Those led astray by these “fool-fires” are said to be Elf-led, Mab-led, or Puck-led.
When seen on the tips of the fingers, the hair of the head, mast-tops, and so on, the phenomenon is called Castor and Pollux (if double), Cuerpo Santo (Spanish), Corpusanse, Dipsas, St. Elmo or Fires of St. Elmo (Spanish), St. Ermyn, Feu d’Hélène (French), Fire-drakes, Fuole or Looke Fuole, Haggs, Helen (if single), St. Hel´ena, St. Helme’s fires, Leda’s twins, St. Peter and St. Nicholas (Italian), or Fires of St. Peter and St. Nicholas.
Jacks (The Two Genial), Jack Munden and Jack Dowton. Planché says: “They were never called anything else.” The former was Joseph Munden (1758-1832), and the latter, William Dowton (1764-1851)—Planché, Recollections etc., i. 28.
Jackson Reed, aged light-house keeper. Believes in special providences and personal deliverances. Part of his religion is to keep the “light” burning. One afternoon he is detained by an upset on the road, and a storm arises. His skeptical wife, almost bed-ridden with rheumatism, bethinks herself that her nephew is on the sea, and the light is not kindled. After hours of agony she drags herself up the stairs, praying as she goes, and finds the lamp lighted, she believes, miraculously. Her husband coming home, guesses that a girl once beloved by the nephew, was his guardian angel.
“Abbey Weaver lit that lamp; but Sarah needn’t know!”—Mary E. Wilkins, The Bar Light-House (1887).
Jacob, the Scourge of Grammar, Giles Jacob, master of Romsey, in Southamptonshire, brought up for an attorney. Author of a Law Dictionary, Lives and Characters of English Poets, etc. (1686-1744).
Jac´omo, an irascible captain and a woman-hater. Frank (the sister of Frederick) is in love with him.—Beaumont and Fletcher, The Captain (1613).
Jacques (1 syl.), one of the domestic men-servants of the duke of Aranza. The duke, in order to tame down the overbearing spirit of his bride, pretends to be a peasant, and deputes Jacques to represent the duke for the nonce. Juliana, the duke’s bride, lays her grievance before “duke” Jaques, but of course receives no redress, although she learns that if a Jaques is “duke,” the “peasant” Aranza is a better man.—J. Tobin, The Honeymoon (1804).
Jacques (Pauvre), the absent sweet-heart of a love-lorn maiden. Marie Antoinette sent to Switzerland for a lass to attend the dairy of her “Swiss village” in miniature, which she arranged in the Little Trianon (Paris). The lass was heard sighing for pauvre Jacques, and this made a capital sentimental amusement for the court idlers. The swain was sent for, and the marriage celebrated.
Pauvre Jacques, quand j’etais près de loi