Chapter Standards to Staunton of S by Brewer's Readers Handbook

Standards to Staunton

Standards. (See Flags, p. 371.)

Standing (To die). Vespasian said, “An emperor of Rome ought to die standing.” Louis XVIII. of France said, “A king of France ought to die standing.” This craze is not confined to crowned heads. (See Solomon, p. 1026.)

The doge Nicolo, in 1627, died standing, repeating the act of Vespasian, “Stando excessit, ne videretur impulsus cadere.”—Pilatius: Fasti Ducales, 289.

Standish (Miles), the Puritan captain, was short of stature, strongly built, broad in the shoulders, deep- chested, and with sinews like iron. His daughter Rose was the first to die “of all who came in the Mayflower.” Miles Standish, being desirous to marry Priscilla “the beautiful puritan,” sent young Alden to plead his cause; but the maiden answered archly, “Why don’t you speak for yourself, John?” Soon after this, Standish was shot with a poisoned arrow, and reported to be dead. John Alden did speak for himself, and prevailed.—Longfellow: Courtship of Miles Standish (1858).

If you would be served you must serve yourself; and moreover

No man can gather cherries in Kent at the season of Christmas.

Longfellow: Courtship of Miles Standish, ix. (1858).

Standish (Mr. Justice), a brother magistrate with Bailie Trumbull.—Sir W. Scott: Rob Roy (time, George I.).

Stanley, in the earl of Sussex’s train. —Sir W. Scott: Kenilworth (time, Elizabeth).

Stanley (Captain Charles), introduced by his friend captain Stukely to the family at Strawberry Hall. Here he meets Miss Kitty Sprightly an heiress, who has a theatrical twist. The captain makes love to her under the mask of acting, induces her to run off with him and get married, then, returning to the hall, introduces her as his wife. All the family fancy he is only “acting,” but discover too late that their “play” is a lifelong reality.—Jackman: All the World’s a Stag.

Stanley Crest (The). On a chapeau gu. an eagle feeding on an infant in its nest. The legend is that sir Thomas de Lathom, having no male issue, was walking with his wife one day, and heard the cries of an infant in an eagle’s nest. They looked on the child as a gift from God, and adopted it, and it became the founder of the Stanley race (time, Edward III.).

Staples (Lawrence), head jailer at Kenilworth Castle. — Sir W. Scott: Kenilworth (time, Elizabeth).

Star Falling. Any wish formed during the shoot of a star will come to pass.

Star of Arcady (The), the Great Bear; so cal led from Calisto, daughter of Lycaon king of Arcadia. The Little Bear is called the Tyrian Cynosure, from Arcas or Cynosura son of Calisto.

And thou shalt be our star of Arcady,
Or Tyrian Cynosure.
   —Milton: Comus, 342 (1634).
(Of course, “Cynosure” signifies “dog’s tail,” Greek, kunos oura, meaning the star in Ursa Minor.)

Star of South Africa, a diamond discovered in the South African fields. It weighed in the rough 831/2 carats; and after being cut 461/2 carats.

Star of the South (The), the second largest cut diamond in the world. It weighs 254 carats. It was discovered in Brazil by a poor negress (1853).

Starch (Dr.), the tutor of Blushington. —Moncrieff: The Bashful Man (1857).