Aryan
in general language, pertaining to the old race speaking the primeval Aryan tongue, or any of the numerous forms of speech which have sprung from it. The ancestors of most modern Europeans lived together as one people, speaking the primeval Aryan tongue, in central Asia, and apparently near the Pamir steppe. In a special sense, the Aryan race which invaded India at a period of remote antiquity, possibly 1700 B. C., and still remains the dominant Hindu race there.
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Aryan Race
a name applied to what has been termed the Indo-European or Indo-Germanic family. According to a theory now pretty well exploded, the Aryans were originally located somewhere in Central Asia, possibly east of the Caspian, whence they swarmed eastward to Afghanistan and northern India, and westward throughout Europe. Owing to the wide-spread use of many common words, such as father and mother, it was conjectured that the Celts, Teutons, Greeks, Latins, Slavs, Persians, and Hindus were but swarms or branches of the same race--a great Aryan family. It is now believed that the Hindu, the Irishman, and the Norwegian indeed derived similar words from some one source, or by early intercourse; but it is held that differences in the shape of the head and many other physical characteristics justify the assumption that these people belong to different races. Race is a matter, not of language, but of physical structure. In other words, the old so-called Indo-European or Aryan family has been broken up into fragments of uncertain size, relationship, and origin. It is still allowable to speak of Aryan languages, but not of an Aryan race.
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Asa
son of Abijah, and third King of Judah, conspicuous for his earnestness in supporting the worship of God and rooting out idolatry, and for the vigor and wisdom of his government. He reigned from 955 to 914 B. C.
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Asaba
a town of southern Nigeria in west Africa, on the Niger river, 150 miles from the coast and 75 miles above the delta. It is a place of considerable commercial importance and the seat of the Supreme Court.
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Asal
Known as the King of the Golden Pillars, in Irish Celtic Myth. He was the owner of seven swine, which might be killed and eaten every night, yet were found alive every morning.
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Asama
an active volcano of Japan, about 50 miles N. W. of Tokio, 8,260 feet high.
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Asaph
a Levite and psalmist appointed by David as leading chorister in the divine services. His office became hereditary in his family, or he founded a school of poets and musicians, which were called after him, "the sons of Asaph."
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Asarabacca
a small, hardy European plant, natural order aristolochiaceæ (asarum europæum). Its leaves are acrid, bitter, and nauseous, and its root is extremely acrid. Both the leaves and root were formerly used as an emetic. The species A. canadense, the Canada snake-root, is found in the Western States.
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Asbury
FRANCIS, the first Methodist bishop consecrated in America, born at Handsworth, Staffordshire, Aug. 20, 1745. When 16 years old he became an itinerant Wesleyan preacher, and in 1771 he was sent as a missionary to America, where he was consecrated in 1784. During a long life of almost incessant labor it is estimated by his biographer that he traveled about 270,000 miles (mostly on horseback), preached about 16,500 sermons, and ordained more than 4,000 preachers. Of great natural ability and indomitable energy, he ranks with Wesley, Whitefield, and Coke in the Methodist movement of his time. He died in Richmond, Va., March 31, 1816. 4
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Ascalon
ASHKELON, or ASKELON, one of the five cities of the Philistines, on the Mediterranean, W. S. W. of Jerusalem, on the main road from Egypt through Gaza to central Palestine. Very often mentioned in Scripture, it rose to considerable importance in past Biblical times. Near the town were the temple and sacred lake of Derceto, the Syrian Venus. A great victory was won here by the crusaders in 1099. The position of Ascalon is naturally very strong. Near the ruins of the city stands now a village of the same name. The eschalot or shallot, a kind of onion (allium escalonicum), was first grown there.
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Ascaris
a genus of intestinal worms, the typical one of the family ascaridæ. A. lumbricoides, or round worm, is the commonest intestinal parasite of the human species, generally occupying the small intestines; it is found also in the hog and ox. In the human species it is much more common in children than in adults, and is extremely rare in aged persons. A second species, the ascaris or oxyurus vermicularis, is one of the most troublesome parasites of children, and occasionally of adults. It infests the larger intestines. ASCENSION (discovered on Ascension Day), an island of volcanic origin belonging to Great Britain, near the middle of the South Atlantic Ocean, lying about lat. 7° 55′ S., long. 15° 25′ W.; 800 miles N. W. of St. Helena; area, about 36 square miles; pop. 165. It is retained by Great Britain mainly as a station at which ships may touch for stores. It is celebrated for its turtles, which are the finest in the world. Wild goats are plentiful, and oxen, sheep, pheasants, guinea-fowl, and rabbits have been introduced, and thrive well. Georgetown is the principal settlement. The island is governed by a naval officer.
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Ascension Day
the day on which our Saviour's ascension, is commemorated-the Thursday but one before Whitsuntide, sometimes called Holy Thursday.
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Asceticism
. See Anchorites
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Ascetics
a name given in ancient times to those Christians who devoted themselves to severe exercises of piety and strove to distinguish themselves from the world by abstinence from sensual enjoyments and by voluntary penances. They, therefore, abstained from wine, flesh, matrimony, and worldly business; and, moreover, emaciated their bodies by long vigils, fasting, toil, and hunger. Both men and women embraced this austere mode of life.
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Ascham
ROGER, an English scholar and author, born at Kirby Wiske, near Northallerton, in 1515; graduated at Cambridge, and struggled with poverty until patrons came to his relief. He was famous for his general knowledge and acquirements in Greek and Latin, and is classed with Spenser, Sir Thomas More, and Sir Philip Sidney. Though he wrote Latin with ease and elegance at a time when custom favored the use of that language for important works, he urged and practiced the writing of English. In 1548-1550 he was tutor of the Princess (afterward Queen) Elizabeth. His most noted works are: "Toxophilus," a treatise on archery (1545), and "The Scholemaster," a treatise on education (1570). He died in London, Dec. 30, 1568.
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