Page:Notes and Queries - Series 12 - Volume 6.djvu/384

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NOTES AND QUERIES. [12 B. vi.

1020.

Mr. Shandy's theory is not quite deac yot, for in a lively book, ' Omniana : the Autobiography of an Irish Octogenarian, the author, Mr. J. F. Fuller, complains that, having been named James, he could not expect to reach the highest distinction in life. V. B.

A topical allusion no doubt to " Poor Bichard," a pseudonym used by Benjamin Franklin in his series of almanacs, in which he inculcated thrift, temperance, cleanliness and other virtues. The French equivalent was " Bonhomme Bichard," a name given in honour of Franklin to a French ship, with which Capt. Paul Jones fought the British man-of-war Serapis, off Flamborough Head in August, 1779. N. W. HILL.

' The Concise Oxford Dictionary ' h

' 'Poor Bichard's Sayings,' maxims from

almanacs issued by Benjamin Franklin with

' Poor R.' as pseudonym." This would

seem to explain Jane Austen's allusion.

Dr. Johnson is reported by Mrs. Piozzi to have said of a friend :

" He will not talk, sir, so his learning does no good and his wit, if he has it, gives us no pleasure. Out of all his boasted stores, I never heard him force but one word, and that word was Richard."

What is the explanation of this one word ? Sef* John Adams's ' Elegant Anecdotes,' 3rd edn. (London, 1794), at p. 111.

JOHN P. WAINEWRIGHT.

FUNERAL PARLOUR (12 S. vi. 272). The phrase cowes, apparently, from America. Is the thing any more than an undertaker's office or waiting-room ? I remember visit- ing one at Chicago in 1893 ; there was a comic paper, as at a dentist's, to cheer the clients.

The 'N.E.D.' under "Parlour," B.I.4, has

" U.S. (Commercial cant.) An elegantly or showily fitted apartment, for some special business or trade use, as a misfit parlor, oyster parlor, photographer's parlor, tonsorial parlor, etc."

The only reference given is ' The Century P cfcionary,' 1890. To these examples might be added "dental parlor" and, I think. " ire- cream parlor." EDWARD BENSLY.

Is this expression more than euphemistic ? To speak of assembling " at the under- takers " would be to use a word which is of too ead a livery.

I have seen the word "mortician" used en a signboard in America in order to avoid

writing "undertaker." It is not J^ to be- found in the ' N.E.D.'

Do not unqualified dentists describe their premises as "Dental Parlours " in order to- avoid using a description of themselves to- which they may not be entitled ? Lest this be libellous, let me add that I have no- possible offender in mind.

I have also heard the description " Ton- sorial Artist " used in all seriousness.

W. B, C.

BOYAL OAK DAY (12 S. vi. 293). It was once the custom at Eton for the boys to wear sprigs of oak in their button-holes on Boyal Oak Day. Custom demanded that these sprigs should contain at least one- oak-apple, and that the apples should be- detached from the sprig, and dropped on the floor precisely as the clock struck twelve. As the hour always sounded while the- Fellow-in-residence was in the middle of his sermon on the benefits of the glorious Bestoration, the noise echoing through the chapel was considerable.

I believe that this custom died out soon, after the abolition of the State Service for Bestoration Day. ISATIS.

Two OLD PISTOLS (12 S. vi. 274). Bobert Place was made lieutenant of the 77th Foot,. Aug. 26, 1806, and was its senior captain in 1817, from July 13, 1809, junior major,. Mar. 11, 1819, and senior major, Dec. 26,. 1822, till he went on half -pay of lieutenant- colonel. Unattached May 19, 1825, but returned to full-pay as junior lieutenant- olonel of the 2nd Queen's Boyal Eegts. of Foot, Feb. 9, 1826, and was so in the Army List dated Feb. 1, 1828, but he seems to- have been junior lieutenant-colonel of the 41st Foot, Aug. 30, 1827, till his death (his successor being app. Jan, 18. 1828), and the Army List, 1829, gives his name in the list of deaths for 1828 as Lieut. -Col. Place, 41 F. Thomas Welsh had the local rank of lieutenant-colonel in the East Indies, Jan. 1, 1798 (Army List, 1817), but his name was left out 1821 or 1822. He and the Com- mander of the Dooab Field Force' were pro- bably in the H.E.I.C.S. army.

W. B. WILLIAMS.

OTWAY (12 S. vi. 273). In Dalton's- Army Lists, vii., viii., are references to eight Otways then in the army, the heads aeing Col. James Otway of Kent, who m. Lady Bridget Feilding, second dau. of Basil, 4th Earl of Denbigh, and was colonel,.