Show Indians Gave Americans Old Yankee Nickname Our oldest national nickname is Yankee The popular story of its origin is that the Indians stumbling over the pronunciation of the lan lan- language language language guage of the paleface called the thet t English By corruption became and thence Yankees The settlers took back the word Yankees from their dusky neighbors Uncle Sam as a nickname dates from the War of 1812 when one Elbert Anderson an army con con- contractor contractor contractor tractor visited Troy an army depot The The inspectors there were two brothers Ebenezer and Samuel Wil Wil- Wilson Wilson Wil- Wil Wilson son the latter always known as ns Un Un- Uncle Uncle Uncle cle Sam A number of workmen one day were overhauling some casks purchased by Anderson all marked E uE A. A U. A.-U. U. U S. S One worker when asked the mean mean- meaning meaning meaning ing of the marks replied in a face face- facetious facetious facetious mood that he did not know unless it meant Elbert Anderson and Uncle Sam alluding to the inspector As all the supplies pur pur- purchased purchased purchased chased for the government were marked U S. S that S.-that that is United States the States the name Uncle Sam stuck and has been used ever since |