Maeterlinck
MAURICE, a Belphy and law, he became a barrister in 1887, but did not actually practice the profession, and in 1896 settled in Paris and gave himself up to writing. He produced many plays of great significance. These are chiefly symbolic and are possessed of great poetic and dramatic value. Among them are "La Princesse (1909); and "Marie Magdeleine" (1910). "The Blue Bird" became immensely popplayed successfully throughout the ular in English translation and was United States. Maeterlinck also wrote a ular in English translation and was phy of life. These include "Treasure of United States. Maeterlinck also wrote a series of essays bearing on his philosowas one of his most widely known productions. In 1913 he published "La of death. In 1911 Maeterlinck was Mort," an interpretation of his philosophy ductions. In 1913 he published "La was one of his most widely known pro- Dunin MAFIA tive part in relief measures in Belgium and wrote much and vividly against German cruelties and misrule. In 1920 he AM 798 MAURICE MAETERLINCK visited the United States and gave a series of lectures.
MAFIA (mä-fe'ä), THE, a Sicilian secret society akin to the CAMORRA (q. v.) in Naples. The Mafia, under one designation or another, runs back to the Middle Ages. It punished crimes against itself by death. Under the Bourbons its simplest form was brigandage and sequestration of the person, to be held to ransom, default of which implied death.
When Sicily was annexed to Italy outlawry was increased by the addition of the partisans of the Bourbons, who pretended to be in insurrection. The disorders were suppressed by the bersaglieri, who scoured the country and tried by drum-head court-martial all the men they caught with arms, or who were accused of brigandage, and shot the condemned on the spot. After the re-establishment of civil rule in the island there was a revival of the Mafia. Minor crimes are still somewhat protected by the organization, but the policy of the government has been one of steady legal pressure and change of venue to the Continent for the trial of the criminals, and this is gradually paralyzing the Mafia. This policy resulted in the emigration of large ge numbers of the Mafiosi to the Southern States of the United States. In New Orleans an at- MAGAZINES tempt to stamp out the organization resulted in 1890 in complications between Italy and the United States. The Italian government in recent years has succeeded partially in controlling the Mafia, and its influence in the United States has ceased to become important.