I S   A N D R E W   O F   A M E R I C A   "Z E L I G" ?
     (C) Copyright 1995 The Author
     
     The TX-MOTSS-Digest and Web Page (http://www.fc.net/~zarathus) are
     the sole authorized global Archives for ANDREW OF AMERICA.

An AOA fan recently wrote:

>...in addition to the (doctored) photo of you and o.j. on the golf course, i 
>think that was you in one of those proto-nazi uniforms (halloween is sooo 
>close) behind louie fairykahn?
>
>is your name, andrew of america,[really] zelig?

Encyclopaedia AMERICAna sez:

...is why scholars believe ANDREW OF AMERICA (who always spells his name
in caps) to be an urban myth, a figure of folklore not unlike "Kilroy"
or "Johnny Appleseed."  Celtic mythology spoke of a shapeshifting, 
mischievous figure called the "pooka," the basis for Shakespeare's
Puck in *A Midsummer Night's Dream.*

This wiley fairy was known for his impish sense of fun and prankishness.
An early colonial reference in the "Journalls of Captaine John Libbey"
(c. 1617) notes: "Laste Nyghte, while oure goode men war faste asleepe,
noe doubte, a fairye of spritishe and misscheeveouse natyre stole alle
the mens {sic} underweare offe the clotheslyne.  I haave noe doubte thaat
it was none othere thaan the same ande onlee one theye calle "Andrewe of
America." (Note the archaic spellinge).  It would seem that the early
English, Cornish and Scots-Irish settlers had incorporated their Old
World mythology into the legend of ANDREW OF AMERICA without "a doubte."

In 1775, a letter printed in the broadside newspaper "The Eagle," tells
the editor:

	Dear Sir, whereaf Britifh rule has become most intolerable to
	the point of tyranny, I propofe the following CATALOGUE OF
	TOP TEN Grivancef Againft Hif Majefty the King:

	10. The name George is Wimpy

	 9. German accent makef him sound like Colonel Klink

 	 8. Powdered wig makef him look like Marie Antoinette

	 7. "Read my lipf, no new Tea Tax"

 	 6. Everytime I see the Britifh Flag I hear that Masterpiece
		Theatre music running through my head

  	 5. Three Words: Faggy Red Uniforms

 	 4. What the hell is a shilling, anyway?

 	 3. The Britifh are coming, and our women are getting pregnant

 	 2. Yankee doodlef are dandy

	 1. Why can't we juft start our own country and name it after ME?

	Juft a suggefstion
	ANDREW OF AMERICA
	E Pluribus Anus

The above citation is the first "Top Ten List" ever recorded and the first
time ANDREW OF AMERICA appears in all caps. (Note the archaic spellingf).

ANDREW OF AMERICA's writings continued through the Jackson Administration
(see "The Era of Two ANDREW's) then disappeared until just prior to the
election of 1860 when the following advertisement inexplicably appeared in
the Maryland Monitor classified ads:

	If We Elect the Repubicans Today,
	Someday They'll Oppress the Queers!

The message (as would often later be the case) was misunderstood and Lincoln
was soundly elected 16th President of the United States.  Only Walt Whitman
was sympathetic:
		O Purple Sage, what hast thou forseen
		When lavender last in our waters bloometh?

		Have we now with our rash pact sealed
		Our future body electric's doometh?

We said he was sympathetic; we didn't say he was good.

Following the Civil War, ANDREW's fame carpetbagged its way to the
Southlands where the first known photograph, a daguerrotype of him 
with the Black Provisional Governor of Mississippi was taken in 1866.
The black and white (literally) image was popularized in a postcard
which was captioned: "I bet if you knew then, what you know now, you'd
have picked your own damn cotton."

Next Time:
ANDREW OF AMERICA
Inspires Count von Zeppelin

**********************************************************************
AUTHOR's note:  The above piece, and others, were used in an actual
college history course.  Remember: Education cuts hurt everyone.

(C) Copyright 1995 ANDREW OF AMERICA
Please address all reprint inquiries,
fruitcakes and fanmail to:

ANDREW
617 Louisiana Ave.
McComb, MS  39648