Keep up with the Joneses (1894?, 1913)

[George Thompson]

I have read somewhere that the "Joneses" in question were the wealthy and very respectable early-mid 19thC NYC family, and that the expression was first used by a society dame with ambitions to be thought equally respectable.  Where I read this I do not now remember.

Edith Wharton was a Jones: Edith Newbold Jones.  As we horseplayers would put it, by a Jones, out of a Rhinelander.  You can't get more respectable than that.  One of the biographies of Wharton might give a source.

GAT

George A. Thompson
Author of A Documentary History of "The African Theatre", Northwestern Univ. Pr., 1998.

----- Original Message -----
From: Bapopik at AOL.COM
Date: Monday, March 29, 2004 1:31 am
Subject: Keep up with the Joneses (1894?, 1913); Keep your nose clean (1877)

> KEEP UP WITH THE JONESES
>
>   Gregory Titelman writes: "The precise origin of this saying is
> unknown, but in 1913 Arthur R. ("Pop") Momand adopted it as the
> title for a series of cartoons published in the New York _Globe_
> and other papers."
>   I didn't expect to find anything earlier.
>
>
> (WWW.NEWSPAPERARCHIVE.COM)
> Ohio Democrat - 2/15/1894
> ...and THE Kniselys, when THEy can KEEP UP WITH THE SMITHS and THE
> Joneses. Our.....M. C. A. Lecture Course. March 9th, 1894, "UP THE
> Rhine and Oyer THE Major Henry C. Dane.....Directory shows THE
> names cf 30 .SMITHS, 30 Millers, 29 Joneses, and 28.....that stop
> THE paper WITHout settling UP: Take THE year you were born in and
> add..New Philadelphia, Ohio   Thursday, February 15, 1894  900 k
>
> ---------------------------------------------------------------
> KEEP YOUR NOSE CLEAN
>
>   Titelman has: "The proverb has been traced back to _Tragedy in
> E Flat_ by L. R. Gribble (1938)."
>
>
> (AMERICAN PERIODICAL SERIES)
>   FIFTY YEARS AGO; OR, THE CABINS OF THE WEST.; No. 3.
> ROSELLA RICE. Arthur's Illustrated Home Magazine (1873-1879).
> Philadelphia: Mar 1875. Vol. 43, Iss. 3; p. 149 (6 pages)
> (I didn't see it--ed.)
>
>   The World of Humor.
> Saturday Evening Post (1839-1885). Philadelphia: Mar 19, 1881.
> Vol. Vol. 60., Iss. NO. 35.; p. 14 (1 page):
>   A youth invested a dollar and a half in a New York firm to
> discover "How to appear well in society."  The receipt which he
> received by return mail was short, simple, and easily understood:
> "Always keep your nose clean, and don't suck more than one finger
> at a time."
>
>
> (WWW.NEWSPAPERARCHIVE.COM)
> Fort Wayne News - 6/21/1919
> ...people's business." 'Advice. Just KEEP YOUR NOSE CLEAN and
> behave, ..And poverty .won't.....Gabb. "The Greecian replied Mr.
> Gabb. "The NOSE I admire most is the NOSE that is
> kept.....government warehouses "Why scheme about to KEEP this off
> the American market and send it.....who have such a lovely job in
> a nice, CLEAN hotel where we have the esteemed honor..
> Fort Wayne, Indiana   Saturday, June 21, 1919  820 k
>
> Indiana Democrat - 5/31/1877
> ...anil easily understood "Always KEEP YOUR NOSE CLEAN, and don't
> suc.k.more than one.....Proprietor. Ing all logs necessary to KEEP
> tlie mills well supplied with logs for.....run the risk. About
> this time my son read YOUR advertisement in our paper, a
> testimony.....VEUET1NE, and I recommend it to my friends. YOUR
> Vegetine ought to be In every family. My..
> Indiana, Pennsylvania   Thursday, May 31, 1877  791 k
>
> Bridgeport Telegram - 10/1/1918
> ...t worry. 'i, KEEP YOUR feet warm. KEEP YOUR NOSE CLEAN. Eat
> slowly. Do YOUR best. Mind.....JUST ftHD, REAUUY ONE MUST KEEP
> ABREAST OFTHE STVLE5? IT fRoh ME .THAT.....a swig out of a flask
> of his famous x 'NOSE Paint.' %vhat wonld the name of the.....of
> It. WHAT DO VA LUCK.? WORRIED BECAUJCT KEEP INS TULLER R HEALTH
> Anclrew F. Currier..
> Bridgeport, Connecticut   Tuesday, October 01, 1918  773 k
>
> Washington Post - 3/3/1921
> ...catarrh Relief so quickly. Adv. KEEP YOUR NOSE CLEAN common
> colds are infectious and.....Is cash in Problems. Hew can parents
> best KEEP in touch with their children's school.....colds. Cold
> gisrUJB will not thrive In a NOSE that la kept i lean and
> wholesome. Mayr.....Head-CoUs. Iris Spleadu) Tn one iblnute YOUR
> doffed AOattlll Of en, the air passages..
> Washington, District Of Columbia   Thursday, March 03, 1921  495 k
>
> Herald And Torch Light - 7/18/1877
> ...and easily understood "Always KEEP YOUR NOSE CLEAN, and do not
> suck morettaa one.....thc above is jus the thing yon want to KEEP
> YOUR Harness, Boots, Shoes and Buggy.....Think of it If you should
> hereafter whip YOUR child, I wish you could have YOUR..
> Hagerstown, Maryland   Wednesday, July 18, 1877  1003 k
>
> Coshocton Tribune - 3/3/1921
> ...is seriously iJi their home on KEEP YOUR NOSE CLEAN Common
> colds arp infectious and.....colds. Cold germs will not thrive in
> a NOSE that Is kept CLEAN and wholei some. Mayr.....break up
> colds, too It's comforting to KEEP it handy. Three sizes 35c. 70c,
> ?1.40.....all reliable pharmacists the country over. KEEP in mind
> the name. Dr. Carey's "Marshroot..
> Coshocton, Ohio   Thursday, March 03, 1921  598 k
>
> Trenton Evening Times - 11/18/1920
> ...iT-c.rininp by nbnm'nnttii: ;f KEEP YOUR NOSE CLEAN until 1ft"
> n 'T v fa i No. lOdi B.....r "it to timt .thi K XTwent on With any
> "CLEAN-Up." l.-Birn.if d. ad. It would not Int.....CANDY .You
> .will be satisfied if you, buy YOUR Candy here. We have the
> largest.....town. Just Received The best candies marie, YOUR
> choice can easily be" mads from the..
> Trenton, New Jersey   Thursday, November 18, 1920  719 k
>
> Olean Democrat - 8/25/1887
> ...and easily understood: "Always KEEP YOUR NOSE CLEAN, and don't
> suck more than one.....which will come across the ocean. Leave
> YOUR orders for new Parlor and odd pieces..
> Olean, New York   Thursday, August 25, 1887  679 k
>