Larchmont Chronicle Story Archive

Larchmont Chronicle Neighborhood newspaper representing Hancock Park, Larchmont Village
Miracle Mile, Park La Brea Fremont Place in the Wilshire center area of Los Angeles. Local News and
stories about the local Los Angeles Scene. Historical informattion regarding the Larchmont Chronicle and
Hancock Park area. Founded in 1963 on Larchmont Bouelvard, Los Angeles, CA, California

April 2, 2010

PROFESSOR KNOW-IT-ALL

Bill Bentley

How come a false lead is called a “red herring?” asks Jim Vernon.

Herring was always a staple of the island-dwelling English and in non-refrigerated times, was always cured in salt. This process gave the flesh a strong reddish color and even a stronger odor. Because of this olfactory objectification, English hunters used red herrings to train their dogs to follow a scent. And if someone (like a fugitive) who was pursued by dogs, could drop a red herring on his trail and then double back, the dogs would follow the “red herring” left by the red herring.

Julius Caesar and his astronomer Sosigenes correctly calculated the year at 365 1/4 days (not an even 365), and created an extra day, every fourth year to make up for the four “lost” quarter days. The year with the extra day is called Leap Year because the calendar skips or leaps a day.

If you’re dressed to the nines, you’re “gussied up.” Why? ponders John Jenkins.

This started as a localized Southern colloquialism from eastern Georgia, specifically the rural area around the city of Augusta. If you were going into town, you got dressed up like a person from Augusta (called Gussies). Nowadays, you can get all “gussied up” and go anywhere.

If someone can’t measure up, they can’t “cut the mustard.” What’s the origin? asks Jo Barnstable.

Before the advent of the Pure Food Act (1909), most foodstuffs were thinned or compromised with fillers and cheap imitations to trim costs. Prevalent condiments like mustard and ketchup were naturals for this adulteration and “the proper mustard” became anything that was the real McCoy (more on him later). If someone can’t “cut the mustard,” they obviously don’t have what it takes.

Professor Know-It-All is the nom de plume of Bill Bentley, who invites readers to try and stump him. Send your questions to him at willbent@prodigy.net.

Larchmont Chronicle
542½ North Larchmont Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90004

Editor & Publisher: Jane Gilman
Associate Publisher: Irwin Gilman

Admin

Information about the Larchmont Village, Hancock Park, Miracle Mile, Park LaBrea areas of Los Angeles, california. The larchmont Chronicle provides information, news stories, local events, advertising, real estate information, real estate listing advertisings, Los Angeles area demographics and other neighborhood news.