Chapter Clack-Dish to Clarke of C by Brewer's Readers Handbook

Clack-Dish to Clarke

Clack-Dish, a dish or platter with a lid, used at one time by beggars, who clacked the lid when persons drew near, to arrest attention and thus solicit alms.

Your beggar of fifty; and his use was to put a ducat in her clack-dish.—Shakespeare: Measure for Measure, act iii. sc. 2 (1603).

Cladpole (Tim), Richard Lower, of Chiddingly, author of Tom Cladpole’s Journey to Lunnun (1831); Jan Cladpole’s Trip to ’Merricur (1844), etc.

Claimant (The). William Knollys, in The Great Banbury Case, claimed the baronetcy, but was non- suited. This suit lasted 150 years (1660–1811).

Douglas v. Hamilton, in The Great Douglas Case, was settled in favour of the claimant, who was at once raised to the peerage under the name and title of baron Douglas of Douglas Castle; but was not restored to the title of duke (1767–1769)

Tom Provis, a schoolmaster of ill repute, who had married a servant of sir Hugh Smithes of Ashton Hall, near Bristol, claimed the baronetcy and estates. He was non-suited and condemned to imprisonment for twenty-one years (1853).

Arthur Orton, who claimed to be sir Roger Tichborne (drowned at sea). He was non-suited and sentenced to fourteen years’ imprisonment for perjury (1871–1872).

Clamades , son of king Crampart, who mounted his father’s wooden horse, and was conveyed through the air at the rate of 100 miles an hour.—Alkman: Reynard the Fox (1498).

Clandestine Marriage (The). Fanny Sterling, the younger daughter of Mr. Sterling, a rich city merchant, is clandestinely married to Mr. Lovewell, an apprentice in the house, of good family; and sir John Melvil is engaged to Miss Sterling, the elder sister. Lord Ogleby is a guest in the merchant’s house. Sir John prefers Fanny to her elder sister, and not knowing of her marriage, proposes to her, but is rejected. Fanny appeals to lord Ogleby, who, being a vain old fop, fancies she is in love with him, and tells Sterling he means to make her a countess. Matters being thus involved, Lovewell goes to consult with Fanny about declaring their marriage, and the sister, convinced that sir John is shut up in her sister’s room, rouses the house with a cry of “Thieves!” Fanny and Lovewell now make their appearance. All parties are scandalized. But Fanny declares they have been married four months, and lord Ogleby takes their part. So all ends well.—Colman and Garrick (1766).

(This comedy is a réchauffé of The False Concord, by Rev. James Townley, many of the characters and much of the dialogue being preserved.)

Clang of Shields. To strike the shield with the blunt end of a spear was in Ossianic times an indication of war to the death. A bard, when the shield was thus struck, raised the mort-song.

Cairbar rises in his arms. Darkness gathers on his brow. The hundred harps cease at once. The clang of shields is heard. Far distant on the heath Olla raised the song of woe.—Ossian: Temora, i.

Clapham Academy (Ode on the Distant Prospect of), by T. Hood (1847), a parody on Gray’s Distant Prospect of Eton College (1742).

CLARA, in Otway’s comedy called The Cheats of Scapin, an English version of Les Fourberies de Scapin, by Molière, represents the French character called “Hyacinthe.” Her father is called by Otway “Gripe,” and by Molière “Géronte” ; her brother is “Leander,” in French “Leandre;” and her sweetheart “Octavian” son of “Thrifty,” in French “Octave” son of “Argante.” The sum of money wrung from Gripe is £200, but that squeezed out of Géronte is 1500 livres.