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<<
" I don't know why people gave speeches on "soap boxes"
instead of "fruit crates" or "oatmeal boxes," though."

Good point. I wonder, to>>


Here's what I found at the WordWizard Clubhouse site. (www.wordwizard.com)
Can't vouch for the veracity, but at least it helps explain why the (sturdy)
soapboxes vs. flimsy fruit crates. <g>

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--

<<100 to 150 years ago, soapboxes (actually the boxes that soap came in) were
fairly substantial wooden boxes. A couple feet high and 2-3 feet long and
wide. They were sturdy enough to stand on, high enough to let you look over a
crowd at least a little and small enough to move around easily. To give you
an idea of the substanial nature of a soapbox and their widespread use, there
is a soapbox deby run each year where kids would make cars out of soapboxes
(I suppose they use other materials today) and race them down hill.


But back to the question, many public speakers, particlarly those interested
in politics, would carry soapboxes around to stand on when they got a crowd
to listen to them and to draw attention to themselves. (Wash tubs were also
good). Thus getting up on one's soapbox became an expresion for making a
speech and now can refer to any sort of statement. I have heard that the
internet is now the soapbox of the modern world.


Hyde Park in London is the first place I know of this term being used (I'd be
interested if there was prior use). In fact, Speaker's Corner in Hyde Park
still exists and is in use for anyone who wants to speak. Especially on
Sundays you can go there to see advocates exercising their right to free
speech or do so yourself. I think it worth a visit if you are in London. Not
as much fun as a trial at the Old Bailey (as long as you are not the
defendant), but still good stuff.>>



*** Becky***

"Nothing in all the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and
conscientious stupidity."

Martin Luther King Jr. (1929 - 1968), Strength to Love, 1963

Sharon Rudd

Oatmeal comes (came) in sacks. Fruit cakes in tins.

Sharon


--- Beckyleach@... wrote:
> <<
> " I don't know why people gave speeches on "soap
> boxes"
> instead of "fruit crates" or "oatmeal boxes,"
> though."
>
> Good point. I wonder, to>>
>
>
> Here's what I found at the WordWizard Clubhouse
> site. (www.wordwizard.com)
> Can't vouch for the veracity, but at least it helps
> explain why the (sturdy)
> soapboxes vs. flimsy fruit crates. <g>
>
>
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> --
>
> <<100 to 150 years ago, soapboxes (actually the
> boxes that soap came in) were
> fairly substantial wooden boxes. A couple feet high
> and 2-3 feet long and
> wide. They were sturdy enough to stand on, high
> enough to let you look over a
> crowd at least a little and small enough to move
> around easily. To give you
> an idea of the substanial nature of a soapbox and
> their widespread use, there
> is a soapbox deby run each year where kids would
> make cars out of soapboxes
> (I suppose they use other materials today) and race
> them down hill.
>
>
> But back to the question, many public speakers,
> particlarly those interested
> in politics, would carry soapboxes around to stand
> on when they got a crowd
> to listen to them and to draw attention to
> themselves. (Wash tubs were also
> good). Thus getting up on one's soapbox became an
> expresion for making a
> speech and now can refer to any sort of statement. I
> have heard that the
> internet is now the soapbox of the modern world.
>
>
> Hyde Park in London is the first place I know of
> this term being used (I'd be
> interested if there was prior use). In fact,
> Speaker's Corner in Hyde Park
> still exists and is in use for anyone who wants to
> speak. Especially on
> Sundays you can go there to see advocates exercising
> their right to free
> speech or do so yourself. I think it worth a visit
> if you are in London. Not
> as much fun as a trial at the Old Bailey (as long as
> you are not the
> defendant), but still good stuff.>>
>
>
>
> *** Becky***
>
> "Nothing in all the world is more dangerous than
> sincere ignorance and
> conscientious stupidity."
>
> Martin Luther King Jr. (1929 - 1968), Strength to
> Love, 1963
>
>
>


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