Chapter Unique to Ursel of U by Brewer's Readers Handbook

Urim, in Garth’s Dispensary, is designed for Dr. Atterbury.

Urim was civil and not void of sense,
Had humour and courteous confidence,…
Constant at feasts, and each decorum knew,
And soon as the dessert appeared, withdrew.
   —The Dispensary, i. (1699).

Urim and Thummim was the “stone” which gave light in the ark. Our version says that God commanded Noah to make a window, but the translation should be “to make a light.” (See Paracelsus: Urim and Thummim.)

Urim and Thummim, the spectacles given by an angel to Joseph Smith (1805–1844), founder of the Mormon sect, to enable him to read the revelation written in “reformed Egyptian” on the plates hidden at the foot of a mountain in Ontario. These spectacles are described as “two transparent stones set in the rim on a bow fastened to a breastplate.” Smith deciphered the plates, and Oliver Cowdery took down the words, “because Smith was no scholar.”

Urraca, sister of Sancho II. of Castile, and queen of Zamora.—Poema del Cid Campeador (1128).

Urre (Sir), one of the knights of the Round Table. Being wounded, the king and his chief knights tried on him the effect of “handling the wounds” (i.e. touching them to heal them), but failed. At last, sir Launcelot was invited to try, and as he touched the wounds they severally healed.—Arthurian Romance.

In the old Celtic romances a similar gift is ascribed to Finn (Fingal). Thus, in The Pursuit of Grania, Finn refuses, through love-jealousy, to convey water in the closed palms of his two hands to the dying Dermat O’Dyna, wounded in the chase, though urged thereto by the assembled heroes.

Urrie (Sir John), a parliamentary leader.—Sir W. Scott: Legend of Montrose (time, Charles I.).

Ursa Major, Calisto, daughter of Lycaon, violated by Jupiter, and converted by Juno into a bear; whereupon the king of gods and men placed her in the Zodiac as a constellation. The Great Bear is also called “Hellicê” (see p. 99).

Ursa Major. Dr. Johnson was so called by Boswell’s father (1709–1784).

My father’s opinion of Dr. Johnson may be conjectured from the name he afterwards gave him, which was “Ursa Major;” but it is not true, as has been reported, that it was in consequence of my saying that he was a constellation of genius and literature.—Boswell (1791).

Ursa Minor, also called Cynosura (“the dog’s tail”), from its circular sweep. The pole-star is a in the tail.

“Why, Tom, your wife’s a perfect star;
In truth, no woman’s finer.”
Says Tom, “Your simile is just,
My wife’s an Ursa Minor.”
   —E. C. B. 1827).

Ursel (Zedekias), the imprisoned rival of the emperor Alexius Comnenus of Greece.—Sir W. Scott: Count Robert of Paris (time, Rufus).