Chapter Wild Boar to William of W by Brewer's Phrase & Fable

Wild Boar to William

Wild Boar An emblem of warlike fury and merciless brutality.

Wild Boy of Hamelin or Man of Nature, found in the forest of Hertswold, Hanover. He walked on all fours, climbed trees like a monkey, fed on grass and leaves, and could never be taught to articulate a single word. Dr. Arbuthnot and Lord Monboddo sanctioned the notion that this poor boy was really an unsophisticated specimen of the genus homo; but Blumenbach showed most conclusively that he was born dumb, of weak intellect, and was driven from his home by a stepmother. He was discovered in 1725, was called Peter the Wild Boy, and died at Broadway Farm, near Berkhampstead, in 1785, at the supposed age of seventy-three.

Wild Children
   (1) Peter the Wild Boy. (See above.)
   (2) Mlle. Lablane, found by the villagers of Soigny, near Châlons, in 1731; she died at Paris in 1785, at the supposed age of sixty-two.
   (3) A child captured by three sportsmen in the woods of Cannes (France) in 1798. (See World of Wonders, p. 61, Correspondence.)

Wild-goose Chase A hunt after a mare's nest. This chase has two defects: First, it is very hard to catch the goose; and, secondly, it is of very little worth when it is caught.
   To lead one a wild-goose chase. To beguile one with false hopes, or put one on the pursuit of something not practicable, or at any rate not worth the chase.

Wild Huntsman
   The German tradition is that a spectral hunter with dogs frequents the Black Forest to chase the wild animals. (Sir Walter Scott: Wild Huntsman.)
   The French story of Le Grand Veneur is laid in Fontainebleau Forest, and is considered to be “St. Hubert.” (Father Matthieu.)
   The English name is “Herne the Hunter,” who was once a keeper in Windsor Forest. In winter time, at midnight, he walks about Herne's Oak, and blasts trees and cattle. He wears horns, and rattles a chain in a “most hideous manner” (Merry Wives of Windsor, iv. 4.)
   Another legend is that a certain Jew would not suffer Jesus to drink out of a horse-trough, but pointed to some water in a hoof-print as good enough for “such an enemy of Moses,” and that this man is the “Wild Huntsman.” (Kuhn von Schwarz Nordd. Sagen, p. 499.)

Wild Oats He is sowing his wild oats - indulging the buoyant folly of youth; living in youthful dissipation. The idea is that the mind is a field of good oats, but these pranks are wild oats or weeds sown amongst the good seed, choking it for a time, and about to die out and give place to genuine corn. The corresponding French phrase is “Jeter ses premiers faux, ” which reminds us of Cicero's expression, “Nondum illi deferbuit adolescentia. ” (See Oats .)

Wild Women [Wildë Frauën ] of Germany resemble the Ellë-maids of Scandinavia. Like them, they are very beautiful, have long flowing hair, and live in hills. (See Wunderburg .)

Wild Women Those who go in for “women's rights” and general topsyturvyism. Some smoke cigars in the streets, some wear knickerbockers, some stump the country as “screaming orators,” all try to be as much like men as possible.

“Let anyone commend to these female runagates quietness, duty, home-staying, and the whole cohort of wild women is like an angry beehive which a rough hand has disturbed.”- Nineteenth Century, March, 1892, p. 463.

Wild as a March Hare The hare in spring, after one or two rings, will often run straight on end for several miles. This is especially the case with the buck, which therefore affords the best sport.

Wilde A John or Johnny Wilde is one who wears himself to skin and bone to add house to house and barn to barn. The tale is that John Wilde, of Rodenkerchen, in the isle of Rügen, found one day a glass slipper belonging to one of the hill-folks. Next day the little brownie, in the character of a merchant, came to redeem it, and John asked as the price “that he should find a gold ducat in every furrow he ploughed.” The bargain was concluded, and the avaricious hunks never ceased ploughing morning, noon, nor night, but died within twelve months from over-work. (Rügen gradition.)