Magnificat
the song of the Virgin Mary, which, in the Vulgate, begins with "Magnificat." See BREVIARY. MAGNOLIA [named after Pierre Magnol (1638-1715), Professor of Medicine at Montpellier, and author of several botanical works], the typical genus of the tribe Magnolicæ and the order Magnoliaceæ. Sepals three, deciduous; petals, six to nine; stamens and pistils many; carpels compacted in spikes or cones; seeds baccate, somewhat cordate, pendulous, with a long white umbilical thread. The species are trees or shrubs, with alternate leaves and large, terminal, odoriferous flowers. They are found in North America and Asia. M. grandiflora, the great-flowered magnolia, or laurel bay, is a fine evergreen tree, 70 feet high in America, and from 20 to 30 in foreign gardens. The species have large, beautiful, fragrant flowers.
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Magnolia
a genus of trees and shrubs characterized by thick, often evergreen, leaves and showy terminal flowers. Named for Pierre Magnol (1638-1715), a French botanist. There are fifteen species in all, confined to eastern North American and subtropical Asia. Some are only shrubs. Magnolia wood is white and is considered desirable for cabinet work. The Japanese use the wood of a native variety for lacquered work. The common American magnolia is a stately tree with broad evergreen leaves from one to three feet long. It bears fragrant white flowers, four to twelve inches in diameter, in full bloom from early May until the end of June.
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Magruder
JOHN BANKHEAD, an American military officer; born in Winchester co., Va., Aug. 15 1810. He was graduated at the United States Military Academy; served in the Mexican War; at the outbreak of the Civil War entered the Confederate army; took part in the battle of Malvern Hill, July 1, 1862, being in command as Major-General; was appointed commander of the Department of Texas, Oct. 16, 1862; afterward served under the Emperor Maximilian, of Mexico; and died in Houston, Tex., Feb. 19, 1871.
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Maguey
the Agave Americana, from which PULQUE (q. v.), pita flax, etc., are made. MAGYARS. See HUNGARY.
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Mahaffy
SIR JOHN PENTLAND, C. V. O., an Irish educator; born in Switzerland, in 1839. He was educated in Germany and at Trinity College, Dublin, being graduated in 1859, and winning a fellowship in 1864. He was made Professor of Ancient History there in 1869; was Donnellan lecturer 1873-1874. He was noted for a wide range of scholarship, and was a frequent contributor to periodicals and published books on many subjects. Among these are "Lectures on Primitive Civilization" (1868); "Prolegomena to Ancient History" (1871), treating of Egyptian antiquities; "Rambles and Studies in Greece" Greece" (1876); "History of Greek Classical Literature" (1880); "Empire of the Ptolemies" (1896); "The Silver Age of the Greek World" (1906); "What Have the Greeks Done for Civilization?" ("Lowell Lectures," 1909). He died in 1919.
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Mahanoy City
a borough in Schuylkill co., Pa., on Mahanoy Creek and on the Lehigh Valley and the Philadelphia and Reading railroads; 13 miles N. E. of Pottsville. It contains a public library, electric lights, National banks, daily and weekly newspapers, and churches of the leading denominations. It is located in a rich anthracite coal region, from which it gains much of its prosperity. It has colleries, several potteries, iron foundries, etc. Pop. (1910) 15,936; (1920) 15,599. MAHARAJAH (literally, a great king), a title applied in courtesy to every Indian rajah, or to any person of high rankor deemed holy
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Mahler
GUSTAV, a German musical composer; born in Bohemia 1860 and died in Vienna 1911. From 1884 to 1900 he conducted orchestras in various cities of the Continent, Prague, Leipzig, and Budapest. In 1897 he became director of the Court opera at Vienna and retained this position until 1907. During the season 1907-1908 he conducted German operas at the Metropolitan Opera House, New York, and in 1909 he reorganized the New York Philharmonic Orchestra and made it one of the best in America. He achieved more success as a conductor than as a composer, and is ranked as one of the greatest masters of his profession.
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Mahmud (Sultan of Ghazni the founder)
Sultan of Ghazni, the founder of the Mohammedan empire of India; born in Ghazni, Afghanistan, about 970. His father, Sabaktagin, governor of Ghazni, owned a nominal allegiance to Persia, but was really independent. On his death Mahmud put aside his elder brother; formed an alliance against the Persian monarch, overthrew his kingdom and laid the foundation of an extensive empire in central Asia (999). He then turned his attention to India, and in a series of 12 invasions secured a great amount of treasure and vastly extended his power. He was a patron of literature, and brought many men of learning about his court, among whom was the poet Firdusi. He established large educational institutions at Ghazni, and spent vast sums on public works. He died in Ghazni in 1030. 30
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Mahogany Tree
Swietenia mahogoni, one of the Cedrelaceæ. It is a lofty, branching tree, with a large, handsome head, flowers like those of Melia, and fruits about the size of a turkey's egg. It grows in the warmest parts of Central America, in Cuba, Jamaica, Hispaniola, and the Bahamas. MAHOMET. See MOHAMMED.
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Mahomet
. See Mohammed
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Mahony
FRANCIS (ma-hō'ni), known as FATHER PROUT, an Irish Journalist and poet; born in Cork, Ireland, in 1804. He was educated at a Jesuit seminary at Amiens, studied theology at Paris, received clerical ordination, and officiated for a short time at the chapel of the Bavarian Legation, London. About 1834 he began the contribution of an amusing series of articles known as the "Prout Papers" to "Fraser's Magazine." For the last 12 or 15 years of his life he was Paris correspondent for the "Globe." "Reliques of Father Prout" was published in 1836 and 1860, and "Final Reliques" in 1876. He died in Paris, France, May 18, 1866.
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Maia
A daughter of Atlas and Pleione . She was the eldest of the Pleiades, and the most beautiful of the seven sisters. In a grotto of Mount Cyllene, in Arcadia , she became by Zeus ( Jupiter ) the mother of Hermes (Mercury).
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Maid of Orleans
. See Joan Of Arc
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Maiden
The Iron, See Nuremberg
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