Sicily – Sills
Sicily
an island belonging to the Kingdom of Italy. See ITALY.
Siegen
a town of Prussia, in Westphalia, on the Sieg river; 47 miles E. of Cologne; manufactures leather, paper, linen, soap, iron, copper, lead, zinc, etc., etc., having many mines in the vicinity. Siegen was the birthplace of Rubens. Pop. about 27,300.
Siemens
WERNER VON, a German engineer and electrician; born in Lenthe, Hanover, Dec. 13, 1816. In 1834 he entered the Prussian artillery, and in 1844 was put in charge of the artillery technology and physics; and in 1888 he was ennobled. He died in Berlin, Dec. 6, 1892.
Sienna
or SIENNA EARTH, a ferruginous ochreous earth, which when raw is of a fine yellow color, yellow color, and when burned assumes a rich orange-red tint. It is used as a pigment in both oil and watercolor painting.
Sierra
a chain of hills or mass of mountains with jagged or saw-like ridges.
Sierra Morena
a chain of mountains in Spain, between New Castile and Andalusia, separating the Guadiana on the N. and the Guadalquivir on the S., and attaining a height of 5,500 feet above sea-level.
Sierra Nevada
a chain of mountains in southern Spain, the most elevated in the peninsula. The greater part of it is in the province of Granada, running E. and W., and the highest peak in Mulahacen, which has an elevation of about 11,678 feet, and is capped with everlasting snow. The range is rich in fertile valleys and picturesque scenery.
Sierra Nevada
a mountain range of California, extending N. and S. along the E. boundary of the State. It consists of an aggregate of ranges, on an average some 70 miles wide, with numerous peaks reaching an elevation of 10,000 and 15,000 feet. Gold mining, timber cutting, and sheep rearing are important industries in these ranges.
Siesta
the name given to the practice indulged in by the Spaniards, and the inhabitants of hot climates generally, of sleeping two or three hours in the middle of the day, when the heat is too oppressive to admit of their going from home.
Sign
in astronomy, a portion of the ecliptic or zodiac, containing 30 degrees, or a 12th part of the complete circle.
Silica
oxide of silicon. Pure silica
Sills
KENNETH CHARLES MOR- TON, an American educator, born at Halifax, N. S., in 1879. He was educated at Bowdoin, Harvard, and Columbia, and, besides receiving degrees from these infrom the University of Maine, Bates Colstitutions, also received honorary degrees 1901 to 1903 he was an assistant in Englege, and Dartmouth College. lish at Harvard University; from 1903 From