Character Sketches of Romance, Fiction and the Drama Part 100

_A Political Squib of the Period._

HOLLOWAY (_Professor_), noted for his ointment to cure all strumous affections, his digestive pills, and his enormous expenditure in advertising (nineteenth century). Holloway's ointment is an imitation of Albinolo's; being a.n.a.lyzed by order of the French law-courts, it was declared to consist of _b.u.t.ter_, _lard_, _wax_ and _Venice turpentine_.

His pills are made of _aloes_, _jalap_, _ginger_ and _myrrh_.

KATERFELTO (_Dr._), the influenza doctor. He was a tall man, dressed in a black gown and square cap, and was originally a common soldier in the Prussian service. In 1782 he exhibited in London his solar microscope, and created immense excitement by showing the infusoria of muddy water, etc. Dr. Katerfelto used to say that he was the greatest philosopher since the time of Sir Isaac Newton.

And Katerfelto, with his hair on end, At his own wonders, wondering for his bread.

Cowper, _The Task_ ("The Winter Evening," 1782).

LILLY (_William_), astrologer, born at Diseworth, in Leicesters.h.i.+re (1602-1681).

LONG (_St. John_), born at Newcastle, began life as an artist, but afterwards set up as a curer of consumption, rheumatism and gout. His profession brought him wealth, and he lived in Harley Street, Cavendish Square. St. John Long died himself of rapid consumption (1798-1834).

MAPP (_Mrs._), bone-setter. She was born at Epsom, and at one time was very rich, but she died in great poverty at her lodgings in Seven Dials, 1737.

? Hogarth has introduced her in his heraldic picture, "The Undertakers'

Arms." She is the middle of the three figures at the top, and is holding a bone in her hand.

MOORE (_Mr. John_), of the Pestle and Mortar, Abchurch Lane, immortalized by his "worm-powder," and called the "Worm Doctor" (died 1733).

Vain is thy art, thy powder vain, Since worms shall eat e'en thee.

Pope, _To Mr. John Moore_ (1723).

MORISON (_Dr._), famous for his pills (consisting of _aloes_ and _cream of tartar_, equal parts). Professor Holloway, Dr. Morison, and Rowland, maker of hair-oil and tooth-powder, were the greatest advertisers of their generation.

PARTRIDGE, cobbler, astrologer, almanac-maker and quack (died 1708).

Weep, all you customers who use His pills, his almanacs, or shoes.

Swift, _Elegy, etc._

READ (_Sir William_), a tailor, who set up for oculist, and was knighted by Queen Anne. This quack was employed both by Queen Anne and George I.

Sir William could not read. He professed to cure wens, wry-necks and hare-lips (died 1715).

... none their honors shall to merit owe-- That popish doctrine is exploded quite, Or Ralph had been no duke, and Read no knight; That none may virtue or their learning plead, This hath no _grace_, and that can hardly _read_.

_A Political Squib of the Period._

? The "Ralph" referred to is Ralph Montagu, son of Edward Montagu, created viscount in 1682, and duke of Montagu in 1705 (died 1709).

ROCK (_Dr. Richard_), professed to cure every disease, at any stage thereof. According to his bills, "Be your disorder never so far gone, I can cure you." He was short in stature and fat, always wore a white, three-tailed wig, nicely combed and frizzed upon each cheek, carried a cane, and waddled in his gait (eighteenth century).

Dr. Rock, F.U.N., never wore a hat. He is usually drawn at the top of his own bills sitting in an armchair, holding a little bottle between his finger and thumb, and surrounded with rotten teeth, nippers, pills and gallipots.--Goldsmith, _A Citizen of the World_, lxviii. (1759).

SMITH (_Dr._), who went about the country in the eighteenth century in his coach with four outriders. He dressed in black velvet, and cured any disease for sixpence. "His amus.e.m.e.nts on the stage were well worth the sixpence which he charged for his box of pills."

As I was sitting at the George Inn I saw a coach, with six bay horses, a calash and four, a chaise and four, enter the inn, in yellow livery turned up with red; and four gentlemen on horseback, in blue trimmed with silver. As yellow is the color given by the dukes in England, I went out to see what duke it was, but there was no coronet on the coach, only a plain coat-of-arms, with the motto ARGENTO LABORAT FABER [_Smith works for money_]. Upon inquiry I found this grand equipage belonged to a mountebank named Smith.--_A Tour through England_ (1723).

SOLOMON (_Dr._), eighteenth century. His "anti-impetigines" was simply a solution of _b.i.+.c.hloride of mercury_, colored.

TAYLOR (_Dr. Chevalier John_). He called himself "Opthalminator, Pontificial, Imperial, and Royal." It is said that five of his horses were blind from experiments tried by him on their eyes (died 1767).

? Hogarth has introduced Dr. Taylor in his "Undertakers' Arms." He is one of the three figures at the top, to the left hand of the spectator.

UNBORN DOCTOR (_The_), of Moorfields. Not being born a doctor, he called himself "The Un-born Doctor."

WALKER (_Dr._), one of the three great quacks of the eighteenth century, the others being Dr. Rock and Dr. Timothy Franks. Dr. Walker had an abhorrence of quacks, and was for ever cautioning the public not to trust them, but come at once to him, adding, "there is not such another medicine in the world as mine."

Not for himself but for his country he prepares his gallipot, and seals up his precious drops for any country or any town, so great is his zeal and philanthropy.--Goldsmith, _A Citizen of the World_, lxviii. (1759).

WARD (_Dr._), a footman, famous for his "friars' balsam." He was called in to prescribe for George II., and died 1761. Dr. Ward had a claret stain on his left cheek, and in Hogarth's famous picture, "The Undertakers' Arms," the cheek is marked gules. He occupies the right hand side of the spectator, and forms one of the triumvirate, the others being Dr. Taylor and Mrs. Mapp.

Dr. Kirleus and Dr. Tom Saffold are also known names.

=Quackleben= (_Dr. Quentin_), "the man of medicine," one of the committee at the Spa.--Sir W. Scott, _St. Ronan's Well_ (time, George III.).

=Quaint= (_Timothy_), servant of Governor Heartall. Timothy is "an odd fish, that loves to swim in troubled waters." He says, "I never laugh at the governor's good humors, nor frown at his infirmities. I always keep a steady, sober phiz, fixed as the gentleman's on horseback at Charing Cross; and, in his worst of humors, when all is fire and f.a.ggots with him, if I turn round and coolly say, 'Lord, sir, has anything ruffled you?' he'll burst out into an immoderate fit of laughter, and exclaim, 'Curse that inflexible face of thine! Though you never suffer a smile to mantle on it, it is a figure of fun to the rest of the world."--Cherry, _The Soldier's Daughter_ (1804).

=Quaker Poet= (_The_), Bernard Barton (1784-1849).

=Quaker Widow.= Gentle old dame who, on the afternoon of her husband's funeral, tells to a kindly visitor the simple story of her blameless life, its joys and sorrows, and of the light that comes at eventide.

"It is not right to wish for death; The Lord disposes best.

His spirit comes to quiet hearts And fits them for His rest.

And that He halved our little flock Was merciful, I see; For Benjamin has two in Heaven, And two are left with me."

Bayard Taylor, _The Quaker Widow_.

=Quale= (_Mr._), a philanthropist, noted for his bald, s.h.i.+ning forehead.

Mrs. Jellyby hopes her daughter, Caddy, will become Quale's wife.--Charles d.i.c.kens, _Bleak House_ (1853).

=Quarl= (_Philip_), a sort of Robinson Crusoe, who had a chimpanzee for his "man Friday." The story consists of the adventures and sufferings of an English hermit named Philip Quarl (1727).

=Quasimo'do=, a foundling, hideously deformed, but of enormous muscular strength, adopted by Archdeacon Frollo. He is brought up in the cathedral of Notre Dame de Paris. One day, he sees Esmeralda, who had been dancing in the cathedral close, set upon by a mob as a witch, and he conceals her for a time in the church. When, at length, the beautiful gypsy girl is gibbeted, Quasimodo disappears mysteriously, but a skeleton corresponding to the deformed figure is found after a time in a hole under the gibbet.--Victor Hugo, _Notre Dame de Paris_ (1831).

=Quatre Filz Aymon= (_Les_), the four sons of the duke of Dordona (_Dordogne_). Their names are Rinaldo, Guicciardo, Alardo, and Ricciardetto (_i.e._ Renaud, Guiscard, Alard, and Richard), and their adventures form the subject of an old French romance by Huon de Villeneuve (twelfth century).