Current Meter
an instrument for measuring the rate of flow of water in streams, canals, or rivers. The velocity of a stream is usually measured to determine the amount of flow. The modern current meter, which is an evolution of the type introduced in 1790 by Woltmann, a German hydraulic engineer, consists essentially of a vertical metal rod, weighted at the bottom. A tail is fastened to this rod, which keeps the apparatus in the proper position. Attached to the rod, and at right angles to it is a device consisting of a wheel with cupped vanes, and a rudder which keeps the wheel facing the current. This wheel is connected with a device which records its revolutions. From a known relation between the number of revolutions in a given time and the speed of the water, the rate of flow of any stream can be determined. The instrument is calibrated by drawing it at various known speeds through still water.
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Currie
SIR ARTHUR WILLIAM, a British soldier. He was born in 1875 and, after receiving his preliminary education, entered the army. After a period of military training in England he went to Canada and was gradually promoted until he became Inspector-General. He 1 served in the World War, 1914-1918. In 1915 he was made C. B.; in 1917 K. C. M. G.; in 1918 K. C. B.; and in 1919 G. C. M. G. In 1917-1919 he commanded a Canadian corps in France and was mentioned in dispatches. He also received the cross of the Legion of Honor, 3d class.
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Cursed Bread
Used for purposes of divination, or ordeal by flour or bread. A piece of bread, about an ounce in weight, over which a spell had been cast, was administered to the suspected person. Should it cause sickness or choking the man was said to be guilty, but if he remained well he was regarded as innocent. Barley bread was often used for this form of divination, being more likely to cause choking. This method of trial was practised amongst the Anglo-Saxons.
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Curtin
ANDREW GREGG, an American politician; born in Bellefonte, Pa., April 22, 1815. He studied law at Dickinson College, and was admitted to the bar in 1839. Entering politics, he be came secretary of the commonwealth of Pennsylvania nia in 1854, governor in 1860, and again in 1863, being one of the most noted "war governors." In 1869 he was appointed minister to Russia. In 1873 he left the Republican party, and from 1881 to 1887 sat in Congress as a Democrat. He died in Bellefonte, Pa., Oct. 7, 1894.
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Curtin (JEREMIAH an American linguist)
JEREMIAH, an American linguist and antiquarian; born in Milwaukee, Wis., in 1838. He has written: "Myths and Folk-Lore of Ireland"; "Tales of the Fairies and the Ghost World"; "Myths and Folk-Tales of the Russians, Western Slavs, and Magyars"; etc. He was a proficient in the Slavic tongues; made addresses in Czech, and translated much from Russian and Polish. He died in 1906.
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Curtis
CYRUS HERMANN KOTZan American newspaper SCHMAR, owner and publisher. Born in Maine in 1850, he was educated in the public schools of that State. In the Centennial year he moved to Philadelphia where he began the publication of a magazine entitled "The Tribune and Farmer." A few years later he published the "Ladies' Home Journal," which became one of the most successful magazines in the United States. The Curtis Publishing Company, of which he is the head, publish also the "Country Gentleman" and the "Saturday Evening Post." In 1913 Mr. Curtis took over the Philadelphia "Public Ledger."
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Curtis (CHARLES an American public)
CHARLES, an American public official, born in 1860 in Topeka, Kan., of an Indian family. He was educated in the public schools, and admitted to the bar in 1881, served two terms as district attorney of Shawnee county, and from 1893 to 1897 represented the Fourth Kansas district in Congress. From 1897 to 1907 he represented the First Kansas district in the National legislature. When Senator Burton resigned from the Senate in 1907, Curtis was elected to fill out his unexpired term. Although he was again a candidate on the Republican ticket for the term 1913 to 1920, he was defeated by the Democratic sweep of 1912. In 1915, when the Republicans regained control of the State, he was elected to the Senate for the term 1915 to 1921.
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Curtis (II)
GEORGE TICKNOR, an American lawyer; born in Watertown, Mass., Nov. 28, 1912. In addition to his eminence at the New York bar, he was noted as the author of an authoritative "History of the Constitution of the United States"; he published likewise: "Digest of English and American Admiralty Decisions," "American Conveyancer," "Life of James Buchanan," "Life of Daniel Webster," "Creation or Evolution," and "John Charaxes," a novel. He died in New York, March 28, 1894.
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Curtis (III)
GEORGE WILLIAM, an American author; born in Providence, R. I., Feb. 24, 1824. He was an early abolitionist, and a leader in the Republican party from the first; for many years the editor of "Harper's Weekly," and the writer of the "Editor's Easy Chair" in "Harper's Monthly," besides the "Manners Upon the Road" series for "Har per's Bazar" (1867-1873)). He was also a lecturer of great popularity. His works include: "Nile Notes of a Howadji" (1851); "The Howadji in Syria" (1852); "Lotus Eating" (1852); "Potiphar Papers" (1853); "Prue and I" (1856); "Trumps" (1862); and others. He died on Staten Island, N. Y., Aug. 31, 1892.
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Curtis (IV)
WILLIAM ELEROY, an American journalist; born in Akron, O., Nov. 5, 1850. He has written: "Capitals of Spanish America" (1888); "The Land of the Nihilist" (1888); "Japan Sketch- ," "Venezuela," "Life of Zachariah es, Chandler," "The Yankees of the East," etc. He was for several years director of the Bureau of American Republics, and was chief of the Latin-American department and historical section of the World's Columbian exposition, 1891-1893. He died in 1911. GEORGE WILLIAM CURTIS
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Curtis, George William
George William (1824-1892), an American editor, lecturer, and author. He was a native of Providence, Rhode, Island . His reputation was first won through his sketches of travel, Nile Notes of a Howadji, written while traveling in Egypt and Syria. For many years, including the period of the Civil War, Curtis was political editor of Harper's Weekly, which he made a powerful supporter of the Union cause. For many years he was editor of the "Easy Chair" in Harper's Magazine. It has been said that in this work "his province and his influence resembled those of Addison and Steele in the best issues of the Spectator." It is by his chatty notes and observances in the "Easy Chair" department that Mr. Curtis is best known. Among his later books are Lotus Eating, Potiphar Papers, Prue and I. Mr. Curtis was also known as a successful lecturer. He delivered notable memorial orations on Burns, Bryant, Irving, Lowell, and others. In the "Easy Chair" of Harper's Magazine, Mr. Curtis displayed the highest qualities of an essayist. Comment on art, music, literature, current events, politics, society, was here set forth, month by month, in graceful and flexible style, animated by genial humor, often by keen satire, but always regulated by the purest taste. So nice was his sense of literary proportion, that local and ephemeral circumstances, preserved in these monthly records, have keen interest for the reader of to-day.--Shaw.
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