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Alcott (LOUISA MAY an American author)

LOUISA MAY, an American author, daughter of the preceding, born in Germantown, Pa., Nov. 29, 1832; wrote at an early age, "Little Women" (1868), "Little Men" (1871), "Old- Fashioned Girl," "Aunt Jo's Scrap-Bag," "Rose in Bloom," and many others of like character and popularity. She died in Boston, Mass., March 6, 1888.

ALCUIN (alk'win), an English ecclesiastic, born at York in 735. He was a pupil of Bede and of Egbert, whose librarian he became, and who appointed him director of the school of York. His reputation reached Charlemagne, who called him to France in 782 to aid in his designs for education in the empire.

Charlemagne became himself a pupil of Alcuin. Alcuin's teaching was in the seven liberal arts of that time, which include music and astronomy; and to these were added Biblical exegesis. Under his influence schools were established at Lyons, Orleans, and Tours. He was so much trusted as to be made a member of the Council of Frankfort (794), where Felix, Bishop of Urgel, was condemned for heresy. Charlemagne loaded Alcuin with riches, and allowed him to have more than 1,000 slaves. He made with his own hand a copy of the Scripture, which he presented to Charlemagne, and which became of great assistance to later editors. His importance lies not so much in his erudition as in the fact that he transplanted the wisdom of antiquity into the the kingdom of Charlemagne, and thus into the greater part of Europe.

Till his death here in 804, 04, he still corresponded constantly with Charlemagne. His works comprise poems, works on grammar, rhetoric, and dialectics, theological and ethical treatises, lives of several saints, and over 200 letters.