'Farewell thou latter spring!

Farewell all hallown summer!'

"And more expressively in the first part of Henry VI.:

'This night the siege assuredly I'll raise;

Expect St. Martin's summer, halcyon days.''

INDIAN TOBACCo. (Lobelia inflata.) A plant whose leaves contain a poisonous, white, viscid juice, of an acrid taste.

INDIAN TURNIP. 1. (Arum triphyllum.) The root of an acrid and powerful poison when fresh.

2. (Psoralea esculenta.) A common root in the West, much used by the Sioux Indians as food. It is also called Pomme Blanche and Pomme de Prairie.

INDIANS. The name improperly given by early navigators to the aborigines of America, in the belief that the country they inhabited was the eastern portion of India, a name then applied to far eastern Asia. The Spaniards, until within the present century, applied the name of "India" and "Indies to their possessions in America; and even now, it is said that in Seville, the department or office where the business of America is transacted, and which in England would be called the "Colonial Office," is known as the "India House."

INDIGNATION MEETING. A public meeting called by a political or other party, for the purpose of devising means to correct an alleged or real public abuse.

Instead of those indignation meetings set on foot in the time of William the Testy, where men met together to rail at public abuses, groan over the evils of the times, and make each other miserable, there were joyous meetings of the two sexes to dance and make merry.— Irving, Knickerbocker.

The public looked chiefly to the press for advice and information as to their rights and duties, and had resolved that it should not be gagged and put down by "illegal orders, attachments, fines and imprisonments for imaginary contempts against courts which cannot be reduced much lower than they have reduced themselves." So said the resolutions of the indignation meeting of the 9th March, 1851; and this language was generally applauded. — Annals of San Francisco, p. 324.

INFAIR. The "reception" party or entertainment of a newly married couple. West and South.

The infair, or wedding supper, was all ready, we were marshalled to our seats; and a most sumptuous feast it was. — Southern Sketches, p. 59.

TO INHEAVEN. A word invented by the Boston transcendentalists.

The one circumflows and inheavens us. The infinite Father bears us in his bosom, shepherd and flock. — Margaret, p. 412.

INSTITUTION. A flash word of recent introduction as applied to any prevalent practice or thing.

The driving of vehicles is a great institution among us, and may be safely said to constitute almost the only out-door amusement of the majority of our male population. The ambition of every fast man, young or old, is to possess a wagon with one or two trotting horses attached. — N. Y. Herald.

Garroting, as an institution, may be said to be almost extinct in New York. It went out of fashion in a desperate hurry immediately after a sensible judge sentenced three garroters to the state prison, one for life, the others for twenty-one years each. — Tricks and Traps of New York, p. 47.

Whatever small thinkers and small actors may attempt, woman cannot be counted out and classified as a mere appendage. She is an institution, and hereafter must receive the most generous culture and recognition, if man and society are ever to be more than they have been in times past.-H. L. Stuart, in N. Y. Tribune, Aug. 11, 1858.

A very unwholesome object, the carcass of a large dog, has been suffered to lie in Ninth street, near D, since Tuesday, although most abominably offensive and unhealthy. A similar institution has occupied a site on the commons for some time past, filling the air with noxious odors. — (Wash.) Evening Star, July, 1858.

From the following example, it appears that this use, or rather abuse, of the word, is not confined to this country:

To

The camels form an institution of India, - possibly a part of the traditional policy, and they must be respected accordingly.-London Times Cor. from India, April, 1858.

TO INTERFERE. "He interfered with me," in the West, generally implies rough usage.

INTERVAL, or INTERVALE. LOW or alluvial land on the margins of rivers; so called in New England. Similar land is called, in the Western States, "bottom land.” Worcester.

The interval intended in New England geography is the interval or space between a river and the mountains, which on both sides uniformly accompany its course at a greater or less distance from its margin. Hence interval lands include meadow and uplands, and in general the whole of the narrow valley through which, in these regions, the rivers flow. - Kendall's Travels, Vol. III. p. 183.

IRISH. Temper, anger. Col. Dick Johnson, of Tecumseh reputation, used this Western substantive in one of his Eastern speeches: "My friends say that my Irish is getting up," meaning, I am getting angry. IRISH POTATO. A term used throughout the country to distinguish the common (Solanum tuberosum) from the sweet potato (Convolvulus batalas). Is. Some American grammarians condemn such expressions as "He is come, arrived, returned, gone; was come," etc., universal in England and occurring everywhere, in the Bible and the best writers. No Englishman would say "the boat has gone," "has come;" he would say "he

has gone to London many a time," "he has come several miles to no purpose," "he has returned by a different road."

The difference in meaning is obvious, and contributes to enrich the language. In the former expression gone, arrived, etc., are real participial adjectives, expressing a permanent state; in the latter they are verbs. IRON WEED. (Vernonia noveboracensis.) A plant, called in the Northeastern States Flat Top, almost the only tall weed found in the beautiful "woods pastures" of Kentucky and Tennessee. Western.

ISABELLA GRAPE. A cultivated grape of Vitis labrusca, not much esteemed for its wine producing qualities, but grown for table use.

ISLAND. In prairie regions, the same terms are used as if the timber were land, and the prairie water. A cluster of trees is called an island, sometimes a mot, · a small strip of prairie running into a wood, a cove, and a larger one, a bay.

The soil of the prairies is deep and rich; but, being of a clayey nature, retains the water after heavy rains, so as to appear flooded. In some are little clumps of trees on higher ground, which are called islands. — Harris, Journal of a Tour, etc., p. 178.

At the summit of the hill is a beautiful grove, or island of timber, where the heroes that fell at the battle of San Jacinto sleep their last sleep. —A Stray Yankee in Texas, p. 252.

ITEM. Information; as "I got item of his being in town." This word is used among Southern gamblers to imply information of what cards may be in their partner's or opponent's hands; this is called "giving item.” Keep your eyes skinned and your rifles clean, and the minit yer get item that I'm back, set off for the cross roads, etc. N. Y. Spirit of the Times.

To JAB. To strike or thrust; as,

J.

he jabbed a knife into me."

JACAL. (Span., pron. hacal; from the Mexican xacalli, a straw hut.) A house built of erect stakes, with their interstices filled with mud. They are common in Texas and in new Spanish settlements.

The modern village of Goliad is composed of about twenty jacals, large, and of a comparatively comfortable character, scattered over two hills. Olmsted's Texas, p. 262.

JACKASS RABBIT. (Lepus callotis.) A rabbit, found on the high plains of Texas and near the Rocky Mountains, so called from its very long ears and long and slender legs. It is known also by the names of Mule Rabbit, Texan Hare, and Black-tailed Hare.

Our conversation was cut short by a jackass-rabbit bounding from under our horses' feet. — Audubon's Quadrupeds of North America, Vol. II. p. 95.

The jackass-rabbit crossed our path occasionally; but it sprang up so suddenly, and darted through the low bushes or chapparal so rapidly, that I could not get a shot at one. Bartlett's New Mexico, Vol. I. p. 76.

JACK-AT-A-PINCH. As a last resort.

JAG.

The fact is, Miss Coon feels wonderfully cut up, because she knows that her husband took her Jack-at-a-pinch. —Widow Bedott Papers, p. 27.

A parcel or load. - Halliwell. And so in New England.

As there was very little money in the country, the bank bought a good jag on 't in Europe. Maj. Downing's Letters, p. 168.

JAM UP. A slang expression, equivalent to the English "slap up," "bang up,” i. e. capital, prime.

There must have been a charming climate in Paradise. The temperature was perfect, and connubial bliss, I allot, was real jam up.-Sam Slick, Human Nature, p. 273.

JAMAICA PEPPER. See Allspice.

The Thorn Apple (Da-
It is said to have

JAMESTOWN Weed. (Pron. Jimson weed.) tura stramonium). Its Northern name is Stinkweed. been introduced from tropical America, and to have been first observed about Jamestown, Virginia, where it sprang up on heaps of ballast and other rubbish discharged from vessels; whence its Southern

name.

The Jamestown weed is one of the greatest coolers in the world. It, being an early plant, was gathered very young for a boiled salad by some of the soldiers, to pacify the troubles of bacon, and some of them eat plentifully of it, the effect of which was a very pleasant comedy; for they turned natural fools upon it for several days. ·Beverly, Hist. of Virginia, Book II.

The Jamestown weed is excellent for curing burns and assuaging inflammations; but taken inwardly brings on a sort of drunken madness. — Lawson's Carolina, 1718, p. 78.

George, did you ever see Sicily Burns?" "Yes, a very handsome girl." "Handsome! this wurd don't kiver the case. She shows among wimen like a sunflower as compared to dog-fennel, an smart weed, and jimsen.” — Sut Luvengood's Experience.

JAPONICADOM. A word invented by N. P. Willis to denote the upper classes of society.

TO JEOPARDIZE. To expose to loss or injury.-Webster. This word is often seen in the debates of Congress, as they are reported in the newspapers. It is doubtless a corruption of the ancient verb to jeopard, as deputize is of depute. - Pickering. The word is much used in the United States, and less frequently in England.

The profound respect for the cause of truth which led Mr. Tooke not to jeopardize its interests by any hasty assumption of its name and pretensions for a discovery yet incomplete, constitutes one of his surest holds upon posterity. - London Athenaum, March 18, 1848.

A horse, with a wagon attached, took fright yesterday afternoon in York street, and started off at full speed, jeopardizing the lives and limbs of pedestrians. One female, with a child in her arms, narrowly escaped being knocked down and run over.-N. Y. Courier and Enquirer.

JERKS, and JERKING EXERCISE. The paroxysms into which certain religious enthusiasts fell at their camp-meetings in the West, though chiefly in Kentucky and Tennessee. It consisted in being jerked in all directions, and over whatever object happened to be in the way. In these cases, the persons affected would be left to themselves, because the people said, that, to oppose them, would be to resist the influences of the Spirit of God.

JESSIE. "To give one Jessie," means to give him a flogging.

Well, hoss, you've slashed the hide off 'er that feller, touched his raw, and rumpled his feathers — that's the way to give him jessy. — Robb, Squatter Life,

p. 33.

The preacher went in for giving Jessie to the Church of Rome. - Doesticks, p. 105.

It is represented that a great many people from Salt Lake have been met, and they all say that the Mormons are going to give us Jessie.—St Louis Republican,

1857.

The Judge [who was a candidate for office] had to stay at a convenient distance to hear that Hoss Allen was giving him particular Jesse. Hoss Allen's Apology.

TO JEW. To cheat. To Jew a person, is considered, in Western parlance, a shade worse than to "Yankee" him.

JEWHILLIKENS! A Western exclamation of surprise.

Didn't you know that feller, Arch Cooney? He was a hoss-fly. He's a few! well he is. Jewhilliken, how he could whip a nigger! and swear! whew! - Traits of American Humor.

TO JIBE. To suit, agree, harmonize. A variation of to gee, which last is used both in England and in this country.

I attempted to sing the words of "Old Hundred," while the lady played the Jenny Lind Polka, which did n't seem to jibe.—Doesticks, p. 113.

JIG. An artificial squid for trolling. New England.

"A school of blue-fish!" exclaimed the Professor, as his eye caught the movement to which I pointed. He shouted frantically to the pilot to make haste with the dory, and, throwing on an overcoat, seized from the locker where we kept our fishing tackle a long, stout line, at the end of which was a shining, spoon-shaped piece of pewter, terminated by a large hook. This apparatus he called a jig.-N. Y. Tribune, July 22, 1858.