[Ads-l] antedating of "how's tricks?"

[Jonathan Lighter]

OED: 1915

1871 _Republican Valley Watchman_ (Clyde, Kans.) (May 12) 3: How's tricks
[,] Billey [?].

1871 _Winona [Minn.] Daily Republican_ (July 21) 3: How's tricks?

1880 _Daily Appeal_ (Carson City, Nev.) (March 27) 7 [Newspapers.com]:
"Hello, Bill. How's tricks?" "Bully; have a smile."

Etc.

JL

-- 
"If the truth is half as bad as I think it is, you can't handle the truth."

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