Geographical Societies
associations formed with the view of obtaining and disseminating geographical knowledge. In point of seniority the first of these associations is the Geographical Society of Paris, founded in 1821, whose magazine, the "Bulletin of the Geographical Society," began in 1822. The Prussian Geographical Society held its first sittings in Berlin in 1828, and publishes a yearly "Journal." The Royal Society, Geographical established in London in 1830, has a capital of over £25,- 000, and devotes large sums annually to aid the cause of geographical research, or as rewards and recognition of services rendered to the science. Its proceedings are published monthly. The Royal Scottish Geographical Society, founded in 1844, also publishes a monthly magazine. The Russian Geographical Society, founded at St. Petersburg in 1845, has greatly extended our knowledge of Asia, and especially Asiatic Russia. The American Geographical Society was founded at New York in 1852. The National Geographic Society was founded in 1888.
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Geographical Society
AMER- ICAN, a society organized in 1852 for the purpose of investigating and disseminating geographical knowledge. The headquarters of the society are located in New York City and contain a valuable library of over 50,000 volumes. The executive council of the society awards yearly two gold medals, the Collum and th the Daly me medals, named respectively after their founders. The society publishes a monthly bulletin. Its collections and library are open for free reference and inspection to the public. membership of the society is The about 4,000.
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Geok Tepe
a town and fortress of central Asia, oasis of the Akhal-Tekke- Turkomans, lon. 58° E., lat. 38° N. In 1879 the Russians under General Lomakine were defeated here with heavy loss, but January, 1881, it was stormed by General Skobeleff after a three weeks' siege, when about 8,000 fugitives were massacred, no quarter being given.
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George's Channel
ST., the arm of the sea which separates Ireland from Wales S. of the Irish Sea. From Holyhead and Dublin on the N. to St. David's Head and Carnsore Point it extends about 100 miles, with a breadth varying from 50 to 70 miles.
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George, Henry
Henry (1839-1897), an American writer and economist. He was a native of Philadelphia. He went to sea when a boy and brought up in California, where he learned the printer's trade, and became a reporter on the San Francisco Times. In 1867 he became its editor. He conceived the notion that, under our system of paying wages, the workingman does not receive his full proportion. As opposed to the capitalist, he enunciated a doctrine, since somewhat hackneyed, "I am for men." He opposed the present system of taxation, claiming that it would be more just to levy a single tax on land values only. He wrote a number of works. His views are set forth fully in Progress and Poverty. In 1880 he went to England and later took up his residence in New York City. In 1886 he was nominated by the labor party for mayor, and received the very respectable number of 67,000 votes. Not discouraged by defeat, he was nominated again in 1897, but the excitement of the campaign proved too much for him. He died before the day of election. See Taxation ; Socialism
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George, Saint
Saint, a Christian martyr who was put to death at Nicomedia in 303. The history of St. George is obscure, his existence even having been called in question. It is beyond reasonable doubt, however, that he lived and was put to death for his faith during Diocletian's persecution. He was venerated by the eastern church, and in the fourteenth century, under Edward III, was adopted as the patron saint of England. Many legends are told of Saint George. The best known is of his contest with a dragon. A ballad recounting this adventure is given in Percy's Reliques. The dragon in the story is supposed to represent the devil; and Sabra, the king's daughter, whom he rescues from the dragon, represents the church. The twenty-third of April, the date of martyrdom, is called St. George's day. It was at one time the day when new leases and contracts were made. A celebrated painting of St. George and the dragon is preserved in the Hermitage Museum at St. Petersburg. The saint is represented in armor and mounted on a white horse. He is charging the dragon, which, apparently turning to flee, is transfixed by George's spear. George Sand. See Sand ; George
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Georgetown College
a coeduvational institution in Georgetown, Ky, founded in 1829 under the auspices of the Baptist Church; reported at the close of 1919: Professors and instructors, 20; students, 416; president M. B Adams.
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Georgian Bay
formerly LAKE MANITOULIN, the N.' E. part of Lake Huron, partly separated from the main body of the lake by the peninsula of Cabot's Head and the island of Great Manitoulin. It is about 120 miles long and 50 broad.
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Gera
a town of Germany, capital of the small principality of Reuss- Schleiz, on the White Elster, 42 miles E. by S. of Weimar. Nearly destroyed by fire in 1780, it is for the most part a modern town, with broad and regular streets, but its older buildings building include a castle and a fine town hall. There are over a score of extensive woolen factories, besides cotton works, dyeing and printing works, manufactures of machinery, leather, tobacco, and beer for export, and four publishing houses; eight establish ments, employing 1,500 hands, turn out thousands of melodeons, accordions, and jews'-harps yearly. Pop. (1919) 73,641.
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Gerace
a town of southern Italy, 4 miles from the sea, and 37 N. E. of Reggio. It has a cathedral, rebuilt after the earthquake of 1783, and a trade in wine, especially the esteemed Lacrima di Gerace. There are iron mines and a hot sulphur spring close by, and on a neighboring plain are the ruins of the ancient Locri. Pop. about 11,000.
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Gerasa
in the time of the Romans a flourishing city of Palestine, situated among the mountains of Gilead, about 20 miles E. of the Jordan. Parts of the city wall are still in good preservation; two theaters and several temples can be identified, and 230 columns are still standing.
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