Zola
EMILE, a French novelist; born in Paris, France, April 2, 1840; the son of an Italian engineer. After working for Paris publishers and writing for Macquart series of 20 volumes, and was dedicated to the memory of M. Zola's mother and to his wife. During 1894 he published "Lourdes," a love story, set in the scenery of the famous resort of French pilgrims. "Rome" followed in 1896, "Paris" in 1897, and "Fecundity" in 1899. During 1897 and 1898 he took up with splendid courage the cause of Captain Dreyfus, whom he declared to have been illegally condemned, and was, consequently, prosecuted by order of the government, and condemned to imprisonment. He escaped to England. He died Sept. 29, 1902.
ZOLLVEREIN (tsōl'fer-in), the German commercial or customs union, founded originally in 1827, but extended greatly after the war of 1866, when, owing to political considerations, Prussia obtained a preponderating influence in the union, which included the North German Bund, Bavaria, Württemberg, Baden, Hesse, and Luxemburg. This arrangement was brought prematurely to an end by the formation of the German empire. By article 33 of the constitution of the empire, the territory of the Zollverein coincides with the territories of the empire, with the exceptions of the free ports of Hamburg, Altona, Bremen, Bremerhaven, Geestemünde, and Braahe, and some communes of the grand-duchy of Baden, Baden, while Luxemburg and the Austrian canton of Jungholz are included in it. Its object is the regulation of a uniform rate of customs duties throughout the various states comprised in the union. The free ports were included in the Zollverein in October, 1888. Hence, any commercial or customs union.