By Gideon Wurdz
EAGLE The national bird of a Christian country; (the United States.) Presumably chosen on account of its being a bird of pray.
EARL A title of nobility.
EARLY A title of stupidity. See old saw,
"Early to bed and early to rise,
Makes a man a farmer!"
EARTH
A solid substance, much desired by the seasick.
ECHO The only thing that can cheat a woman out of the last word.
ECONOMY Denying ourselves a necessary to-day in order to buy a luxury to-morrow.
EGG
A wholesome, yet fowl, product, of no use until broken. Sometimes a cure for indigestion or bad acting.
ELECTION
A periodical picnic for the American People. Held in booths, where the Voter puts in his ballot, and The Machine elects whatever it chooses. A day when the lowliest may make their mark and even beggars may ride; when the Glad Mit gets promiscuous and everything is full—particularly the lodging-houses.
ENCORE A greedy theatre-goer's desire to get more than his money's worth. From the Fr. en, among, and cochon, pig,—common among pigs.
ENGAGEMENT In war, a battle. In love, the salubrious calm that precedes the real hostilities.
ENTHUSIAST One who preaches four times as much as he believes and believes four times as much as a sane man ought to.
EPITAPH A statement that usually lies above about the one who lies beneath.
EQUATOR
An imaginary line around the earth. Recently held by J.P. Morgan.
ERR To make a mistake.
ERRATIC Full of mistakes.
ETHER One of the world's three great composers—the others being Gas and Chloroform—whose airs are popular among the suffering.
ETIQUETTE A convenient code of conduct which makes Lying a virtue and Snobbishness a righteous deed.
EVOLUTION A clever trick performed by one Darwin, who made a monkey of Adam.
EXCURSION From ex. former, and Grk. kairo, to enjoy. Hence, a tiresome journey—formerly an enjoyment—sold at half price.
EXERCISE Bodily exertion requiring a $10,000 gymnasium, a ten-acre lot and impossible raiment. Originally confined to the wash-tub and the wood-pile.
EXPANSION A combination of Grand Larceny and Piracy, involving the destruction of the Constitution and Declaration of Independence.—Boston.
The benevolent assimilation of previously oppressed peoples—Washington, D.C.
A doubtful commercial experiment.—Wall Street.
The white man's burden.—Kipling.
EXPLOSION A good chance to begin at the bottom and work up.
EXPOSITION An overgrown Department Store, usually opened a year or two behind time.