Page:Notes and Queries - Series 12 - Volume 3.djvu/30

 NOTES AND QUERIES. [12 8 . m. JAN. 13, 1917.

One gathers, however, from Mr. A. J. L. White's very interesting article in the book- let ' Great Western Railway Engines, 1914,' that the Company knew precisely what it was about in the matter of these " Counties "

and " Cities" ; that, in fact, the naming of locomotives is really quite a utilitarian affair at Swindon. The " City " class of engine was introduced in 1903,

" and from this time may be said to have com- menced a system of naming successive batches and types of engines with the view, first, of secur- ing rea.dy identification, and, later on, of helping in a scheme of standardization which it was de- sired to accomplish. The names appropriated

"to the ' Cities ' were chosen after cathedral and other cities through which the Company's line runs ; moreover the common word ' City ' was employed advisedly to indicate a type."

^Further on the writer remarks :

" Although, perhaps, the naming, in addition to the numbering, of engines is not really neces- sary, there is a good deal to be said in favour of it. Certainly it has one outstanding feature to com- mend it, viz., that it serves as an aid to memory. Numbers are more or less difficult to carry in mind, and it is an interesting fact that, so far as Great Western engines are concerned, the names of individuals and of types constitute a facility of reference which means much^where time is concerned and time is money. For instance, in the locomotive shops one "hears frequently requests for such and such a part for a ' Knight,' a ' Star,' or a ' County,' and the men are able to identify immediately what is wanted."

So that at Swindon an engine-name is a mere label, a mere identification mark, a convenient means to a ccmmercial end.

Meanwhile, I shall continue of the opinion that a fine engine-name is a worthy end in itself. And I shall go still further, and shall maintain that for a due appreciation of the -delicious resonance of " Aldingbourne " no " programme " whatever is needed, no ham- let in West Sussex, nor even a six-coupled radial tank-engine, resplendent in livery of olive-green. It is its own complete justi- fication. and while it may serve many a useful purpose, it is likewise a thing of beauty which is more to my own purpose.

J. H. HOBBS.


 * ZORIADA

(A.D. 1786) AND WORDBOOKS.

(See ante, p. 5.)

THE

Eccentricity, Hi. 8 ; but, when you suffer

fancy to take the reign (sic for " rein "), all is error, violence, and eccentricity ; (Not in D before 1794.)

End (To an), iii. 73 would I have lived months

and months to an end,. . ., without calling upon you ? (Not D. 16 after 1717.)

Endangered, i. 189, as the endangered

safety of her dear Doctor Withers ; (D. not 1846-1692.)

Enlivener, iii. 54. You shall, said Zoriada, be the enlivener of my days ; (In D. not 1821-1774).

Entablature, iii. 137 . . . ., and the inscription, intended for the entablature, (D. not 1834-1718.)

Equality of mind, ii. 130, and Zoriada, with

her usual equality of mind, betrayed neither pleasure or pain at the news : it was this equality of mind,. . ., that stung him to the soul ; (In D. from 1647 and 1711 only.)

^Exceptionable, i. 169 he was a dissipated,

a daring, and a most exceptionable being. (D. only 1754 and 1813, of persons.)

Fall doicn, iii. 94. I will inform myself if a, cutter, or any other small vessel can be hired to fall down after the Indiaman, (In the D. not quoted with reference to the British Channel.)

Familiarised, iii. 46 . . . ., the little girl was so far familiarised that she began to chat with him ; (Cf. ' Fanny Seymour,' p. 61. D. not 1774-1711. )

Fish for, i. 153...., to fish at all points for intelligence, (In D. not 1806-1752.)

Fish out of, i. 23. . . ., for this is the sum and substance of every thing I could fish out of her. (Not in D-. 1866-1770.)

Flinty-hearted, i. 85. . . ., whilst her flinty hearted keeper was revelling in all the devices of ' existence. (D. not 1845-1626.)

Fluster, i. 24...., might happen to have an inkling to understand what the fluster at Heath Farm could mean, (In D. omitted 1848-1728.)

Flutter, ii. 20 . . . ., are worthy to put your lord- ship into such a flutter and taking, (Not D. 1818- 1780. A "Lord Flutter" occurs on pages 100 and 101 of 'The History of Fanny Seymour.' London : 1769. She was an orphan. )

Fortepiano, iii. 27. Lord Drew set (sic as else- where) down to a forte piano, (The D. has no earlier dates than 1769 and 1771.)

Garter-blue, i. 3. . . ., and on the rail of a chair, . . ., by a garter blue ribband, hung a lute. (D. not before 1789.)

Get at, iii. 32. . . ., when he could get at them, (D. before 1833, only from 1771.)

Get on, iii. 3 . . . . ; for he did so veigle, and so get on the blind side of me, (Not D. in this com- bination.)

Gimsra-rk. i. 109. . . . ; for except a power of learned gimcracks, as your globuses, and the like, she has not a bad mark about her. i. 111. How the devil, said he, did all these learned gimcracks, as you very properly call them, come here ? (Not D. 1843-1748, with this epithet.)

Go on with, iii. 125. . . .to see how it goes on with those we love, is far more comfortable, (D. from 1634, 1662, 1725, 1737, 1884 ; but in the sense of " continue." Here it means " to fare, succeed.")

Gospel-truth, iii. 23 . . . ., as so many gospel truths,

Heart-breaking, ii. 118...., O heart-breaking illusion, said she, (D. not 1885-1711.)

Heart-cheering, i. 56. . . ., I will fly, with honest Martha, to this heart chearing spot, (D. only 1644.)

Heart-reviving, iii. 135.... ; which was re- ceived only two days before their personal con- firmation of this heart reviving report. (Not D.)