Chapter Yahoo to Yeruti of Y by Brewer's Readers Handbook

Yeast, a novel by the Rev. C. Kingsley (1848). Its object is to show the spiritual perplexities of thoughtful minds, and the ferment of the rural population.

Yellow Dwarf (The), a malignant, ugly imp, who claimed the princess Allfair as his bride; and carried her off to Steel Castle on his Spanish cat, the very day she was about to be married to the beautiful king of the Gold-Mines. The king of the Gold-Mines tried to rescue her, and was armed by a good siren with a diamond sword of magic power, by which he made his way through every difficulty to the princess. Delighted at seeing his betrothed, he ran to embrace her, and dropped his sword. Yellow Dwarf, picking it up, demanded if Gold-Mine would resign the lady, and on his refusing to do so, slew him with the magic sword. The princess, rushing forward to avert the blow, fell dead on the body of her dying lover.

Yellow Dwarf was so called from his complexion, and the orange tree he lived in.… He wore wooden shoes, a coarse, yellow stuff jacket, and had no hair to hide his large ears.—Comtesse D’ Aulnoy: Fairy Tales (“The Yellow Dwarf,” 1682).

Yellow River (The). The Tiber was called Flavus Tiberis, because the water is much discoloured with yellow sand.

Vorticibus rapidis et multa flavus arena.
Virgil: Æneid, vii. 31.
While flows the Yellow River,
While stands the Sacred Hill,
The proud Ides of Quintilis [15th July]
Shall have such honour still.
   —Macaulay: Lays (“Battle of the Lake Regillus,” 1842).

The “Sacred Hill” (Mons Sacer), so called because it was held sacred by the Roman people, who retired thither, led by Sicinius; and refused to return home till their debts were remitted, and the tribunes of the people were made recognized magistrates of Rome. On the 15th July was fought the battle of the lake Regillus, and the anniversary was kept by the Romans as a fête day.

Yellow River (The), of China, so called from its colour. The Chinese have a proverb: Such and such a thing will occur when the Yellow River runs clear, i.e. never.

Yellow Water (The), a water which possessed this peculiar property: If only a few drops were put into a basin, no matter how large, it would produce a complete and beautiful fountain, which would always fill the basin and never overflow it.—Arabian Nights.

In the fairy tale of Chery and Fairstar, by the comtesse D’Aulnoy, “the dancing water” did the same (1682).
Much of Bacon’s life was passed in a visionary world … amidst buildings more sumptuous than the palace of Aladdin, and fountains more wonderful than the golden water of Parizade [q.v.].—Macaulay.

Yellowley (Mr. Triptolemus), the factor, an experimental agriculturist of Stourburgh or Harfra.
Mistress Baby or Barbary Yellowley, sister and housekeeper of Triptolemus.
Old Jasper Yellowley, father of Triptolemus and Barbary.—Sir W. Scott: The Pirate (time, William III.).

Yellowness, jealousy. Nym says (referring to Ford), “I will possess him with yellowness.”—Shakespeare: Merry Wives of Windsor, act i. sc. 4 (1601).

Yellowplush (The Memoirs of Mr.), a series of humorous sketches by W. M. Thackeray. Mr. Yellowplush is a Westend footman, who is supposed to write the sketches.

Yemen, Arabia Felix.

Beautiful are the maids that glide
On summer eves through Yemen’s dales.
   —Moore: Lalla Rookh (“The Fire-Worshippers,” 1817).