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P's and Q's
Who was the first to "mind his P's and Q's?"
There are few of us who at one time or another have not been
admonished to "mind our P's and Q's," or in other words, to behave our best. Oddly enough, "mind your P's and Q's" had
nautical beginnings as a method of keeping books on the waterfront.
In the days of sail when Sailors were paid a pittance, seamen drank their ale in taverns whose keepers were willing to extend credit until payday. Since many salts were illiterate, keepers kept
a talley of pints and quarts consumed by each Sailor on a chalkboard behind the bar. Next to each person's name, a mark was made under "P" for pint and "Q" for quart whenever a seaman ordered another draught.
On payday, each seaman was liable for each mark next to his
name, so he was forced to "mind his P's and Q's" or he would get into financial trouble. To ensure an accurate count by unscrupulous keepers, Sailors had to keep their wits and remain
somewhat sober. Sobriety usually ensured good behavior, hence the meaning of "mind your P's and Q's."
Many sailors believe a cat on board a ship means a lucky trip.
All things on earth point home in old October: sailors to sea, travellers to walls and fences, hunters to field and hollow and the long voice of the hounds, the lover to the love he has forsaken.
- Thomas Wolfe
