Payne (V)
WILLIAM MORTON, American educator and author. He was born at Newburyport, Mass., in 1858, and after leaving school held a position in the Public Library at Chicago, taught in high school, and acted as literary editor of the Chicago "Morning News," Chicago "Evening Journal," and "Dial" He varied the rest of his time by writing books and lecturing. His works include: "The New Education"; "Little Leaders"; "Various Views"; "Greater English Poets of the Nineteenth Century"; "Leading American Essayists"; "Björn stjerne Björnson"; and translations of Segurd Slembe and Ibsen. He died in 1919.
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Pea Ridge
a post village in Benton co., Ark.; about 8 miles E. of Bentonville. Here, on March 6, 7, and 8, 1862, occurred one of the most desperate battles of the Civil War. Gen. Samuel R. Curtis, in command of about 11,000 Union troops, with 49 pieces of artillery, was attacked by a superior force of Confederates (said to number 20,000) under obstinate and sanguinary conflicts ensued; which, lasting through three days, finally ended with the withdrawal of Van Dorn. The total Union loss was 1,351; that of the Confederates, though never officially reported, is supposed to have been more severe.
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Peabody
GEORGE FOSTER, an American banker and philanthropist. Born at Columbus. Ga., July 27, 1852. After completing his education he entered business and rapidly attained distinction. Many of his investments have been in Mexico He became president of the Compañia Metallurgica Mexicana and a director in at least five or six other concerns with holdings in Mexican copper and lead. In politics he belongs to the Democratic party, being treasurer of the National Committee from 1896 to 1905. A great deal of time and money have been spent by Mr. Peabody in the cause of Southern education. He is a trustee of both Hampton and Tuskegee Institutes.
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Peabody (II)
JOSEPHINE PRESTON, an American poet and dramatist. She was born in New York, was educated at Radcliffe College, and for two years ending in 1903 taught literature at Wellesley. She married Prof. Marks in 1906. Her works include "The Wayfarers"; "A Book of Verse"; "Fortune and Men's Eyes"; "New Poems, with a Play"; "Marlowe,” a drama; "The Singing Leaves"; "The Wings," a drama; "The Book of the Little Past"; "The Piper," a drama which won the Stratford-on-Avon prize in 1910; "The Singing Man"; "The Wolf of Gubbio"; "New Poems."
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Peabody (Town in Essex co Mass)
a town in Essex co., Mass.; on the Boston and Maine railroad; 2 miles W. of Salem. It comprises North Peabody, South Peabody, West Peabody, and a number of other villages. Here are the Peabody Institute and Library, the Sutton Reference Library, a high school, and National and savings banks. It has manufactures of leather, morocco, sheep skin, boots and shoes, woolen goods, electric supplies, thermometers etc. Prior to 1868 the town was called South Danvers; and was then named Peabody in honor of George Peabody, who born here. Pop. was (1910) 15,721; (1920) 19,553.
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Peacock (Any individual of the genus)
any individual of the genus Pavo, specifically, the common peapeacock (P. cristatus), a native of India, domesticated in Great Britain. The plumage is extremely gorgeous. Crest of about 24 feathers, webbed only at tip; green, with blue and gold reflections. Bill and legs horny brown. The peahen is chestnut-brown about the head and nape; breast and neck greenish, edged with pale whity-brown; upper plumage light brown, with faint wavings, increased on upper tail coverts; tail deep brown with whitish tips; abdomen white; lower parts and under tail coverts brown. Length 38 to 40 inches; crest shorter and duller than in the male. Among the Greeks and Romans the peacock was sacred to Hera or Juno. Quintus Hortensius (born 119 B. c.) was the first to serve up peacocks at table. The proverbial reproach "vain as a peacock," is scarcely well-founded. The display of his train is intended to attract the attention of the hen bird, or to outshine the display of some rival.
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Peacock (THOMAS LOVE an English writer)
THOMAS LOVE, an English writer; born in 1785. His first important work was a novel entitled "Headlong Hall," published in 1815, and this was followed by "Melincourt," "Nightmare Abbey," "Maid Marian," the "Misfortunes of Elphin," "Crotchet Castle," "Gryll Grange," and a poem called "Rhododaphne." He was the friend and executor of Shelly, and was connected with the East India Office for nearly 40 years. He died in 1866.
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Peacock Butterfly
the Vanessa io, a beautiful butterfly, two and one-half, or two and three-quarter inches across the wings, which are a dull, deep red, each with an eye-like spot. Larva spiny, black, with many white dots. It in numbers, is seen in numbers, on the tops of nettles, in June and July. The perfect insect appears in August, lives through the winter, and is seen in March and April.
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Peafowl
a remarkable bird of the grouse family. Alexander the Great is credited with having brought the common peafowl from India. In southeastern Asia the peafowl is yet a game bird, and is hunted like our wild turkey. The male or peacock is famous for a gorgeous train. The upper or covert feathers of the tail are frequently four feet in length. When the peacock struts, gobbler fashion, these feathers are erected and spread in a fan-like circle with a most dazzling effect of brilliant green and gold. The tail itself is chestnut and remains in an ordinary position. The neck and breast are colored with a peculiarly rich "peacock" blue. The head carries a crest of about twenty-four upright plumes. The total length of the bird from the point of its bill to the end of its train is about six feet. The body proper is only about two feet in length. The peahen is smaller and is modestly colored. The peafowl is now domesticated thoroughly both in the Old World and the New. Among the Greeks and Romans it was dedicated to Hera or Juno. In literature it is represented as the type of vain glory. Its flesh, like that of pheasants and grouse generally, is excellent for table use. Its voice, like that of the guineafowl, is exceedingly harsh, as though nature begrudged a sweet voice and brilliant plumage to the same bird.
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