Philadelphia.
[Nares informs us that the real origin of this expression may be found
in Stevens and Pineda's Dictionaries under _Higa_; and, in fact, the
same phrase and allusion pervaded all modern Europe: as, _Far le
fiche_, Ital.; _Faire la figue_, Fr.; _Die Feigen weisen_, Germ., _De
vÿghe setten_, Dutch. (See Du Cange, in _Ficha_.) Johnson says, "To
_fig_, in Spanish, _higas dar_, is to insult by putting the thumb
between the fore and middle finger. From this Spanish custom we yet say
in contempt, _A fig for you_." To this explanation Mr. Douce has added
the following note: "Dr. Johnson has properly explained this phrase;
but it should be added, that it is of Italian origin. When the Milanese
revolted against the Emperor Frederick Barbarossa, they placed the
Empress his wife upon a mule with her head towards the tail, and
ignominiously expelled her their city. Frederick afterwards besieged
and took the place, and compelled every one of his prisoners, on pain
of death, to take with his teeth a _fig_ from the posteriors of a mule.
The party was at the same time obliged to repeat to the executioner the
words _Ecco la fica_. From this circumstance _far la fica_ became a
term of derision, and was adopted by other nations. The French say
likewise, _faire la figue_."]
_B. C. Y._--Can you give me any information respecting the famous B. C. Y.
row, as it was called, which occurred about fifty years ago? A newspaper
was started expressly to explain the meaning of the letters, which said it
was "Beware of the Catholic Yoke;" but it was wrong.