Page:Notes and Queries - Series 9 - Volume 2.djvu/363

 9 th S. II. OCT. 29, '98.]

NOTES AND QUERIES.

355

notice of emphasis and inflexion, coupled with action, and does not identify separate vocables very easily. ARTHUR MAYALL.

The expression bob-baw ! is evidently of Celtic derivation ; in fact, the last syllable seems to be a pure Celtic word. The word haw is the Welsh for "dirt," "earth," and is often applied to anything valueless. Bob seems to be a corruption of the word pw (pron. poo), which means "to cast away from," " to avoid." The fact that the expres- sion pw-baw is much used in Wales at the present time lends colour to this explana- tion ; but there it has a different significa- tion, and is used as an interjection indicating contempt. AP CADRAWD.

Llangyuwyd.

S. ANDREA DELLE FRATTE, HOME (9 th S. ii. 168, 297). When I read Abbe Gerbet's account of the conversion of the rich Jew in 1842, which ST. S WITHIN describes as a "miracle of grace," 1 felt inclined to protest. On reflection, however, ST. SWITHIN is perfectly correct. It is, indeed, a miracle of grace if true. For assuredly the mere "absorption " of a wealthy Hebrew into the fold " dont tous ses interets temporels devaient empecher sa conversion" is miracle enough to gratify ordinary appetites. But when the conversion is procured in the extraordinary manner told by the Abbe, it becomes a miracle of miracles. The whole story is so romantic, the scenes shift so rapidly, like bits of glass in a kaleidoscope, and the transformation is so instantaneous, that there is primd facie no room to question its credibility. " Une force irresistible 1'y a entraine ; il y est tombe' a genoux, et il a ete a 1'instant chretien." It is needless to inquire who were the eye-witnesses of this remarkable metamorphosis, or what were the outward and visible manifestations of Christian grace. For all that I should not be surprised if the scientific inquirer after truth, whatever may be his creed, were to raise his eyebrows or smile. Had the neo- phyte been a poor starving Kussian refugee, the conversion would not have startled even the credulous Abbe ; but the man was a

wealthy banker's son, and therefore no human agency could have been brought to bear upon his theological eccentricity of action. The Pope and the cardinals were all mystified. Credunt quia incredibile.

M. L. BRESLAK. Percy House, South Hackney.

MOTTO (9 th S. ii. 227). The motto, if classical, will probably be found in Colu-

mella or Juvenal. Its figurative meaning may be given as "Their fortunes are firmly fixed." In the Yorkshire vernacular there is a similar expression, "They're independent mony a time owre " (many a time over).

ARTHUR MAYALL.

"HORSE-MARINE" (9 th S. ii. 26, 112). As a Scot I may see a joke " wi' deeficultie," and I must confess the above compound word raises no smile in me.

In the first place I do not believe it carries any allusion to the Royal Marines, and in the second place if it did it would be devoid of any fun whatever.

The Royal Marine Artillery and the Royal Marine Light Infantry boast (and they have many good reasons to boast) that they serve both on sea and on land, where duty calls, and when on shore their field officers are mounted as in any other regiment in the ser- vice ; so that a " horse-marine " is no more a rara avis on Southsea Common or Walmer beach than a mounted Life Guardsman is in Whitehall. At mess dinners I have heard empty wine bottles called " marines " for the all - sufficient reason that an empty bottle, like a Royal Marine, is a jolly good fellow who has done his duty and is ready to do it again.

Tommy Atkins and Jack Tar are good- natured fellows, and take kindly to a little bit of "chaff" about their corps, but one must have served with them to understand their allusions. JZsprit de corps is the back- bone of the services, and such sobriquets as "Death or Glory Boys," the "Cherubims," the "Dirty Half Hundred," the "Buffs," the "Billy Ruffians," the "Excels," the "Pontius Pilate Guards," the " Light Bobs," the " Old Canaries," and dozens of others had their rise in regimental traditions which should assuredly be gathered together and published for the benefit of the " pekins," and the glorification of our army and navy.

WALTER HAMILTON.

I should think that the earliest mention of this interesting arm of the forces must be the following in Moliere's 'Les Precieuses Ridicules,' 1659. In scene xii. Le Vicomte de Jodelet says to Mademoiselles Madelon and

Cathos, who are listening auribus arrectis :

"Notre connaissance s'est faite a 1'armee ; et la premiere fois que nous nous vimes il commandait un regiment de cavalerie sur les galeres de Malte."

To which Le Marquis de Mascarille replies :

"II est vrai : mais vous etiez pourtant dans 1'emploi avant que j'y fusse ; et je me souviens que je n etais que petit officier encore, que vous com- mandiez deux mills chevaux,"