Chapter Shonou to Sibyls of S by Brewer's Readers Handbook

Shorthouse (Tom), epitaph of—

Hic Jacet Tom Shorthouse, sine Tom, sine Sheets, sine Riches [“sine,” 1 syl.];

Qui Vixit sine Gown, sine Cloak, sine Shirt, sine Breeches.

Old London (taken from the Magna Britannia).

“Should Auld Acquaintance be Forgot?” Robert Burns, writing to Mr. Thomson, September, 1793, says, “The following song (‘Auld Lang Syne’) of the olden times, which has never been in print, nor even in MS., until I took it down from an old man’s singing, is enough to recommend any air.”

Shoulder-Blade Divination.

A divination strange the Dutch-made English have…
By the shoulder of a ram from off the right side pared,
Which usually they boil, the spade-bone being bared.
Which then the wizard takes, and gazing thereupon,
Things long to come foreshows…Scapes secretly at home…
Murthers, adulterous stealths, as the events of war,
The reigns and deaths of Kings…etc.
   —Drayton: Polyolbion, v. (1612).

Shovel-Boards or Edward Shovel-Boards, broad shillings of Edward III. Taylor, the water-poet, tells us “they were used for the most part at shoave-board.”

…the unthrift every day,
With my face downwards do at shoave-board play.
   —Taylor, the water-poet (1580–1654).

Shrewsbury (Lord), the earl marshal in the court of queen Elizabeth.—Sir W. Scott: Kenilworth (time, Elizabeth).

Shropshire Toast (The), “To all friends round the Wrekin.”

Shufflebottom (Abel), a name assumed by Robert Southey in some of his amatory productions (1774–1843).

Shuffleton (The Hon. Tom), a man of very slender estate, who borrows of all who will lend, but always forgets to repay or return the loans. When spoken to about it, he interrupts the speaker before he comes to the point, and diverts the conversation to some other subject. He is one of the new school, always emotionless, looks on money as the summum bonum, and all as fair that puts money in his purse. The Hon. Tom Shuffleton marries lady Caroline Bray-more, who has £4000 a year. (See DIMANCHE, p. 280.)—Colman junior: John Bull (1805).

“Who is this—all boots and breeches,
Cravat and cape, and spurs and switches,
Grins and grimaces, shrugs and capers,
With affection, spleen, and vapours?”
“Oh, Mr. Richard Jones, your humble—”
“Pithee give o’er to mouthe and mumble;
Stand still, speak plain, and let us hear
What was intended for the ear.
I’faith, without the timely aid
Of bills, no part you ever played
(Hob, Handy, Shuffleton, or Rover,
Sharper, stroller, lounger, love)
Could e’er distinguish from each other.”
   —Croker: On Richard Jones, the Actor (1778–1851).

Shutters (Tom, put up the). A lieutenant threatened Mr. Hoby of St. James’s Street (London) to withdraw his custom, because his boots were too tight; whereupon Mr. Hoby called to his errandboy, “Tom, put up the shutters, lieutenant Smith threatens to withdraw his custom.” This witty reproof has become a stock phrase of banter with tradesmen when threatened by a silly customer.

Shylock, the Jew who lends Anthonio (a Venetian merchant) 3000 ducats for three months, on these conditions: If repaid within the time, only the principal should be required; if not, the Jew should be at liberty to cut from Anthonio’s body a pound of flesh. The ships of Anthonio being delayed by contrary winds, the merchant was unable to meet his bill, and the Jew claimed the forfeiture. Portia, in the dress of a law doctor, conducted the defence; and, when the Jew was about to take his bond, reminded him that he must shed no drop of blood, nor cut either more or less than an exact pound. If these conditions were infringed, his life would be forfeit. The Jew, feeling it to be impossible to exact the bond under