Calmar
a fortified seaport town of Sweden, on the W. side of a narrow strait of the Baltic, separating the island of Öland from the continent, 50 miles N. E. by E. of Carlskrona. The town, built of wood, stands on the small island of Quarnholm; its harbor is small but safe and commodious. Tar, alum, hemp, and timber are extensively exported. Here, in 1397, was concluded the famous treaty which united the kingdoms of Sweden, Denmark, and Norway under the rigorous scepter of Queen Margaret. Here also, in 1520, Gustavus Vasa disembarked to deliver his country from the domination of foreigners and of a sanguinary tyrant. Pop. about 17,500. French
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Calmecacs
Training College of Aztec priests. (See Mexico and Central America .)
Only in An Encyclopaedia of Occultism
Calmet, Dom Augustin
A Benedictine of the congregation of Saint-Vannes, and one of the most diligent and active of his order, who died in 1757 at his abbey of Sesones. He was the author of a Dictionnaire de la Bible and of many well-known commentaries on the scriptures. But he is chiefly famous among occultists for his Dissertation sur les apparitions des anges, des demons et des esprits, et sur les revenans et vampires de Hongrie, de Bohème, de Moravie et de Silésie. (Paris 1746, and 1751-the latter being the best edition). It was translated into English in 1759, and is alluded to in the article " Vampire ." The greatest faith in the supernatural (some might perhaps stigmatise it as credulity) marks the work. But he notices unfavourable theories equally with those which suit his hypotheses, and if he places too much credence in the classical authors, he is never dull. He became the butt of Voltaire, who wrote beneath his portrait in verse of questionable quality: "Des oracles sacrés que Dieu daigna nous rendre Son travail assidu perca l'obscurité Il fit plus, il les crut avec simplicité Et fut, par ses vertus, digne de les entendre."
Only in An Encyclopaedia of Occultism
Calmette
GASTON, a journalist, born at Montpellier in 1858. He was the editor of the "Figaro," and was noted as a formidable fighter in the political arena, not fearing to attack his political enemies, and sometimes using methods for that purpose that went beyond the bounds of journalistic ethics. He was engaged in a bitter political contest with JOSEPH CAILLAUX (q. v.), Minister of Finance and at one time Premier, and in the course of the controversy secured some private correspondence of Mme. Caillaux, which he was threatening to publish. She learned of his purpose, called upon him, and shot him dead. The tragedy occurred March 16, 1914. The deed was followed by the resignation of Caillaux and by the sensational trial of Mme. Caillaux for murder, of which charge she was declared not guilty.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Calmucks
or Kalmucks, a nomadic people of Mongolian stock, inhabiting parts of Russia, Siberia, and China. They are active and well proportioned, with short chin, high cheekbones, upturned nose, oblique eyes, and scanty beard. They raise cattle, sheep, and horses. They move from place to place with change of season. Their homes are conical felt houses, which they set up in rows when they encamp. The Calmucks appeared on the Volga in 1630. They plundered for a time, but succumbed to Russian authority. A century later, 1771, to be more exact, one of their chieftains became dissatisfied and organized an exodus at a given date. They were off,--120,000 men, women, and children,--with their horses and herds for China. The Cossacks hung on their rear and other tribes harassed them on the march. A wretched horde reached the banks of a Chinese river and were settled by the Chinese emperor. The story is told graphically in De Quincey's Flight of a Tartar Tribe. A considerable section of the Kalmucks was unable to cross the Volga in time to join the flight. Their descendants still dwell on the Volga. The Russian and Chinese Calmucks are estimated variously at from 70,000 to 200,000.
Only in Aiton's Encyclopedia
Caloric
the name given to a supposed imponderable fluid to which the sensation and phenomena of heat were formerly attributed.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Caloric Engine
the name given by JOHN ERICSSON (q. v.) to his hot-air engine.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Calorie
the metric heat unit; the amount of heat necessary to raise the temperature of 1 gram of water 1° C.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Calorimeter
an instrument for measuring the quantity of heat which a body parts with or absorbs when its temperature sinks or rises through a certain number of degrees, or when it changes its condition. An ice-calorimeter was invented by Lavoisier and Laplace. It is now superseded by the mercury calorimeter of Favre and Silbermann, which is a very delicate instrument. It is essentially a thermometer with a very large bulb and a capillary tube.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Calpurnia
the fourth wife of Julius Cæsar, married to him 59 B. C. She was a daughter of L. Calpurnius Piso, who was consul in 58 b. c.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Calthorpe
SIR SOMERSET AR- British Admiral; THUR-GOUGH, a born in 1864. He entered the Royal Navy in 1878 and became a Captain in 1902 and a Vice-Admiral in 1917. He commanded the Second Cruiser Squadron, 1914-1916, and was in charge in the Ægean Sea at the time that Turkey sought an armistice. This was arranged by him to be signed at the island of Mudros, and his was one of the names inscribed on the document.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Calundronius
A magic stone without form or colour which has the virtues of resisting malign spirits, destroying enchantments, giving to the owner an advantage over his enemies, and of dissipating despair.
Only in An Encyclopaedia of Occultism
Calvados
a French department, part of the old province of Normandy, bounded on the N. by the English Channel, and E., W. and S. by the departments Eure, La Manche, and Orne. Area, 2,197 square miles. It is named from a dangerous ridge of rocks which extends along the coast for 10 or 12 miles. The department is undulating and picturesque, and possesses rich pastures. Chief town, Caen. Pop. about 400,000.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Calvary
the English designation of the spot upon which the crucifixion of Jesus Christ is recorded as having taken place. It lay beyond but near to the city, and by some is identified with the old House of Stoning, or place of public execution, according to the law of Moses, on the top of the remarkable knoll outside the Damascus gate, on the N. side of Jerusalem. It was from this cliff that the criminal used to be flung before being stoned, and on it his body was afterward crucified; for the spot commands a view all over the city, and from the slopes round it the whole population might easily witness the execution. CALVÉ, EMMA (käl-vā'), a French opera singer; born in 1866. She made her début at Brussels in Gounod's "Faust." She has made successful tours of the United States in leading rôles. From 1893 to 1904 she was one of the most popular and successful members of the Metropolitan Opera Company. She practically retired from the stage in 1910, appearing, however, still in concerts.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia