The Meta-Encyclopedia

Single-source entries: E (1)

These 9 listings are so strange that each appears in only one of the 7 encyclopedias we compared. They include such classics as Eagle Pass, Earl Of, Earle.

Ea

(See Babylonia .) Earth laid upon a Corpse: It is related in Pennant's Tour that it was the custom in the Highlands of Scotland to lay on the breast of the deceased a wooden platter containing a little earth and a little salt-the former to symbolize the corruptibility of the body, the latter the incorruptibility of the soul.

Only in An Encyclopaedia of Occultism

Eagle Pass

a city of Texas, the county-seat of Maverick co. It is on the Southern Pacific and the Mexican Interthe Rio national railroads, and on Grande river. It is the center of an important coal mining, agricultural, and stock-raising region, has an extensive trade in cattle, hides, and wool, is a port of entry, and has a large international trade. It has a handsome Federal building. Pop. (1910) 3,536; (1920) 5,765.

Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia

Earl Of

an English soldier; born in 1591. When 11 years old he was restored by James I. to the rank and titles held by his father, the 2d earl, and became a companion of the young Prince of Wales, and when 15 years of age was married to Frances Howard, daughter of the Earl of Suffolk, from whom he was divorced in 1613. He served in the army of the elector palatine in Holland 1620-1623, was vice-admiral of an unexpedition against Casuccessful naval diz in 1625, and was lieutenant-general of an army sent by King Charles against the Scotch Covenanters in 1639. Espousing the cause of the Parliament against the king, he was appointed to the command of the parliamentary army at the beginning of the civil war, was victorious over Charles at Edgehill in 1642, captured Reading in 1643, and relieved Gloucester, but lost the greater part of his army in 1644. He urged the impeachment of Cromwell before the House of Lords in 1645, and had to resign his commission. An annuity of £10,000 was settled on him for life. He died in 1646.

Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia

Earle

MRS. ALICE MORSE, an American writer; born in Worcester, Mass., April 27, 1853. She has written extensively upon the manners and customs of the colonial period in New England and New York. Among her numerous works are: "Curious Punishments of Bygone Days," "Customs and Fashions in Old New England," "Colonial Dames and Goodwives," "Colonial Days in Old New York," "Sun Dials and Roses of Yesterday" (1902); "Two Centuries of Costume in America" (1903). She died in 1911.

Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia

Earlham College

an institution for higher education, founded under the auspices of the Orthodox Friends at Richmond, Ind., in 1859. The college is coeducational. There were in 1919 400 students and 25 instructors. President, D. M. Edwards.

Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia

Early

JUBAL ANDERSON, an American military officer; born in Franklin co., Va., Nov. 3, 1816; graduated at West Point, and served in the Florida and Mexican wars. During most of the years 1838-1861, however, he practiced law in his native State. On the outbreak of the Civil War he entered the Confederate service as a colonel, and commanded a brigade at Bull Run, and a division at Fredericksburg and Gettysburg. In 1864, after some successes, he was defeated by Sheridan in several battles; and, Custer having also routed him at Waynesboro in March, 1865, he was relieved of his command a few days later. He subsequently returned to the practice of law. In 1867 he published "A Memoir of the Last Year of the War for Independence in the Confederate States." He died March 2, 1894.

Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia

Earring

an ornament suspended by a ring or hook passing through the lobe of the ear. In all historical times, earrings have been made of gold or silver adorned with precious stones. The earring is believed to be of oriental origin. Certainly its use was known among the most ancient nations. Originally it was, no doubt, worn as a charm to frighten away evil spirits. Among the oriental races earrings were in general use for both sexes. Among the Hebrews, the Egyptians, the Greeks and Romans, however, they were worn only by women. Among Europeans the wearing of earrings is now confined largely to the two extremes of society,-the bejeweled rich and the peasantry. One who has observed steerage passengers coming ashore at New York is struck by the large number of men, particularly Italians, who wear earrings.

Only in Aiton's Encyclopedia

Earth (Originally in the opinion)

originally, in the opinion of the ancient chemists, or alchemists, one of the four elements, of which all material things in the world were held to be composed, the others being fire, air, and water. Not even one of the four is really a simple substance. Later, a name given to various substances, opaque, insipid to the taste, incombustible, and, when dry, friable, i, e., easily separated into particles. Five divisions of them were recognized: (a) Boles, (b) Clays, (c) Marls, (d) Ochers, and (e) Tripolis. Under these categories were ranked the oxides of the cerium, aluminium, beryllium, metals zirconium, yttrium, erbium, thorium, etc. These oxides are insoluble in water, and are all very rare except aluminum. They are difficult to separate from each other, occurring together in rare minerals, and hence the number of metals belonging to this class is not known.

Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia

Earthhouse

a name given to peculiar underground dwellings found in northern Scotland and in Ireland. They are thought to have been the dwellings of the Picts. They are constructed, usually, of loose stone walls built upward and brought together until the top could be covered with large slabs. They were then covered with mounds of earth. As many as forty or fifty of these strange dwellings are found in a single group or village. The simplest dwellings, from four to ten feet in width, perhaps sixty feet in length, and deep enough to permit standing upright, have but one room; others, more pretentious, have a number of chambers. Naturally enough, they were constructed in dry ground. They were entered by a small hole in the top. Stone handmills, ashes, bones, deer's horns, round plates of stone and slate, earthenware cups, bronze swords, and gold rings have been found in these underground houses. It is thought that they may have served rather as places of concealment in time of danger than as regular dwellings. In some cases these underground villages are found beneath tilled land, where the plow has been passing above them for centuries.

Only in Aiton's Encyclopedia