QUESTIONS

Q : Who first declared that ‘patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel’, and what was the context?

Rob Barrett, Pembroke. Q : The word ‘babe’ or ‘baby’ is used in the lyrics of countless songs in place of man/ woman or boy/girl. Does anyone know which was the first song to do this?

Brian Deer, Seaton, East Yorkshire. Q : Were the tongue-twisters ‘she sells seashells by the seashore’ and ‘Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers’ based on real people?