Antedating of "Jesus H. Christ"

[Fred Shapiro]

The Random House Historical Dictionary of American Slang has 1892 as its
first citation for "Jesus H. Christ."  The following is from Mark Twain's
Notebooks and Journals 3: 305 (notebook for Aug. 1887 - July 1888):

"In correcting the pamphlet-proof of one of [Rev. Alex] Campbell's great
sermons, Wales [McCormick] changed 'Great God!' to 'Great Scott,' and
changed Father, Son & Holy Ghost to Father, Son, & Caesar's Ghost.  In
overrunning, he reduced it to Father, Son & Co., to keep _from_
overrunning. And Jesus _H._ Christ."

Twain and McCormick had been fellow apprentices on the _Missouri Courier_,
Hannibal, where Campbell preached in Nov. 1852.

Fred Shapiro


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Fred R. Shapiro                             Editor
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