READERS’ QUERIES

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21167, 17 July 1940, Page 9

READERS’ QUERIES

“Chim®*/*—“Bis: Ben.” with whose tone ?ll Britons are familiar, weighs nearly 1 4 ton* and Its boorniwr can be beard for 10 mile*. It was originally christened “St. Stephen” but is now known the world over a* “Bifr Ben.” Tiie chana-e was broujrht about as follows: In till, when the Houses «-r Parliament were belnar fcir.lt. Sir Benjamin Hall. President of th • B<*ard of Public Works, rendered valuable service ami was most popular. He was a big- man of more than ample girth. which had earned for liim the nickname of “BiaPen.” In wtrn the question of n name <ame nn in Parliament for the huge bell hi the clock tov., ~. someone shouted. “Wliv ted « all it ‘Bi.tr Ben*?” - Tiarne u iik ari l the hour-bell has ever since been known as “Blgr Ben.” “Sobriauet.” —It fs stated that the origin f.r • I'ncle Sam.” a* applied to the United states, was j ; , till* wise. Samuel Wilson, one or li» ln«H ■ dors nr pro- • * -nd. re. was railed by lii* associates and n!tiers “Uncle .-am.” and the poods \% <ii. .i boro the contractor's Initial*. “F V. 'tneanimr “Elbert Andcr*n:i. United «=t •!••'■* . were read “Elbert Ander*ou." and “I’nde -am.” The joke df i nor die. and “I’ncie Pam” became synonymous with U>. (United States). “Agricola.”—Ocortre T was nicknamed • The Turnip lloer” because wdien he first went to England from Hanover in 1714 he proposed planting St. James park, London, in turnips. “By-word.”—Tammany Blmr was a powerful organisation of unp ; n ipler!

,-rr- tn thf l ’who |rro\v rirq by j>lun4*rtnir ITi* people Thfir corrupt pr.irtir.v« u*»r*» .\j ».***■ d In I*7 1. T :ip fi%ru.* wn fl**rl vm fr.-m Tarrmiam H»U. thr h**lqiiart.’rs n f ihe tlljrll offlrlalj of the tinted States.