Providence, and the manly straight-forwardness of John C. Calhoun, the great question of extension or non-extension of human slavery under the flag of this Republic is to be pressed to a decision now. Desperate, idolatrous, and blind as is his devotion to slavery, we' would sooner see him President to-morrow than any dough-face in the Union. He is no smooth-tongued parasite-no oily wriggler between resorts which he pronounces more and most detestable. He always strikes directly for what he wants, and boldly for all he wants, and in this boldness finds the elements of success.-N. Y. Tribune, June 29, 1848. This term has very recently been taken up by the Southerners themselves, to denote men who are false to the principles of slavery, as Northern dough-faces are to the principles of freedom. There was a disposition in the Senate to evade the question-to slip a bill for the establishment of the Oregon territory through the Senate, without calling attention to the Slavery question, and under the immediate pressure of the demand made for the military defence of the territory from the Indians. The Whigs of the North and of the South were silent. The Democratic Cass men of the North and of the South were mum. Twothirds of the Senate were dough-faced. There are Southern as well as Northern dough-faces; men looking to the spoils care not for principles,— whether they be of the North or of the South.-Washington Cor. N. Y Com. Adv., June 4, 1848. You I say to our Southern friends, deliver to us the dough-faces; deliver them to our tender mercies. We Democrats of the West and of the North-west will take care of our interests and of yours also. We keep our eyes on the old land-marks-on the letter of the Constitution. have rights guaranteed to you in the South, and we in the West. You have one species of property, and we another. We have been charged with being dough-faces; and gentlemen who make this charge not only go the dough-face, but the dough-head. What is the meaning of dough-face? I believe it is, that the dough, being soft, can be pinched and made to exhibit any aspect you please. I believe that animal magnetism has been almost reduced to a science. The principle is, that, by touching a certain part of the cranium, certain effects are produced. If you touch one of the bumps of the dough-head, benevolence turns out for the negro; there is no sympathy for any other kind of person. Touch another bump of the doughhead, and the dough-face will go against every slaveholder for President; but when you touch another, the dough-face will hurrah for old Zack Taylor, although he is a large slaveholder.-Mr. Foote of Mississippi, Debate in Senate, June 22, 1848. E. EAST. About east, is about right; in the proper manner. A common slang expression in New England. See walk into, for an example. EMPIRE STATE. The State of New York; so called from the enterprise of its people, its wealth, population, extent of canals, railroads, etc. In fact everything done by New York is on a grand scale. Hence the name. FARZINO. F. As far as I know. See Farziner. Gen. And what kind of characters are the Count and Countess ? Doolittle. Why, I ha'nt been here such a despud while, as to have larnt myself much about the matter. But by hearsay, they are a topping sort of people, and pretty much like the Boston folks, full of notions. At times, he is obstropulous. He may be a straight-going critter, farzino, manwards; but in his dealings with t'other sex, he is a little twistical.— D. Humphreys, Yankee in England. FENCE-RIDING. Sitting on the fence, i. e. keeping neutral in politics. The South will not vote for a Northern candidate, who is nominated as such, nor the North for a Southern man, who is nominated on exclusive Southern principles. In this matter there can be no neutral ground. The dividing line is narrow, but distinct; it admits of no fence-riding; the candidate must be on one side or the other; and when the time shall come, that either the North or the South adopts a candidate on sectional grounds, it will not be difficult to foretell the issue.-N. Y. Mirror. FRESH. Forward; as, 'don't make yourself too fresh here ;' that is to say, not quite so much at home. Considering that this man is so new a recruit in the party, it is not exactly modest for him to make himself quite so fresh in its counsels.--Newspaper. GAL. G. A vulgar pronunciation of girl, common alike in England and America. GALLS. A kind of low lands in Florida. They consist of a matted soil of vegetable fibres, spongy and treacherous to the foot, unpleasant as well as dangerous to cross.-Vignoles, Florida, p. 91. TO GOOSE BOOTS. To repair them by putting on a new front half way up, and a new bottom. GOPHER. In Georgia a species of land turtle, burrowing in the ground in the low country. It is able to walk with a heavy man on its back.—Sherwood's Georgia. GOPHER. A little animal found in the valleys of the Mississippi and Missouri rivers. See Prairie Dog. GRANITE STATE. The State of New Hampshire, so called from the abundance of this material found in it. GREEN MOUNTAIN STATE. The State of Vermont. H. HAMMOCK. In Florida, a term given to a particular kind of land. The low hammocks are the richest in the country, and are capable of producing, for many successive years, rich crops of sugar, corn, hemp, or other equally exhausting productions. In their primitive state they are clothed with so heavy a growth of timber and underwood, that the task of clearing them is appalling. The low hammocks are, if possible, more dense in their growth than the others, but the coat of vegetable matter is thin, and the white sand lies within a foot or eighteen inches of the surface. They are also very productive.-Vignoles, Florida, p. 87. "HEAD QUARTERS, ARMY OF THE SOUTH, SIR-I have the honor to inclose you a communication this moment received, on the subject of procuring bloodhounds from the Island of Cuba, to aid the army in its operations against the hostiles in Florida. "I am decidedly in favor of the measure, and beg leave to urge it as the only means of ridding the country of the Indians who are now broken up into small parties, and take shelter in swamps and hammocks as the army approaches, making it impossible for us to follow or overtake them without the aid of such auxiliaries. "I wish it distinctly understood that my object in employing dogs, is only to ascertain where the Indians can be found, not to worry them. "I have the honor to be, Sir, &c., “Z. TAYLOR, Brevet Brig. Gen. HAT. Our American women have almost discarded the word bonnet, except in "sun-bonnet," and use the term hat instead. A like fate has befallen the word gown, for which they commonly use frock or dress. HAW-BUCK. A term used by the farmers in driving their oxen; and hence often applied to a rough and unpolished man from the country. 66 "Mr. Jones,” says a sleek, cunning, demure expectant of something nice in case of a Whig triumph, to a bluff, haw-buck sort of a fellow whom he drops in upon on one of his circuits, "who do you think we ought to run for President this time?" "Run who?' retorts Mr. Jones, "Harry Clay, to be sure I haven't heard anybody else talked of up our way."-N. Y. Mirror. HELP. The common term in New England for a domestic servant-also for the operatives in a cotton or woolen factory. Newman. I speak; I command; all budge; all jump. I don't often stand to hear servants argue. Doolittle. Servants argue!! Do you mean me, Mister? Newman. I say, all that wear the Countess's livery, serve her. You are a footman; you have not the honor of being her body servant. Doolittle. Body servant! Hah! no; I hope I ben't her body servant, nor anybody's servant, nor your servant. I don't choose to be a servant of servants, and a slave to the devil. (High words follow, Doolittle gets into a passion-Newman becomes alarmed, and thus explains himself:) |