More than one of these 7 encyclopedias carries each of the following subjects — but every one of them treats it in a sentence or two and then moves on. They are gathered here so the different accounts can sit side by side.
Belisarius
Collier's New Encyclopedia: the great general of the Roman Emperor Justinian, was a native of Illyria. He commanded an expedition against the King of Persia about 530; suppressed an insurrection at Constantinople; conquered Gelimer, King of the Vandals, and put an end to their dominion in Africa; was recalled and honored with a triumph. In 535, Belisarius was sent to Italy to carry on a war with the Goths, and took Rome in 537. Belisarius recovered Rome from Totilus in 547, and was recalled the next year. He was afterward sent against the Huns. He was charged, in 563, with conspiracy against Justinian, but was acquitted. He died in 565.
1000 Classical Characters: A celebrated general who, in the reign of Justinian, emperor of Constantinople, renewed the victories which had rendered the first Romans so distinguished. He died, after a life of glory, suffering from royal ingratitude, в. c. 565. 2026 Editor's Note: Belisarius was instrumental in the reconquest of much of the Mediterranean territory belonging to the former Western Roman Empire, which had been lost less than a century prior. He conquered the Vandal Kingdom of North Africa in just nine months and recaptured Rome during the Gothic War, despite being significantly outnumbered. He is frequently cited as being among the 'Last of the Romans' and is considered one of the greatest military commanders in history. (Ed: BR 2026-06-20)
Covered by Collier's New Encyclopedia and 1000 Classical Characters
Bell-metal
The Encyclopedia of Founding: The alloys for large bells are now as various as those for small ones. It was formerly considered that copper 75, tin 25, was the best for all large bells, but it is claimed by many that copper 80, tin 20, is better. Many church-bells are successfully cast from either of the above proportions. The following proportions are about correct: Extra large bells: copper 16, tin 5. Church and large bells: copper 16, tin 4 1/2. House-bells: copper 16, tin 4. Gongs, cymbals, etc.: copper 16, tin 3 1/2. Soft musical bells: copper 16, tin 3. Another composition introducing zinc and lead for church-bells is: copper 80, tin 10, zinc 5.6, lead 4.6. Clock-bells are also made from: copper 72.0, tin 26.5, iron 1.5. It will be seen that a small proportion of iron enters into the latter alloy; this is common with some founders, and zinc and lead form no mean proportion in the cheaper class of small bells. Lafond's mixture for small bells and piano-plates is: copper 77, tin 21, antimony 2. This alloy is yellowish white, and can be filed only with difficulty. A French bell-metal for hand, clock, and other similar-sized bells is: copper 55 to 60, tin 30 to 40, zinc 10 to 15. See ALLOY; BRASS; JAPANESE BRONZE-WORK.
American Watchmaker and Jeweler: An alloy of copper and tin, in proportions varying from 66 to 80 per cent. of copper and the balance of tin.
Covered by The Encyclopedia of Founding and American Watchmaker and Jeweler
Bellona
Collier's New Encyclopedia: the goddess of war, and sister or wife, or sister-wife and charioteer of Mars. The Romans paid great adoration to her. The Temple of Bellona in Rome stood in the Circus Flaminius, near the Porta Carmentalis, and was the place where foreign ambassadors and generals returning from their campaigns were received by the Senate. Before its gates was raised a column , called Columna Bellica, against which a javelin was hurled as one of the previous forms in the declaration of war. Her priests were named after her, Bellonarii.
1000 Classical Characters: Goddess of war, was daughter of Phorcys and Ceto; called by the Greeks Enyo, and is often confounded with Minerva. She prepared the chariot of Mars when he was going to war, and appeared in battles armed with a whip to animate the combatants, and holding a torch. 2026 Editor's Note: Bellona was an ancient Roman goddess of war, embodying its destructive and brutal aspects. The page incorrectly conflates her with Minerva. The Romans identified Bellona with the Greek war-goddess Enyo , not Minerva. One of her temples in Rome served as a site for Senate meetings prior to the reign of Augustus. (Ed: BR 2026-06-22)
Covered by Collier's New Encyclopedia and 1000 Classical Characters
Bellows
Collier's New Encyclopedia: GEORGE WESLEY, an American artist, born in Columbus , O., in 1882. He graduated from the Ohio State University in 1905 and afterward His studied art under Robert Henri. pictures were exhibited at exhibitions in Venice and other cities. He received the second Hallgarten prize in 1908, and the first Hallgarten prize in 1913. He was awarded the Maynard prize of the Na tional Academy of Design in 1914. He also received other prizes from art societies and institutions. He was a member of the National Academy. His pictures are found in many leading galleries of the United States and abroad.
The Encyclopedia of Founding: These wind-machines for foundry use are somewhat after the pattern of those used in the home, except that they are usually provided with hinges and made strong. The common ones are used for blowing away superfluous parting sand off the patterns, and loose sand and blackening out of the moulds. Bellows for the bench are made without spout and somewhat shorter. Special bellows, for distributing blackening upward where it cannot be applied with the bag, are now made; as also are sprinkling-bellows for saturating the mould, where necessary, with water, etc.
Covered by Collier's New Encyclopedia and The Encyclopedia of Founding
Beloit
Collier's New Encyclopedia: city in Rock co., Wis.; on the Rock river, and the Chicago and Northwestern, and the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul railroads; 85 miles S. W. of Milwaukee. The city derives fine power for manufacturing from the river; and has one of the largest woodworking machinery plants in the world, besides manufactories of gas engines, windmills, iron, paper-mill machinery, ploughs, paper, rye flour, flour, and bicycles. The city is widely known as the seat of Beloit College. Pop. (1910) 15,125; (1920) 21,284.
Aiton's Encyclopedia: Wisconsin, a prosperous city of about 12,000 inhabitants, attractively situated on the Rock River. It has a fine water power and numerous manufactures. It is noted as the seat of Beloit College. The latter is a co-educational institution under control of the Congregationalists. It has a faculty of twenty-five members, five hundred students, half a million in productive funds, and grounds valued, with buildings, at a third of a million.
Covered by Collier's New Encyclopedia and Aiton's Encyclopedia
Bergamot
Aiton's Encyclopedia: ber'ga-mot, a small tree with leaves and flowers like those of the bitter orange and with a fruit like the lemon. Bergamot grows chiefly in Italy. Oil of bergamot is obtained by grinding the rind of the fruit. It is of a limpid, greenish-yellow color, with a strong, pleasant, lemon odor, and a bitter taste. It is used in the manufacture of perfumery and as a flavor. The "wild bergamot" of the American botanist is a square-stemmed, aromatic herb of the mint family. The blossoms are collected in a sort of head. The corollas are deeply two-lipped, about an inch in length. They vary in color from purple to bright crimson, lilac, and rose red. 2026 Editor's Note: The entry lists perfume and flavoring but misses the use that made bergamot a household word: it is the scent and flavor of Earl Grey tea , made by treating black tea with oil pressed from these Italian rinds. Nearly all of it still comes from a narrow strip of coastal Calabria. (Ed: BR 2026-06-11)
Collier's New Encyclopedia: a fruit tree, a variety of species of the genus citrus.
Covered by Aiton's Encyclopedia and Collier's New Encyclopedia