These 9 listings are so strange that each appears in only one of the 7 encyclopedias we compared. They include such classics as Erceldoune, Erckmann, Erebus.
THOMAS OF (called the Rhymer, and Learmont), a Scotch poet and seer, who flourished probably between 1220 and 1297, and wrote a poem called "Sir Tristrem." He occupies a very conspicuous position in the annals of Anglo-Saxon literature.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
ÉMILE (erk'män), a French novelist; born in Pfalzburg, in 1822; studied law, but early developed a taste for literature. In 1847 he formed a literary partnership with Alexandre n Dec. 18, 1826; died Sept. Chatrian (born 5, 1890), and later with him published successfully the dramas "The Polish Jew" and "Friend Fritz." But at the height of their financial success the partnership was dissolved through a quarrel. After the separation Erckmann conrite indefatigably, but his tinued to write writings were no longer in demand, owing to the lack of advertisment which Chatrian had furnished. He died in Lunéville, March 14, 1899.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
a noted Antarctic volcano. It stands in latitude 78 deg. S.; longitude, 170 deg. E. Its snow-clad slopes rise from the border of the great ice barrier to the crater fourteen miles inland and 13,000 feet above the level of the sea. It is an active volcano lighting up the Antarctic night with a fitful glow heightened by frequent bursts of flame from the crater. The mountain has been built up by outpourings of lava. No flow has occurred in recent times, but a column of steam shoots up at intervals of time to a height of nearly a mile, and trails away in a cloud before the wind . The crater is described as 900 feet in depth and half a mile wide. Clouds of steam fill the bowl. The observations can be made only when a favoring breeze carries the steam aside or whips the crater empty. The atmosphere is redolent of sulphur. Feldspar crystals, two or three inches in length, many of them perfect in outline, lie strewn about. They all were once imbedded in pumice stone, but, as the latter disintegrated, it was blown away in the form of dust, leaving these beautiful crystals behind. The air is so cold that huge cones of ice form about the fissures from which steam issues.
Only in Aiton's Encyclopedia
er'e-bus, in Greek mythology, the son of Chaos and brother of Night. The word signifies impenetrable darkness, and was used to designate the gloomy cavern which must be traversed before the shades reached Hades. In the Odyssey and by later writers it is used as synonymous with Hades. The word has come to be symbolical of darkness. "Dark as Erebus," says Shakespeare.
Only in Aiton's Encyclopedia
MOUNT, an active volcano on Victoria Land, in lat. 78° 10' S., rising 12,367 feet above the sea. It was discovered in 1841 by Ross, who named it after one of his vessels. Captain R. F. Scott's Antarctic expedition wintered in the vicinity (1901-1904) and Sir E. Shackleton's party made the ascent in 1908.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
an Ionic trading and colonizing town on the S. W. coast of Eubea, which was destroyed by the Persians in 490 B. c., and rebuilt by the Athenians. an important
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
town in the Prussian province of Saxony, on the river Gera, formerly a fortress with two citadels, now given up as such. It has a fine cathedral dating from the 13th century and several handsome Gothic churches. The university, founded in 1378 and suppressed in 1816, was long an important institution. There are still a Royal Academy of Science and a Royal Library with 60,000 volumes The monastery (now (now an an orphanage) was monastery the residence of Luther from 1501 to 1508. Prior to the World War the industries were varied, including clothing, machinery, leather, shoes, ironmongery, chemicals, etc. The horticulture of the environs enjoyed a high reputation, plants and seed being produced in great quantities. Pop. in 1919, 129,646.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
er'got, a kind of fungus that devours and finally replaces the seeds of rye and other plants. Like other fungi, ergot is propagated by means of spores carried by the winds or by insects. It is thought that the sap of a plant may carry spores upward from the earth to the young seed where they lodge and multiply. A head of rye affected with ergot turns brown, then black as the growth matures. Grasses related to rye are particularly subject to attack. Ergot is allied to corn smut and other fungi that grow in starchy grains. Cattle eating ergotty rye are likely to be poisoned. The natives of Russia, where rye is the chief food, are sometimes poisoned by rye ergot. The fungus produces a strong oil, not well understood, except that it has a powerful medicinal effect. Taken as a remedy it causes the heart and other involuntary muscles to contract with sudden spasms. The ordinary ergot of the drugstore consists of grain-like purple masses, from one-half to three-fourths of an inch in length, not unlike large grains of rye in shape. It is obtained chiefly from Russia and Spain. See Fungus
Only in Aiton's Encyclopedia
the name of several Danish and Swedish kings. ERIC VII., King of Denmark; born in 1382, the son of Duke Wratislaw of Pomerania, was selected as her successor by Queen Margaret of Denmark, and in 1412 mounted the throne of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden, united by the treaty of Calmar. Cruel and cowardly in character, he lost Sweden in 1437 through a revolt of the peasants of Dalecarlia, and in 1439 was deposed also in Denmark. He died in Rügenwald in 1459. ERIC IX., the Saint, became King of Sweden in 1155, did much to extend Christianity in his dominions, and to improve the laws, and fell in battle with the Danes in 1160. ERIC XIV., the last of the name who reigned in Sweden, succeeded in 1560 to the throne of his father, the great Gustavus Vasa, and at once began to exhibit the folly that disgraced his reign. His flighty matrimonial schemes reached even Elizabeth of England, till at length (1567) his roving fancy found rest in the love of a Swedish peasant-girl, who acquired an influence over him which was ascribed by the superstitious to witchcraft. His capricious cruelties and the disastrous wars alienated his subjects, who threw off their allegiance in 1568, and elected his brother John to the throne. In 1577 he ended his miserable life by a cup of poison. His story has been worked into dramatic form by Swedish poets; in German by Kruse in his tragedy, "King Erich" (1871).
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia