[Ads-l] "to come right down to the brass" 1858

[Cohen, Gerald Leonard]

Peter Reitan has written on "get/come to brass tacks" and just sent the following additional
examples of "down to the brass" to Stephen, Garson and me.
Gerald Cohen
________________________________
From: Peter Reitan [pjreitan at hotmail.com]
Sent: Thursday, April 16, 2015 11:25 AM
To: Cohen, Gerald Leonard; goranson at duke.edu; adsgarsonotoole at gmail.com
Subject: RE: "to come right down to the brass" 1858

<snip>
Two more examples of, "Down to the Brass."

The Planters’ Banner, June 30, 1853, page 2<http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn86053688/1853-06-30/ed-1/seq-2/#date1=1836&index=0&rows=20&searchType=advanced&language=&sequence=0&words=brass+down&proxdistance=5&date2=1864&ortext=&proxtext=&phrasetext=down+to+the+brass&andtext=&dateFilterType=y>.  It often happens that meetings of this kind are holden, at which the stereotype phrase “I move, Mr. Chairman, that Mr. – be appointed,” falls thick and fast on the President’s ears until the assessment roll is nearly exhausted, and enough delegates are appointed to crowd a Mississippi steamer “down to the brass,” after which the meeting breaks up under the flattering delusion that the Parish has secured an efficient representation in the forthcoming Convention.

The Ashland Union (Ohio), May 12, 1858, page 2<http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83035173/1858-05-12/ed-1/seq-2/#date1=1836&index=11&rows=20&searchType=advanced&language=&sequence=0&words=brass+down&proxdistance=5&date2=1864&ortext=&proxtext=&phrasetext=down+to+the+brass&andtext=&dateFilterType=>.The “object” of this writer is clear.  He is determined, as the intelligent reader will observe, to bring us “right down to the brass,” and to shut up every avenue of escape.  Being thus driven into a corner, we are compelled to admit that we didn’t vote for that bill as approved by our old friend and respected fellow citizen, George Washington, &c.  Therefore, touching this point, don’t shoot again, but consider us down.



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