It Started with Van Buren

 

President Martin Van Buren

United States President Martin Van Buren is famous for his answer to Joseph Smith’s plea for redress from the Missouri losses when he stated to the Prophet, “Your cause is just, but I can do nothing for you.” During the 1840 Presidential campaign, Van Buren popularized a term that started with him and is used daily by any who speak the English language. My guess is, you’ve already said it at least once today. What was the term?

a.      Cool

b.      Nope

c.       Awesome

d.      Okay

Yesterday’s answer:

C)   Ear wax—gross!!!!

The following from the 1828 best seller “The Frugal Housewife”

Ear Wax—nothing is better than ear-wax to prevent the painful effects resulting from a wound by a nail, skewer, etc. It should be put on as soon as possible. Those who are troubled with cracked lips have found this remedy successful when others have failed.

Orton, Chad M. and William W. Slaughter, Joseph Smith’s America (Salt Lake City: Deseret Books, 2005), 91.