"Whole Ball of Wax" (1892)

[George Thompson]

Barry offers:
> WHOLE BALL OF WAX
>
>     20 September 1892, GETTYSBURG COMPILER (Gettysburg, PA), pg.
> 1, col. 8:
>   "That's what!" exclaimed the youth, heartily.  "She's the best
> gal in our
> country, and I've had the pick an' choice of all of 'em.  There
> isn't one of
> 'em that wouldn't marry me quicker her wink, but this is my choice
> of the whole
> ball of wax."
>
>    12 November 1911, INDIANAPOLIS STAR, pg. 16, col. 8:
>   And the W. C. T. U. proposed to put the kibosh on the whole
> ball of wax.
>
> -------------------------------------------------------------------

Here is a passage that may serve to obfuscate the matter:

        Edward McGrath, 45, . . . [was] one of those drunken loafers,
without home and without employment. . . , and was usually seen half
naked and half drunk about a shanty at 64 Centre street; and used to
run errands for the neighbors, being known by the cognomen of "the ball
of wax."
New York Daily Express, September 9, 1840, p. 2, col. 5

He was found dead, to no one's surprise.

GAT

George A. Thompson
Author of A Documentary History of "The African Theatre", Northwestern
Univ. Pr., 1998, but nothing much lately.

"We have seen the best of our time.  Machinations, hollowness,
treachery, and all ruinous disorders follow us disquietly to our
graves."  King Lear, Act 1, scene 2 (Gloucester speaking).


----- Original Message -----
From: Bapopik at AOL.COM
Date: Friday, December 26, 2003 1:13 am
Subject: "Whole Ball of Wax" (1892); Salt Water Taffy (1893); Peanut
Gallery (1876)

>    Nah, there was nothing more for "lunch."
>    It's strange that just that one "TANSAAFL" article came up on
> the first
> search, but the other syndicated articles appeared when I checked
> "Dos Utt."
>
> -------------------------------------------------------------------
> -----------
> ---------------------------------------------
> -----------
> ---------------------------------------------
> LIFE OF RILEY
>
>   Nothing great here.
>
> Indianapolis Star - 10/8/1911
> ...William M. Hersehell read a sketch on tlie LIFE OF RILEY. and
> Mrs. M. M.
> House sang :i.....skeicher. Hev talk dealt with the LIFE OF the
> Japanese, and
> she told OF the.....The program consisted OF readings from RILEY.
> and Mrs.
> Ernest M. Carter and Mrs.....Helen Hyde, the famous portrayer OF
> child, LIFE OF
> Japan. The Fortnightly Literary Club..
> Indianapolis, Indiana Sunday, October 08, 1911  773 k
>
> -------------------------------------------------------------------
> -----------
> ---------------------------------------------
> SALT WATER TAFFY
>
>   OED has 1894.  Massachusetts has the "original Atlantic City"
> salt water
> taffy?
>
>   9 September 1893, DAILY NORTHWESTERN (Oshkosh, Wisconsin), pg.
>   I took the whole crowd bathing in the morning, sailing and
> fishing in the
> afternoon, then merry-go-rounds, salt water taffy, tin-types, pier,
> switchback, creamy soda water, conches, and heaven only knows what.
>
>   22 December 1893, LOWELL DAILY SUN (Lowell, Massachusetts), pg.
> 3?, col.
> 7:
> WE ARE THE ORIGINATORS
> OF THE FAMOUS ATLANTIC CITY
> _Salt Water Taffy_
>  ALL OTHERS ARE SIMPLY IMITATORS.
>  CARAMELS
> And Home Made Candies Strictly Pure and always
> Fresh.  Made expressly for retail trade only.
> 42 CENTRAL STREET
>
> (No business name?--ed.)
>
> -------------------------------------------------------------------
> -----------
> ---------------------------------------------
> PEANUT GALLERY
>
>   DARE also has 1876.  The Augusta (GA) Archives didn't help.
> For any
> peanut person out there.
>
>   10 June 1876, MOUNTAIN DEMOCRAT (Placerville, California), pg.
> 2, col. 1:
>   As a bid for applause from the political pit and peanut gallery
> it was a
> masterpiece.
>