Like Taking Candy From a Baby Is an Example of Smilie

Just Equally Easy [as taking candy from a baby]—analogy from an advertisement for The Fifty. Chiliad. Crush Co., Inc., published in the Roanoke Rapids Herald (Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina) of Friday 22^nd October 1915:

The American-English language phrase like taking , or like stealing , processed from a infant ways very easy to accomplish, sometimes with an implication of unscrupulousness—synonym: like shooting fish in a barrel .

The earliest instance that I have constitute is from A Expressionless Easy Mark, an article almost a baseball match betwixt Columbus and Mobile published in the Columbus Daily Enquirer-Sunday (Columbus, Georgia) of Thursday xi^thursday June 1896:

Folk also fielded and batted well. Columbus has, without a doubt, fatigued a prize in this player. He is tricky besides, and made Mobile give up one run yesterday in the 9th inning that seemed like taking candy from a babe.

The 2nd-earliest example that I accept found is from the post-obit self-advertising commodity published in The Dallas Morning News (Dallas, Texas) of Sunday 28^th February 1897:

The Whistler.

"You have heard," said a youth to his sweetheart, who stood,
While he sat on a corn-sheaf at daylight'southward pass up—
"You have heard of the Danish boy's whistle of woods:
I wish that Danish boy'south whistle were mine."

"And what would yous do with it? Tell me," she said,
While an arch smiling played over her beautiful face.
"I would blow it," he answered, "and so my off-white maid
Would fly to my side, and would at that place take her place."

"Is that all you lot wish it for? That may be yours
Without any magic," the fair maiden cried;
"A favor then slight, one'due south proficient nature secures;"
And she playfully seated herself past his side.

"I would fain blow again," said the youth, "and the charm
Would work so that non even modesty's cheek
Would be able to keep from my neck your off-white arm."
She smiled every bit she laid her off-white arm circular his neck.

"Nevertheless again would I blow and the music divine
Would bring me a 3rd time an exquisite bliss:
You would lay your fair cheek to this chocolate-brown 1 of mine,
And your lips, stealing by it, would requite me a osculation."

The maiden laughed out in her innocent glee,
"What a fool of yourself with your whistle you'd made:
For merely consider how lightheaded 'twould exist,
To sit there and whistle for what you lot might take!"

This youth represents a large number of good, honest people, who are either too timid or as well inexperienced to secure a practiced thing that is near within their grasp. To take a buss from this lovely maid would have been as piece of cake every bit taking processed from a baby, only the timid male child was afraid to venture. "Faint heart never won fair adult female."
We see all effectually us, every day of our lives, dozens of people missing expert opportunities to obtain something they want, and which oftentimes they could obtain as easily every bit the young homo could have obtained a kiss from his pretty sweetheart: just they just don't seem to know how to go most it. To illustrate:
Mr. Thompson is broken-hearted to buy a practiced 2d mitt surrey. Mr. Johnson, living in the aforementioned neighborhood, town or city, has a good surrey to sell, but Mr. Thompson doesn't know it. Neither does Mr. Johnson know of Mr. Thompson's desire to buy ane. Mr. T., however, has noticed that a great many intelligent people advertise their wants; so he comes down to the office of The News and has this ad. run three times under "Miscellaneous Wants." "SURREY—Who has a practiced 2d-paw surrey to sell cheap for cash?
                                                                      "Accost Box Yard— News office."
This ad. occupied three lines and iii insertions cost but one dollar. Mr. Thompson received seventeen answers in reply, Mr. Johnson'south among them, and equally Mr. J.'s vehicle suits him best he buys information technology at a deal. Who will say that Mr. Thompson did not make a fine investment when he paid a dollar for that classified ad.? Indeed, the classified ad. columns of The News often seem to possess equally much magic power every bit the Danish male child's whistle or Aladdin's wonderful lamp, in procuring just the thing the advertiser wants. Withal at that place is no magic about them: they are just plain, every-mean solar day, philosophical business concern transactions, based on truthful business ideas and experience. That's all.

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Source: https://wordhistories.net/2018/09/29/taking-candy-baby/

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