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Show Term "Jitney" Traced to Louisiana Negroes The word "Jitney," which has been used intermittently and In various sections sec-tions of the United States for many years, and which suddenly sprang Into general use at the time the 5-cent busses and flivvers were striving to settle the local trallic problems of many cities, had a curious origin. A minstrel troupe was playing In Baton Ba-ton Rouge, La., In a theater where the highest gallery was reserved for negroes. ne-groes. No gallery tickets were sold, a member of the troupe being placed at the door to take cash. The door was In a poorly lighted space; and later the collector discovered two-score two-score of plain metal disks the size of a 5-cent piece, that had been passed as .nickels.. One of the minstrels showed the disks to a negro, who explained: "Dem's Jitneys." They were; Jettons the metal disks used as markers In a gambling house. A negro attendant had stolen the Jettons Jet-tons and was passing them as money. The minstrel troupe seized upon the word, and thereafter a 5-cent piece was a Jitney, and the word spread until It came Into common use. Liberty. |