WALK SPANISH; DO THEMSELVES BROWN; FOR SARTIN; UP HUDDY; HOW ARE

YOU OFF FOR

SOAP?; DON'T CARE NOTHIN FOR NOBODY



Supposedly "Walk Spanish" goes back to the 16th century, but the earliest

citations turn up in the 19th century. He's part of a colorful article (with

plenty of Americanisms) from January 1830, pg. 221:



Coaches go thirty miles an hour without horses--men swallow poison by

the ounce, and "do themselves (as well as the lookers on) brown" for a crown.

It is worth the trial. You, Mr. Editor, have for SARTIN, some "right pert"

ones down along that Eastern Shore of yours--and, _I guess_, we have some

"tarnation cute" ones our way. (...) "How are you off for soap?" has been a

common question among steamboat proprietors this summer. (...) As the ice

is likely to render the track too dangerous to run the race out this season,

and, as it is principally their own, and not the public's money they run for,

they may divide stakes, or take "another hack" another year; and if that

don't fix them, the devil's in it. "Grease your wheels and _walk_ Spanish"

has been the go, but it would have been "up huddy" with the lot of them

before this, had it not been for the liberal patronage, and _spirited_

support, of that very numerous and _respectable_ class, ycleped "rum

customers." But I must "clap on a stopper" and "hark back," or I shall be

"all abroad," upon this here same North river run.

(...)

By the by, Billy, (though he "hant no opinion of timin, and sich

nonsense," and "don't care nothin for nobody," when he is "in for the

plate,") is first rate in his way, and will no doubt be a valuable

correspondent--the more especially, if he explains himself upon paper, (as to

how he "tools the length into 'em" without "queering their pins") with the

same precision and clearness he does when "wagging his clapper."



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