Rhythm
in general a measured succession of divisions or intervals in written composition, music, or dancing. The rhythm of poetry is the regular succession of accent, emphasis, or voice stress; or a certain succession of long and short (heavy and light) syllables in a verse. Prose also has its rhythm, and the only difference (so far as sound is concerned) between verse and prose is, that the former consists of a regular succession of similar cadences, divided by grammatical pauses and emphases into proportional clauses, so as to present sensible responses to the ear at regular proportioned distances. In music, rhythm is the disposition of the notes of a composition in respect of time and measure; the measured beat which marks the character and expression of the music.
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Rialto
. See Venice
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Riazan
or RYAZAN, Russia, capital of the province of the same name, 120 miles S. E. of Moscow, situated on the Trubezh river. It was noted before the World War for the excellent cutlery produced in its factories and was also an important center of the textile industry. The population is about 48,000. The province of Riazan is drained by the Oka river, has an area of 16,254 square miles and a population of about 2,700,000.
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Rib
in anatomy, one of the long curved bones which form the walls of the chest. They extend in an oblique direction from the vertebræ of the back to the sternum in front. There are usually 12 on each side; but in some rare cases 13 have been found, in others only 11. They are distinguished into "true" and "false"; the former being the seven upper ribs, which are articulated to the sternum; the latter the five lower ones, which are not immediately attached to that bone. The use of the ribs is to cover and defend the lungs and heart; and their articulations with the vertebræ and sternum admitting of a slight motion, they assist in respiration. See ANATOMY: THORAX. In shipbuilding, one of the timbers of a ship, which have their base in the keel as a backbone, and serve to maintain generally the cavity of the vessel. In architecture, one of the curvilinear timbers to which, in an arched or covered plaster ceiling, the laths are nailed. In botany, the principal vein or nervure which proceeds from the petiole into the blade of a leaf. In mining, a pillar of coal left for the support of the roof of a mine.
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Ribbon Fish
the Regalecus banksii, known also as the oar-fish. Its length is about 12 feet; color, silvery, with irregular dark lines and spots on the anterior part of the body; dorsal red; snout truncated, mouth edentate, stomach prolonged as a pouch. Ribbon fishes, the acanthopterygian div division Tæniiformes.
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Ribbon Fishes
a family of deep water fishes. They have long, narrow, tape-like bodies several feet in length, a few inches high, and about one inch in width. The back fin runs the entire length of the body. The mouth is small. Despite their shape, they are allied to the mackerels. They are found in deep sea water all over the world, but are so delicate and fragile that it is difficult to obtain a perfect specimen. Not infrequently their mutilated bodies are thrown ashore after storms.
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Ribbon Grass
Phalaris arundinacea, a species of canary grass with variegated leaves.
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Ribbonism
the name assumed by a group of secret associations among the lower classes in Ireland throughout the half century extending from 1820-1870, at its greatest height from about 1835 to 1855. Its origin and organization are alike wrapped in obscurity, but it appears in the beginning at least to have been political in its aims, and it seems probable that it grew out of the northern Defenders who banded themselves to oppose the Orange organization. Earlier associations with somewhat similar aims were the Whiteboys and the Threshers, and, in particular corners of the island, the Carders, Shanavests, and Caravats. ALEXANDRE FÉLIX
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Ribot
JOSEPH, a French statesman. He was born at St. Omer in 1842 and was edu- ALEXANDRE F. J. RIBOT cated at the Lycée of St. Omer. He was admitted to the bar in 1864 and in 1870 became substitut du tribunal de la Seine. In 1878 he was appointed by M. Dufaure secretary-general of the ministry of jus- C-Cyc tice and in the same year was elected to the Chamber of Deputies. In 1890 he became_minister for foreign affairs in M. de Freycinet's cabinet and continued in that position for three years. During his tenure of office the alliance between France and Russia was concluded. He was president of the cabinet during the stormy period of the Panama case and became for the second time Prime Minister after the resignation of M. Casimir-Périer, and SO continued till 1914. He was Minister of Finance during the greater period of the war, 1914- 1917, and became premier again in the latter year. He has opposed the policy of retaliation against the religious orders and his most important speeches have been delivered on finance, foreign affairs, and the question of freedom in teaching. He is a member of the Académie Française et Académie des Sciences Morales et Politiques. His works include: "Life of Lord Erskine," "Réforme de l'enseignement secondaire," "Discours politiques."
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Ricardo
DAVID, an English political economist; born in London, England, April 19, 1772. He stands next to Adam Smith (whose ideas he developed and systematized) in the British free-trade school of political science, and his writings have exerted a vast influence on all theories of political economy. After making his fortune in the Stock Exchange in London, he retired to devote himself to the study of mathematics, chemistry, etc. The first result of his studies was a tract entitled "The High Price of Bullion Proof of the Depreciation of a Bank Notes" (1809). In 1817 appeared his most important work, "The Principles of Political Economy and Taxation." Its leading feature was the theory of rent, now universally accepted that it represents the surplus earning power of better or more favorably situated land over that just good enough to be worth utilizing. He published in addition a number of essays on economics. His "Works" were edited by MacCulloch (1846). His "Letters to Malthus" were published in 1887. He died in Gatcomb Park, Gloucestershire, Sept. 11, 1823.
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