1874, WA: Dry Goods Sale: No Humbug: Delate Wawa
An ad in frontier-era Washington Territory didn’t have to explain its use of Chinook Jargon.
“No Humbug — Delate Wawa“, now there are some words to live by!
But modern readers might need the English word “humbug” explained to them…
Interior of Harris Dry Goods, Olympia, 1943 (image credit: Olympia History)
Here’s the eye-catching commercial announcement we’re talking about:
GRAND
DRY-GOODS
SALE-AT-
I. HARRIS’
OLYMPIA, W. T.HAVING concluded to sell out my present
stock of Fancy and Staple Dry-Goods, I
now offer to the Ladies of Olympia and vi-
cinity everything in the line of Dry-Goods atCost Prices.
Also my well-assorted stock of Ladies and
Children’s Shoes and Slippers will be sold at
Cost.
A GREAT REDUCTION HAS LIKEWISE
BEEN MADE IN THE PRICE OF
GENTS’
Furnishing Goods,
MENS’ AND BOYS’ CLOTHING,
Boots and shoes,
Hats and Caps,
Of which he has a full and well-selected
stock and is able to fit and suit everybody.
THIS IS NO HUMBUG — DELATE WAWA
☞ Call and price goods before making
your purchases. I. HARRIS.
June 13, 1874.
— from the Olympia (WA) Washington Standard of July 11, 1874, page 3, column 4
Delate wawa = drét wáwa = ‘straight talk; it’s the truth’.
