Chapter Handy Andy to Hardy of H by Brewer's Readers Handbook

Hans of Iceland, a novel by Victor Hugo (1824). Hans is a stern, savage, Northern monster, ghastly and fascinating.

Hans von Rippach [Rip-pak], i.e. Jack of Rippach. Rippach is a village near Leipsic. This Hans von Rippach is a “Mons. Nong-tong-pas,” that is, a person asked for, who does not exist. The “joke” is to ring a house up at some unseasonable hour, and ask for Herr Hans von Rippach or Mons. Nong-tong- pas.

Hanson (Neil) a soldier in the castle of Garde Doloureuse.—Sir W. Scott: The Betrothed (time, Henry II.).

Hanswurst, the “Jack Pudding” of old German comedy, but almost annihilated by Gottsched, in the middle of the eighteenth century. He was clumsy, huge in person, an immense gourmand, and fond of vulgar practical jokes.

N.B.—The French “Jean Potage,” the Italian “Macaroni,” and the Dutch “Pickel Herringe,” were similar characters.

Hapmouche, i.e. “flycatcher,” the giant who first hit upon the plan of smoking pork and neats’ tongues. —Rabelais: Pantagruel, ii. 1 (1533).

Happor or Hob, the miller who supplies St. Mary’s Convent.

Mysie Happer, the miller’s daughter. Afterwards, in disguise, she acts as the page of sir Piercie Shafton, whom she marries.—Sir W. Scott: The Monastery (time, Elizabeth).

Happuck, a magician, brother of Ulin the enchantress. He was the instigator of rebellion, and intended to kill the sultan Misnar at a review, but Misnar had given orders to a body of archers to shoot the man who was left standing When the rest of the soldiers fell prostrate in adoration. Misner went to the review, and commanded the army to give thanks to Allah for their victory, when all fell prostrate except Rappuck, who was thus detected, and instantly despatched.—Sir C. Morell [James Ridley]: Tales of the Genii (“The Enchanter’s Tale,” vi., 1751).

Have we prevailed against Ulin and Happuck, Ollomand and Tasnar, Ahaback and Desra; and shall we fear the contrivance of a poor vizier?—Tales of the Genii, vii. (1751).

Happy Old Couple (The) a ballad which tells the tale of Darby and Joan (q.v.).

Happy Valley (The) in the kingdom of Amhara. It was here the royal princes and princesses of Abyssinia lived. It was surrounded by high mountains, and was accessible only by one spot under a cave. This spot was concealed by woods and closed by iron gates.—Dr. Johnson: Rasselas (1759).

Harapha, a descendant of Anak the giant of Gath. He went to mock Samson in prison, but durst not venture within his reach.—Milton: Samson Agonistes (1632).

Harbothel (Master Fabian), the squire of sir Aymer de Valence.—Sir W. Scott: Castle Dangerous (time, Henry I.).

Hard Times, a novel by C. Dickens (1854), dramatized in 1867, and called Under the Earth, or The Sons of Toil. Bounderby, a street arab, raised himself to banker and cotton prince. When 55 years of age, he proposed marriage to Louisa, daughter of Thomas Gradgrind, Esq., J.P., and was accepted. One night the bank was robbed of £150, and Bounderby believed Stephen Blackpool to be the thief, because he had dismissed him, being obnoxious to the mill hands; but the culprit was Tom Gradgrind, the banker’s brother-in-law, who lay perdu for a while, and then escaped out of the country. In the dramatized version, the bank was not robbed at all, but Tom merely removed the money to another drawer for safe custody.