Take the rag off the bush

[Scot LaFaive]

Found this in The Met by Chance (1873) by Olive Logan. The phrase is very strange, but sounds nice. As does "jackassiness."
 
"To come here and listen to a play that's squalled at you in language you don't understand, jest takes the rag off the bush for jackassiness, according to my notion." (p. 264)
 
This person (http://www.beatlelinks.net/forums/printthread.php?t=16144&page=3&pp=20) seems to think it comes from a Ireland, but the etymology sounds too perfect to be true. Anyone know if this is true?
 
Scot LaFaive
 
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