Can't recall where I heard or read that, but I think it's about time we changed the channel from Islamic extremism to something a little lighter. [Yes, we've had quite enough terrorism for one week. Ed.] So with the help of Casselman's Canadian Words, I will tell you about the Smith Brothers.
And there they are. Thanks to this label for Smith Brothers® Cough Drops, many people have joked -- or sincerely believed -- that the two bearded brothers were figments of an advertising copywriter's imagination, and were named Trade and Mark. That's what the label says, eh.
Not so, however. Their family name is indeed "Smith". On the left is William Wallace Smith. His brother Andrew is on the right. They were the sons of one James Smith, who came from his native Scotland to St. Armand, Québec in 1831. Bill was born in the auld country, and Andy in Canada. The family moved to Poughkeepsie, NY in 1847. [Whatever for? Ed.]
Perhaps it was the insalubrious climate of upstate New York that moved James (who had been a restauranteur in Québec but was in the restaurant business in the USA) to buy a cough syrup recipe from one Sly Hawkins in 1852. Legend has it that a batch sat in an unstoppered bottle for too long and hardened. Rather than lose his goods, James busted the congealed mass with a hammer, and sold the pieces as "cough drops". So now you know.
[Walt, are you sure about this? I couldn't find anything about that last bit in Mr. Casselman's book or Wikipedia. Ed.] What? You don't believe me? James Smith was a Scot, wasn't he! If you can think of a better story, tell it!
Hi Walt!
ReplyDeleteThanks for highlighting us and our drops! We're still alive and well. Would love to have you drop by our Facebook page sometime: www.facebook.com/smithbrothersco