Miracle Plays
a sort of dramatic entertainments common in the Middle Ages, in which the subjects were taken entertainments common in the Middle from the lives of saints and the miracles they wrought. They were originally performed in church, but latterly outside, in market places and elsewhere. In H market places and elsewhere. In Eng- formed in church, but latterly outside, in century.
Engsion by which images of distant objects or scenes appear inverted, and generally in mid-air. The phenomenon is best obland they were first produced in the 12th served in the Egyptian or other deserts, though occasionally seen elsewhere. The soldiers of Napoleon I., when in Egypt, were much tantalized by the mirage; and Monge, who accompanied the expedition, was the first to explain the illusion. The layers of air in contact with the tion, was the first to explain the illusion. and Monge, who accompanied the expedimore ject has to traverse strata of air less them; a ray of light from an elevated obthan those immediately above and less refracting, and the angle of in- MIRAMICHI cidence continually increases in amount till refraction gives place to internal reflection. According to the varying density of the strata of air the mirage varies in character.
MIRAMICHI (mir-a-mi-she'), the second river of New Brunswick, entering the Gulf of St. Lawrence through Miramichi Bay; length 220 miles. a MIRAMÓN, MIGUEL, Mexican military officer; born in the City of Mexico, Sept. 29, 1832; fought at Chapultepec in 1847 and commissioned a Colonel. In 1855 joined insurrection and took Puebla; was captured, escaped, and began guerilla warfare. In 1858 when Zuloaga became president he was made a Brigadier-General; in December, 1858, the government of Zuloaga was overthrown and in January, 1859, Miramón was chosen provisional president of the Conservative government. He was defeated by the forces of the Liberal party at the battle of Calpulálpam on Dec. 22, 1860, and soon afterward fled to Europe.
When the regency was installed in 1863 he returned to Mexico, but his services were declined and he was again compelled to flee the country. Later, however, his offer was accepted by Maximilian and he returned in November, 1866. He was placed in command of a division which suffered defeat at the battle of San Jacinto, Feb. 1, 1867. Subsequently he was captured and shot with Maximilian and Mejía in Queretaro, June 19, 1867.