Barite
mineral, called also baroselenite, sulphate or BARYTE, BaSO4, a heavy spar, and by the Derbyshire miners, ca of baryta, cauk, calk, or cawk. It is placed by Dana in his celestite group. , has It is orthorhombic and usually tabular crystals, or is globular, fibrous, lamellar, or granular. Its color is white, yellowish, grayish, black, reddish, or dark brown. It is sometimes transparent, sometimes almost opaque. When rubbed, it is occasionally fetid. Its composition is: Sulphuric acid, 34.3; baryta (monoxide of barium), 65.7-100, hence the It is found name sulphate of baryta. ta. as part of the gangue of metallic ores in veins in secondary limestone, etc. It continent of Europe.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Bark
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.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
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.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Barker (ELSA an American writer born)
ELSA, an American writer, born in Leicester, Vt. She was educated privately, and for several years acted as teacher and newspaper writer. In 1904 and 1905 she was lecturer for the New York Board of Education. Her books include "The Son of Mary Bethel" (1907); "The Frozen Grail and Other Poems" Poems" (1910); "War Letters from a Living Dead Man" (1914); "Songs of a Vagrom Angel" (1916). She also wrote several plays. She was a frequent contributor of poetry and prose to magazines.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Barker (FORDYCE an American physician)
FORDYCE, an American physician, born in Wilton, Franklin co., Me., May 2, 1819. Completing courses at Bowdoin, Harvard, and in Europe, he enis found in the United States and on the tered upon the practice of his profession in Norwich in 1845. He made a specialty of obstetrics and diseases of women. After serving as Professor of Midwifery at Bowdoin, he removed to New York City in 1850. He was an incorporator of the New York Medical College and obstetrical surgeon to Bellevue Hospital. He wrote "Puerperal Diseases" and "On Seasickness." He died in New York City, May 30, 1891. BARKER (HARLEY) GRANVILLE, an English actor and playwright, born in 1877. He began his career as an actor, but soon became manager of the Court Theater in London. His first successes were made in several of Bernard Shaw's plays. He was better known as a playwright than as an actor. The revolutionary and realistic movement in the drama early attracted him and he became one of its chief exponents. He produced a number of plays in which prominence was given to social problems. He developed a high technical skill in writing these plays which were produced with with great success in England and in the United States. Some of his best known works were "The Marrying of Ann Leet" (1901); "Waste" (1907); "Prunella" 1913).
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Barker (WHARTON an American financier)
WHARTON, an American financier and publicist, born in Philadelphia in 1846. He graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1866 and afterward took post-graduate courses at that institution. He became a member of the banking firm of Barker Bros. and Co., and in 1887 was appointed special financial agent in the United States of the Russian Government. In 1887 he was in Russia as adviser of the Russian Government on the development of coal and iron mines, and later spent some time in China in an advisory capacity. He founded the Investment Co. of Philadelphia and he founded also the "Penn Monthly," which was merged in 1880 into "The American," of which he was publisher from 1880 to 1890. He was chief organizer of the opposition to a third term of General Grant and proposed Garfield for president. He was active in Republican politics until 1896, when he became a Populist and was antifusion Populist nominee for president in 1900. He was the leading advocate of a commercial union of all American nations. He opposed the annexation of the Philippines and urged the independence of the islands. From 1880 he was a trustee of the University of Pennsylvania. He was a member of many economic societies, and was a frequent contributor to magazines on economic subjects.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
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
Only in Aiton's Encyclopedia
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. 2026 Editor's Note: ' John Barleycorn ' still personifies drink — Jack London titled his 1913 memoir of alcoholism John Barleycorn , and the old ballad became a folk-rock standard. The word had another life as a unit: a 'barleycorn' was a third of an inch, and shoe sizes in Britain and America still go up by exactly that ancient increment. (Ed: BR 2026-06-06)
Only in Aiton's Encyclopedia