Chapter Kent to Kildare of K by Brewer's Readers Handbook

Keuser, one of the rivers of Mahomet’s paradise, the waters whereof are sweeter than new milk.

He who has seen the garden of thy beauty, O adorable princess, would not change his ravishment for a draught of the water of Keuser.—Comte de Caylus: Oriental Tales (“The Basket,” 1743).

Kevin (St.), a young man who went to live on a solitary rock at Glendalough, in Wicklow. This h e did to flee from Kathleen, who loved him, and whose eyes he feared his heart would not be able to resist. Kathleen tracked him, and while he slept “bent over him;” but, starting from his sleep, the “holy man” cast the girl from the rock into the sea, which her ghost haunted amidst the sounds of sweet music.—Moore: Irish Melodies, iv. (“By that Lake…” 1814).

Key (Sir), son of sir Ector the foster-father of prince Arthur. He was Arthur’s seneschal, and is represented as rude and boastful. Sir Gawain is the type of courtesy, sir Launcelot of chivalry, sir Mordred of treachery, sir Galahad of chastity, sir Mark of cowardice. (See Kay.)

Key and Bible, used for the detection of thieves. A key is placed over an open Bible at the words, “Whither thou goest, I will go” (Ruth i. 16); and, the fingers of the person being held so as to form a cross, the text is repeated. The names of suspected persons are then pronounced in succession, and when the name of the thief is uttered, the key jumps and dances about. An instance of this method of thief-finding was brought before the magistrates at the borough petty sessions at Ludlow, in January, 1879.

A married woman, named Mary Collier, was charged with using abusive and insulting language to her neighbour, Eliza Oliver; and the complainant, in her statement to the magistrates, said that on December 27 she was engaged in carrying water, when Mrs. Collier stopped her, and stated that another neighbour had had a sheet stolen, and had “turned the key on the Bible near several houses; that when it came to her (Oliver’s) house, the key moved of itself, and that when complainant’s name was mentioned the key and the Book turned completely round, and fell out of their hands. She also stated that the owner of the sheet then inquired from the key and the Book whether the theft was committed at dark or daylight, and the reply was “daylight.” Defendant then called complainant “A—daylight thief,” and charged her with stealing the sheet.—Newspaper paragraph (January, 1879).

Key of Russia, Smolensk, on the Dnieper. Famous for its resistance to Napoleon I. in 1812.

Key of the Mediterranean, the fortress of Gibraltar, which commands the entrance of the Mediterranean Sea.

Keys of Knowledge. Five things are known to God alone: (1) The time of the day of judgment; (2) the time of rain; (3) the sex of an animal before birth; (4) what will happen on the morrow; (5) where any one will die. These the Arabs call the five keys of secret knowledge.—Sale: Al Korân, xxxi. note.

(The five senses are called “The five doors of knowledge.” No. 2 is certainly knowable to science; and No. 5 is too general.)

Keyne [Keen] or St. Keyna, daughter of Braganus prince of Garthmatrin or Brecon, called “Keyna the Virgin.” Her sister Melaria was the mother of St. David. Many nobles sought her in marriage, but she refused them all, being resolved to live and die a virgin. She retired to a spot near the Severn, which abounded with serpents, but at her prayer they were all turned into Ammonites, and “abide to this day.” Subsequently she removed to Mount St. Michael, and by her prayer a spring of healing waters burst out of the earth, and whoever drinks first of this water after marriage will become the dominant house- power. “Now,” says Southey, “a Cornishman took his bride to church, and the moment the ring was on ran up the mount to drink of the mystic water. Down he came in full glee to tell his bride; but the bride said, ‘My good man, I brought a bottle of the water to church with me, and drank of it before you started.—Southey: The Well of St. Keyne (1798).