Chapter Gourlay to Gradgrind of G by Brewer's Readers Handbook

“No person,” says George Colman, “has ever more successfully performed the elegant levities of ‘lady Townley’ upon the stage, or more happily practised the amiable virtues of ‘lady Grace’ in the circles of society, than Miss Farren (the countess of Derby. 1759–1829).”

Grace-be-here Humgudgeon, a corporal in Cromwell’s troop.—Sir W. Scott: Woodstock (time, Commonwealth).

Grace de Dieu. (See Harry, the Great.)

Gracechurch, London, means the grœs or grass church. It was built on the site of the old grass-market.

Graceless Florins. (See Godless Florins, p. 432.)

Graciosa, a lovely princess, who is the object of a step-mother’s most implacable hatred. The step- mother’s name is Grognon, and the tale shows how all her malicious plots are thwarted by Percinet, a fairy prince, in love with Graciosa.—Percinet and Graciosa (a fairy tale).

Gracioso, the licensed fool of Spanish drama. He has his coxcomb and truncheon, and mingles with the actors without aiding or abetting the plot. Sometimes he transfers his gibes from the actors to the audience, like our circus clowns.

Gradasso, king of Sericana, “bravest of the pagan knights.” He went against Charlemagne, with 100,000 vassals in his train, “all discrownêd kings,” who never addressed him but on their knees.—Bojardo: Orlando Innamorato (1495); Ariosto: Orlando Furioso (1516).

Gradgrind (Thomas), a man of facts and realities. Everything about him is square; his forehead is square, and so is his fore-finger, with which he emphasizes all he says. Formerly he was in the wholesale hardware line. In his greatness he becomes M.P. for Coketown, and he lives at Stone Lodge, a mile or so from town. He prides himself on being eminently practical; and, though not a bad man at heart, he blights his children by his hard, practical way of bringing them up.

Mrs. Gradgrind, wife of Thomas Gradgrind. A little thin woman, always taking physic, without receiving from it any benefit. She looks like an indifferently executed transparency without light enough behind the figure. She is always complaining, always peevish, and dies soon after the marriage of her daughter Louisa.

Tom Gradgrind, son of the above, a sullen young man, much loved by his sister, and holding an office in the bank of his brother-in-law, Josiah Bounderby. Tom robs the bank, and throws suspicion on Stephen Blackpool, one of the hands in Bounderby’s factory. When found out, Tom takes refuge in the circus of the town, disguised as a black servant, till he effects his escape from England.

Louisa Gradgrind, eldest daughter of Thomas Gradgrind, M.P. She marries Josiah Bounderby, banker and mill-owner. Louisa has been so hardened by her bringing up, that she appears cold and indifferent to everything, but she dearly loves her brother Tom.—Dickens: Hard Times (1854).