Just sharing this site of lyrics and comic monologues from the 1860s to the 1920s. Who knows, there may be an etymological gem in there.  http://monologues.co.uk/index2.htm

And even though none were to be found, eliza, it’s going to be great fun looking! Thank you for the link.

Thanks, ElizaD. The link immediately induced in me an intense desire to hear once more the voice of Joyce Grenfell, my all-time favourite female comic. I went to You-tube, which tells me I can’t watch any videos till I get the Adobe Flash Player. But I’ve already got the Adobe Flash Player - I still can’t watch. Am I being attempted to being herded into some sort of trap, or pen, in which I’ll end up consenting to be used in some way I never intended? Or am I simply paranoid? Why can’t I watch, and hear, Joyce Grenfell?  [should I be in the Meta discussion group with these questions?]

I might suggest that you need to upgrade your current Flash.

Thank you, Faldage. It worked.

De nada.

Joyce Grenfell was quite wonderful. I remember especially her routine in which she was a teacher with an unruly (and unseen) class of infants. Absolutely hilarious! She always reminded me a little of the earlier Beatrice Lillie, an enchanting performer who did very little film work (the 1944 film On Approval with Clive Brook is a must-see), the stage being her prime arena. For any who don’t know her here she is on the Ed Sullivan show singing There Are Fairies at the Bottom of Our Garden. The video quality leaves much to be desired but Miss Lillie still shines through.