Chapter SMITH to Snitchey and Craggs of S by Brewer's Readers Handbook

SMITH to Snitchey and Craggs

SMITH. In the Leisure Hour we read: “During a period of seventeen years (from 1838 to 1854, both inclusive), the births, deaths, and marriages of the Smiths registered amounted to 286,037, and it is calculated that the families of Smith in England are not less than 53,000.”

This must be a very great miscalculation. 286,037 in seventeen years, gives rather more than 16,825 a year, or a marriage, death, or birth to every three families per annum (nearly). If the registration is correct, the number of families must be many times the number stated.

Smith (Henry), alias “Henry Gow,” alias “Gow Chrom,” alias “Hal of the Wynd,” the armourer, and lover of Catharine Glover, whom at the end he marries.—Sir W. Scott: Fair Maid of Perth (time, Henry IV.).

Smith (King), Louis Philippe of France, who escaped to England under the assumed name of “Smith.”

“Mr. Smith!” exclaimed the king. “That is curious Indeed; and it is very remarkable that the first person to welcome me should be Mr. Smith. Twice the assumed name by which I escaped from France has been ‘Smith;’ and look! this is my passport made out in the name of Smith.”—Times, March 6, 1848.

Smith (Mr.), a faithful confidential clerk in the bank of Dornton and Sulky. —Holcroft: The Road to Ruin (1792).

Smith (Rainy-Day), John Thomas Smith, antiquary (1766–1833).

Smith (Wayland), an invisible farrier, who haunted the “Vale of the White Horse,” in Berkshire, where three flat stones supporting a fourth commemorate the place of his stithy. His fee was sixpence, and he was offended if more were offered him.

(Sir W. Scott has introduced him in Kenilworth, time Elizabeth.)

Smith’s Prizeman, one who has obtained the prize (L 25) founded in the University of Cambridge by Robert Smith, D.D., once Master of Trinity. Two prizes are awarded annually to two commencing bachelors of arts for proficiency in mathematics and natural philosophy.

Smolkin, a punic spirit.

Peace, Smolkin, peace, thou fiend!
   —Shakespeare: King Lear, act iii. sc. 4 (1605).

Smollett of the Stage (The), George Farquhar (1678–1707).

Smotherwell (Stephen), the executioner.—Sir

W. Scott: Fair Maid of Perth (time, Henry IV.).

Smyrnean Poet (The), Mimnermos, born at Smyrna (fl. B.C. 630).

Snacks, the hard, grinding steward of lord Lackwit, who by grasping got together L26,000. When lord Lackwit died, and the property came to Robin Roughhead, he toadied him with the greatest servility, but Robin dismissed him and gave the post to Frank.—Allingham: Fortune’s Frolic.

Snaggs, a village portrait-taker and tooth-drawer. He says, “I draws off heads and draws out teeth,” or “I takes off heads and takes out teeth.” Major Touchwood, having dressed himself up to look like his uncle the colonel, pretends to have the tooth-ache. Snaggs, being sent for, prepares to operate on the colonel, and the colonel in a towering rage sends him to the right about.— Dibdin: What Next?

Snagsby (Mr.), the law-stationer in Cook’s Court, Cursitor Street. A very mild specimen of the “spear half,” in terrible awe of his termagant wife, whom he calls euphemistically “his little woman.” He preceded most of his remarks by the words, “Not to put too fine a point upon it.”—Dickens: Bleak House (1852).