Air-Plants
plants that are not rooted in the ground, but are attached to the bark of other plants. They live in the air without earth or water, and derive their nourishment from the air. Doubtless these plants also draw food from the decaying wood and bark of the plants to which they are attached. They are to be distinguished from parasites which suck the sap of other plants. Strictly speaking, all mosses and lichens growing on the trunks of trees are air-plants. The Druid-like beards that reach to the bosoms of Longfellow's Acadian hemlocks, and the Spanish moss that drapes the forests in the swamps and along the shores of the Gulf States, are air-plants. The name is restricted, usually, to flowering plants, including a large number of showy orchids growing in moist, hot, shady localities like the forests of the Amazon and of India. See Orchids ; Moss; Lichens
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Air-Pump Gauge
a gauge for testing the extent to which the air has been exhausted in the receiver of an air-pump. It consists of a glass tube bent like a siphon. One leg is closed, as in a barometer, the other open. It is placed under a small bell jar communicating by a stopcock with the receiver, and the more nearly the mercury stands at the same level the more nearly has a vacuum been produced. AIR-SHIPS. See AERONAUTICS,
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Aird
SIR JOHN, an English engineer; born in 1833. In his earliest years he exhibited remarkable skill in mechanics and when only 18 years old carried on important engineering work in connection with the Exhibition of 1857. He constructed many large projects in England and elsewhere, but is best known as the builder of the great Assuan Dam. Under his direction the dam was completed twelve months earlier than the contracted time. He was a member of Parliament from 1887 to 15. He was created a baronet in 1901. He died in 1911.
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Aisha
the favorite wife of Mohammed, and daughter of Abu-Bekr, was born at Medina about 610 A. D., and was only nine years of age when the Prophet married her. She was the only one of Mohammed's wives who accompanied him in his campaigns. Although Ayeshah bore no children to Mohammed, she was tenderly beloved by him. She was accused of adultery, but Mohammed produced a revelation from Heaven (now in the Koran) to the effect that she was innocent. Mohammed expired in her arms (632). She now successfully exercised her influence to prevent Ali, the Prophet's son-in-law, from becoming caliph, and secured the succession for her father, Abu-Bekr. Again, on Othman's death, she headed a force to resist the accession of Ali, but the troops under her were in 656 defeated by Ali, and she was taken prisoner. She died at Medina (677 A. D.), highly venerated by all true Mussulmans, and named the Prophetess and the Mother of Believers.
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Aisne
a river in France rising in the forest of the Argonne and flowing first N. W. and then W. to a junction with the Oise near Compiègne. It is about 170 miles long and is navigable over one-half its length. Canals connect it with the Meuse and the Marne rivers. The Aisne and the country through which it runs formed the most prominent field of operation during the World War. The northern banks of the river were fortified by the Germans against a failure of their initial attempts to capture Paris in 1914, and following their defeat at the Marne the German armies fell back to these defenses. It constituted during the greater part of the war the northern limit of their possession of French soil. Much of the bitterest fighting during the war took place on the banks of the Aisne or in the country tributary to it. The battles of the Aisne constitute a very important chapter in the history of the World War. See WORLD WAR.
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Aix-la-Chapelle
. See Aachen
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Aix-Les-Bains
a town of France, in Haute Savoie, on the E. side of Lake Bourget, 8 miles N. by E. of Chambéry, celebrated for its sulphuretted hot springs. They were in vogue among the Romans, and are still extensively used. Pop. about 5,000.
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Ajaccio
the chief town of the island of Corsica, which forms a department of France. It is the handsomest city of Corsica, and the birthplace of Napoleon I., whose house is still to be seen. During the World War the city was a naval base for vessels of the Allied forces operating in the Mediterrean. Pop. about 20,000.
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Ajalon
said to be the modern Yâlo, a village a little to the N. of the Jaffa road, about 14 miles W. N. W. of Jerusalem; the town was rendered memorable by Joshua's victory over the five Canaanitish kings, and still more so by the extraordinary circumstance of the miraculously lengthened day.
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Akathaso
Evil spirits inhabiting trees. (See Burma .) Akhnim A town of Middle Thebais, which at one time , which at one possessed the reputation of being the habitation of the greatest magicians. Paul Lucas, in his Second Voyage, speaks of the wonderful Serpent of Akhnim, which was worshipped by the Mussulmans as an angel, and by the Christians believed to be the demon Asmodeus.
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Aked
CHARLES Baptist clergyman; born in Nottingham, England, in 1864. He was educated at the Midland Baptists' College and the University College, Nottingham, and entered the ministry in 1886. After serving as pastor in several places in England, he became pastor of Pembroke Chapel at Liverpool in 1890. Here he attracted great attention through his powerful sermons on social and religious subjects. He was called to the pastorate of the Fifth Avenue Baptist Church of New York in 1907, remaining there until 1911, when he became pastor of the First Congregational Church of San Francisco, where he remained until 1915. He was well known as a lecturer and preacher. 7-Vol. I-Cyc He wrote "The Courage of the Coward" (1905), "Old Events and Modern Meanings" (1908), "The Divine Drama of Job" (1913). À KEMPIS, THOMAS. See KEMPIS.
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Akenside
MARK, an English poet, born at Newcastle-on-Tyne, Nov. 9, 1721. Studied at first theology, then medicine in Edinburgh and in Leyden. He practiced medicine with poor success at first, but slowly gained eminence, and in 1761 was appointed physician to the queen. His literary fame rests on the "Pleasures of the Imagination," a didactic poem (1744, remodeled and enlarged 1757 and 176 1765). He died in London, June 23, 1770. BENJAMIN PAUL,
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