Date: Wed, 12 Nov 1997 08:38:15 -0500

From: Allan Metcalf AAllan[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]AOL.COM

Subject: Barry Popik on: John Q. Public



(Barry sends me this message with explicit permission to post on ADS-L. Happy

to do so, even though it suggests that a certain book is less than perfect. -

Allan Metcalf)



AMERICA IN SO MANY WORDS (David K. Barnhart & Allan A. Metcalf) contains

many important Americanisms, but it's missing "John Q. Public."

"John Q. Public" was discussed here about a year ago when I found a

variant of that and "Jesus H. Christ" in "Judas Q. Priest." Ever since

President John Q. Adams, "Q" became a popular middle initial--especially for

comic fictional characters.

The new RHHDAS H-O has "John Q. Public" from 1937.

This is one of several similar sports articles and comes from the New

York Evening Mail, 10 August 1922, pg. 12, col. 3:



JOHN Q. PUBLIC TELLS

VIEWS ON THE GIANTS

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