right
hand did." Ratcliffe's father rescued him at Cadiz, from an _auto da
fe_, and Ratcliffe himself rescued him from a howling London mob. This
noble heart settled [pounds]10,000 on Miss Ratcliffe at her marriage,
and left Charles the heir of all his property.--Cumberland, _The Jew_
(1776).

[Asterism] The Jews of England made up a very handsome purse, which they
presented to the dramatist for this championship of their race.

_Sheva_, in the satire of _Absalom and Achitophel_, by Dryden and Tate,
is designed for Sir Roger Lestrange, censor of the press, in the reign
of Charles II. Sheva was one of David's scribes (2 _Sam._ xx. 25), and
Sir Roger was editor of the _Observator_, in which he vindicated the
court measures, for which he was knighted.

Than Sheva, none more loyal zeal have shown,
Wakeful as Judah's lion for the crown.

Tate, _Absalom and Achitophel_, ii. (1682).

=Shib'boleth=, the test pass-word of a secret society. When the
Ephraimites tried to pass the Jordan, after their defeat by Jephthah,
the guard tested whether they were Ephraimites or not, by asking them to
say the word "Shibboleth," which the Ephraimites pronounced "Sibboleth"
(_Judges_ xii. 1-6).

In the Sicilian Vespers, a word was given as a test of nationality. Some
dried peas (_ciceri_) were shown to a suspect: if he called them
_cheecharee_, he was a Sicilian, and allowed to pass; but if _siseri_,
he was a Frenchman, and was put to death.

In the great Danish slaughter on St. Bryce's Day (November 13, 1002),
according to tradition, a similar test was made with the words
"Chichester Church," which, being pronounced hard or soft, decided
whether the speaker were Dane or Saxon.

=Shield of Rome= (_The_), Fabius "Cunct[=a]tor." Marcellus was called "The
Sword of Rome." (See FABIUS.)

=Shift= (_Samuel_), a wonderful mimic, who, like Charles Mathews, the
elder, could turn his face to anything. He is employed by Sir William
Wealthy, to assist in saving his son, George, from ruin, and accordingly
helps the young man in his money difficulties by becoming his agent.
Ultimately, it is found that Sir George's father is his creditor, the
young man is saved from ruin, marries, and becomes a reformed and
honorable member of society, who has "sown his wild oats."--Foote, _The
Minor_ (1760).

=Shilling= (_To cut one off with a_). A tale is told of Charles and John
Banister. John, having irritated his father, the old man sai