Mercury
the son of Jupiter and Maia. In Roman mythology he is the messenger of Jupiter. He is represented usually as an active young man wearing a winged hat and a pair of winged sandals. Mercury was a divinity of many natures. He was the god of darkness; hence the protecting divinity of thieves. He was by turns the god of agriculture, of science, and of commerce. He was also the patron of art and the protector of the herdsman, the traveler, and the athlete. Mercury was charged with conveying the shades of the departed to Hades. His Greek counterpart is Hermes.
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Mercury
Or quicksilver. A metal which has been known of for many centuries, and which has played an important part in the history of alchemy. In its refined state it forms a coherent, very mobile liquid. The early alchemists believed that nature formed all metals of mercury, and that it is a living and feminine principle. It went through many processes, and the metal evolved was pure or impure according to the locality of its production.
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Mercy
SISTERS OF, the name given to members of female religious communities founded for the purpose of nursing the sick at their own homes, visiting prisoners, attending hospitals, superintending the education of females, and the performance of similar works of charity and mercy. Communities of Sisters of Mercy are now widely distributed over Europe and the United States, and in general are connected with some religious denomination.
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Meredith
Owen. See Lytton ; Edward Robert Bulwer
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Meredith
EDWIN THOMAS, editor and publisher of Des Moines, Ia.; born in 1876 and educated at Highland Park College, Des Moines, From 1896- 1902 he was editor and publisher of the "Farmers' Tribune." Through this and other publications he has exerted considerable influence over the farmers of Iowa and the Middle West. In 1913 President Wilson appointed him a director of the Federal Reserve Bank and in 1914 he was the Democratic candidate for United States senator. In 1920 President Wilson appointed Meredith Secretary of Agriculture to succeed Houston, at that time appointed to the Treasury Department. Secretary Meredith has always been a Democrat, and his strong influence among the Western farmers caused him to be mentioned in connection with the Democratic presidential nomination in 1920.
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Meredith (GEORGE an English poet)
GEORGE, an English poet and novelist; born in Hampshire, England, in 1828. He was educated in Germany; studied law, but essayed a literary career with a volume of poems in 1851. This was followed by the "Shaving of S Shagpat" (1855); "Farina, a Legend of Cologne" (1857); "The Ordeal of Richard Feverel" (1859); "Evan_Harrington" (1861); "Modern Love: Poems and Ballads" (1862); "Emilia in England" (1864); "Rhoda Fleming" (1865); "Victoria" (1866); "Adventures of Harry Richmond" (1871); "The Egoist" (1879); The Tragic Comedians" (1881); "Poems and Lyrics of the Joy of Earth" (1883); "Diana of the Crossways" (1885); "Ballads and Poems of Tragic Life" (1887); "One of our Conquerors" (1891); "Lord Ormont and his Aminta" (1894); "The Amazing Marriage" (1895); "Odes in Commemoration of the History of France" (1898); etc. He died May 18, . 1909
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Meredith, George
George (1828-1909), an English novelist. He was born in Hampshire. He received his education in Germany but returned to England to study law. He began his literary labors with poetry, but soon took to writing stories. His first novel of importance was The Ordeal of Richard Feverel which appeared in 1859. Other novels are Evan Harrington, Rhoda Fleming, The Egoist, The Adventures of Harry Richmond--probably his most popular story--The House on the Beach, and Diana of the Crossways. While not popular with the average reader, Meredith's novels are liked by those who appreciate the discussion of difficult social problems. They are ranked high by the critics, who place Meredith with Thomas Hardy as one of the greatest novelists of his time.
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Mergenthaler
OTTMAR (merg- -tä'-ler), en an American inventor; born in Württemberg, Germany, May 10, 1854; came to the United States in 1872 and received a government position in Washington to care for the mechanism of bells, clocks, and signal service apparatus; became connected with a mechanical engineering firm in Baltimore, Md., in 1876. Subsequently, while still engaged with that company, he began experiments which resulted in the invention of the type-setting machine bearing his name. His plan as finally perfected consisted of a keyboard by means of which a line of type or dies could be set, adjusted to a desired width, and cast into a solid line of type metal. He patented his invention, but it was not successful till the linotype company which he had formed purchased the Rogers spacer. He died in Baltimore, Md., Oct. 28, 1899.
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Mergenthaler, Ottmar
mer'gan-ta-ler, Ottmar (1854-1899), a German-American inventor. He was born in Wurtemburg and died in Baltimore. Educated as a watchmaker, he came to this country in 1872 and became a repairer of clocks and electric bells in the government buildings at Washington. He also made himself useful in perfecting the instruments of the signal service. In 1876 he resigned and took up his residence at Baltimore, giving his attention to the invention of a typesetting machine. After repeated changes of plans he produced the Mergenthaler linotype. See Linotype
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Merger
a term in old English law, on bearing the relations between landlords and tenants. In its more modern significance it constitutes a form of industrial combination, generally known as a trust. By a merger a number of industrial establishments, or corporations, are combined under a joint ownership, through what is technically known as a holding company. The majority stock of the various corporations to be controlled is exchanged for stock in the holding company, which thus acquires majority control of all in common, the transaction not always being obvious to outsiders. By a decision of the United States Supreme Court, in the case of the Northern Security Co., a holding company formed to control the Great Northern and the Northern Pacific railroad companies, mergers of this character were held to be illegal.
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Meriden
a city in New Haven co., Conn.; on the New York, New Haven, and Hartford railroad; 18 miles N. by N. E. of New Haven. There are a high school, the Connecticut School for Boys, Meriden hospital, Curtis Home for Orphan Children and Aged Women, the Curtis Memorial Library, waterworks, electric light and street railroad plants, National and savings banks, and several periodicals. The city is widely noted for its manufactures, which include tinware, cutlery, bronze ware, electroplated ware, granite, iron and pearl agate ware, organs and organettes, brass and iron, gas and kerosene fixtures; bronze art builders' furniture, carriage and sadgoods, lamp trimmings, dlery hardware, table and pocket cutlery, she shears, scissors, steel pens, clocks, screws, vises, shoes, firearms, curtain fixtures, piano stools, paper boxes, harness, printing presses, and machinery. Meriden was taken from Wallingford and incorporated in May, 1806. Pop. (1910) 27,265; (1920) 29,867.
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