Bark
the exterior covering of the stems of exogenous plants. It is composed of cellular and vascular tissue, is separable from the wood, and is often regarded as consisting of four layers: (1) The epidermis, or cuticle, which, however, is scarcely regarded as a part of the true bark; bark; (2) the epiphlœum, or outer cellular layer of the true bark or cortex; (3) the mesophlœum, or middle layer, also cellular; (4) an inner vascular layer, the liber, or endophlœum, commonly called bast. Endogenous plants have no true bark. Bark contains many valuable products, as gum, tannin, etc.
PERUVIAN, is the bark of various species of trees of the genus cinchona, found in many parts of South America, but more particularly in Peru. Its medicinal properties depend upon the presence of quinine, which is now extracted from the bark, and prescribed.
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Barkis
bar'kis, Mr., a bashful carrier in Charles Dickens' David Copperfield . He is remembered by his famous proposal of marriage to Peggotty, David's nurse. He employs David as his messenger and makes known his intentions in the words, "Barkis is willin'." See Dickens ; David Copperfield
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Barleycorn
Sir John, a humorous personification of malt liquor. The expression is one of considerable antiquity. Various poets tried a hand at the ballad of Sir John. That by Burns is the best: There was three Kings into the east, Three Kings both great and high, And they hae sworn a solemn oath John Barleycorn should die. They took a plough and plough'd him down, Put clods upon his head, And they hae sworn a solemn oath John Barleycorn was dead. But the cheerfu' Spring came kindly on, And show'rs began to fall; John Barleycorn got up again, And sore surpris'd them all. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . John Barleycorn was a hero bold, Of noble enterprise, For if you do but taste his blood, 'Twill make your courage rise.
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Barleys
The small, diamond shaped projections left after engine turning. BARLOW, EDWARD, An English clergyman who is said to have invented the rack striking work for clocks. With this mechanism, which was invented in 1676, clocks could be made to repeat the hour at will, and this invention was quickly followed by the repeating watches of Quare. Both Barlow and Quare applied for patents on repeating watches and the English government finally decided in favor of the latter in 1687.
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Barmecide
bar'me-sid, a prince of Bagdad. He is the principal character in a story of the Arabian Nights. He called in a beggar and seated him at a bare table, on which he pretended that a sumptuous repast was laid out. Whether because he fell in with the humor of the situation, or was afraid to do otherwise, the beggar pretended to partake of the various viands, and praised their flavor. When the prince had enjoyed himself sufficiently at the beggar's expense, he ordered his servants to bring in a generous meal. One who loudly proclaims his liberality where no favor is conferred is called a barmecide. A barmecide feast is an expressive term applied to a lot of favors that exist only in the mind of the bestower. It is said that the great feasts given by the emperor of China to a vast number of guests are managed on some such plan. The emperor's own table is loaded with genuine delicacies. Other tables are decorated chiefly with papier-mache ducks, wooden chickens, wax fruits, highly colored water, etc., after the style of stage feasts. All this is done by grafting officials desirous of profit. Should any be questioned by the emperor, etiquette requires him to bow low, hand on chest, saying, "Oh, Light of the Sun and Brightest Orb of the Night, your slaves have feasted to satiety." See Bagdad
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Barmecides
an illustrious family of Khorassan, the romance of vhose history is equally familiar to Europeans and Americans in the "Arabian Nights Entertainments," and to Orientals in the pages of their historians and poets; and who flourished at the Court of the early Abbasside Caliphs. Barmec, or Barmek, the founder of the family, transmitted the honors conferred on him by the Caliph Abd-al-Malik to his son, Khalid, and from him they passed to his son, Yahia, who, becoming tutor to the famous Haroun-al-Raschid, acquired an influence over that Prince, which carried his sons, Fadl, or Fazl, Giaffar, Mohammed, and Mousa, to the highest dignities of the Court. The virtues and munificence of the Barmecides were, for a long period, displayed under favor of Haroun; but one of the brothers, Giaffar, having at last become an object of suspicion to the Caliph, Yahia and his sons were suddenly seized, Giaffar beheaded, and the others condemned to perpetual imprisonment. The year 802 is assigned as the date of this tragedy.
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Barmen
a city on the Wupper, in the Prussian Rhine province, government of Düsseldorf, and formed by the union of seven villages contained in the fine valley of Barmen. It has extensive ribbon and other textile manufactures; also dye works, manufactures of chemicals, metal wares, buttons, yarns, iron, machines, pianos, organs, soap, etc. Pop. about 175,000.
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Barn Burners
the nickname given ported Van Buren in the campaign of party in New York State, which sup- 1848.
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Barnaby Rudge
a novel by Charles Dickens, published in 1841. It is one of the two historical novels which Dickens attempted,--the other being A Tale of Two Cities . The story relates to the Gordon Riots, or "No Popery Riots," as they were called, of 1780. Barnaby, a poor half-witted lad, becomes involved in these riots and is condemned to death, but is finally pardoned. The plot of Barnaby Rudge is unusually intricate. It has few side issues, and those that appear have a close relation with the main thread of the story. Compared with Dickens' other stories, it offers little opportunity for humor and pathos. It is often regarded, therefore, as less characteristic than his other novels. The interest of the story, however, never flags. The gathering of the mob and the storming of Newgate are intensely dramatic; and in the character drawing Dickens is at his best. Barnaby, foolish and happy, with Grip, the raven, for his one close frend; Dolly Varden ; Miss Miggs, and Hugh, the hostler, are vivid pictures. Grip, it is interesting to note, is drawn from life.
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