_Shrew_.--Is _shrew_, as applied to the shrew-mouse, and as applied to a scolding woman, the same word? If so, what is its derivation? The following derivations of the word are cited by Mr. Bell. _Saxon_, "Schreadan," to cut; "Schrif," to censure; "Scheorfian," to bite; "Schyrvan," to beguile. _German_, "Schreiven," to clamour; none of which, it is obvious, come very near to "Schreava," the undoubted Saxon origin of the word shrew. Now it was a custom amongst our forefathers to endeavour to provide a remedy against the baneful influence of the shrew-mouse by plugging the wretched animal alive in a hole made in the body of an ash tree, any branch of which was thenceforth held to be possessed of a power to cure the disease caused by the mouse. It thereupon occurred to me that just as _brock_, a still existing name for the badger, is clearly from the Saxon _broc_, persecution, in allusion to the custom of baiting the animal; so _schreava_ might be from _schræf_, a hollow, in allusion to the hole in the ash tree; and on that supposition I considered "shrew," as applied to a woman, to be a different word, perhaps from the German _schreyen_, to clamour. I have, however, found mentioned in Bailey's Dictionary a Teutonic word, which may reconcile both senses of "shrew,"--I mean _beschreyen_, to bewitch. I shall be obliged to any of your subscribers who will enlighten me upon the subject. W.R.F. _A Chip in Porridge_.--What is the origin and exact force of this phrase? Sir Charles Napier, in his recent general order, informs the Bengal army that "The reviews which the Commander-in-Chief makes of the troops are not to be taken as so many 'chips in porridge.'" I heard a witness, a short time since, say, on entering the witness-box-- "My Lord, I am like a 'chip in porridge'; I can say nothing either for or against the plaintiff." Q.D. _Temple Stanyan_.--Who was Temple Stanyan, concerning whom I find in an old note-book the following quaint entry? "Written on a window at College, by Mr. Temple Stanyan, the author of a _History of Greece_:-- "Temple Stanyan, his window. God give him grace thereout to look! And, when the folk walk to and fro', To study man instead of book!" A.G. _Tandem_.--You are aware that we have a practical pun now naturalised in our language, in the word "_tandem_." Are any of your correspondents acquainted with another instance? [Greek: Sigma]. "_As lazy as Ludlum's dog, as laid him down to bark._"--This comparison is so general and familiar in South Yorkshire (Sheffield especially) as to be frequently quoted by the first half, the other being mentally supplied by the hearer. There must, of course, be some legend of Ludlum and his dog, or they must have been a pair of well-known characters, to give piquancy to the phrase. Will any of your readers who are familiar with the district favour me with an explanation? D.V.S.