Antedating of "Hobo" (1886)

[Sam Clements]

Many thanks to Doug and Jessie for correcting my exuberance.

Sam Clements
----- Original Message -----
From: "Jesse Sheidlower" <jester at PANIX.COM>
To: <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
Sent: Sunday, October 21, 2007 8:28 PM
Subject: Re: Antedating of "Hobo" (1886)


> On Sun, Oct 21, 2007 at 05:07:52PM -0400, Douglas G. Wilson wrote:
>> >Using Google Book Search, I find an earlier cite for the term, but
>> >nothing helpful to explain the term, only that it would appear to be
>> >more recognized at the time by Western citizens.
>> >
>> >"Social Problems of To-Day;  or The Mormon Question in Its Economic
>> >Aspects" by A. Gentile, 1886,  From
>> >http://books.google.com/books?id=IkMlAAAAMAAJ&pg=RA4-PA33&dq=hobo+tramp+date:1850-1889&as_brr=0
>> >
>> >"Mr. RICHARDS. Yes, sir; if you had gone into the city of Ogden,
>> >situated 37 miles from Salt Luke City, two weeks ago, it would have
>> >been as impossible to find what we call a hobo in that city as it
>> >would be to find one in the paradise of Heaven.
>> >Senator DAVIS. What is a hobo ?
>> >Mr. RICHARDS. A tramp who comes there to vote, votes as many times
>> >as he can, and gets as much money as possible for doing it."
>> >
>> >So, the term was familiar to Mr. Richards, who was from Ogden.
>>
>> Looks to me like the date is actually 1892. The above is on p. 33:
>> page back to p.1 and you'll see the date, I think.
>
> Yes, this is a government document on Utah bound together with
> a book on Mormons. This sort of thing is particularly
> dangerous, because if you just skip back to the start of the
> entire text, you'll see the actual title page of the 1886
> volume.
>
> And while we're at it, the author is "A Gentile", not
> "A. Gentile" :-)
>
> Jesse Sheidlower
> OED
>
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