Royal Geographical Society
a British association founded in 1830, having for its object the promotion and diffusion of geographical science. The members of the society had originally been a group of travelers and explorers dya who formed Raleigh Lectures were delivered at the meetings the Dining Club. and the latest results of scientific research in geography were committed to Journal," which the "Royal Geographical Jou was the organ of the club. In 1859 the association was chartered, and in 1882 its journal began to bear the title of "Proceedings of the Royal Geographical Society," and "Monthly Record," changed again in 1893 to "Geographical Journal.' The society has a large library and issues a year book and other geographical literature. It has also financed several expeditions having geographical research as their object.
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Royal Institution
an institution founded in London, England, by Count Rumford, Sir Joseph Banks, etc., March 9, 1799, and incorporated Jan. 13, 1800. It was reconstituted in 1810. It is designed to diffuse knowledge, to facilitate the general introduction of mechanical inventions, and teach by lectures and experiments the application of science to the common purposes of life. It has, as a rule, had for its lecturers some of the first scientific men of the age: e. g., Thomas Young, Davy, Brande, Faraday, Tyndall, Frankland, and Rayleigh. It maintains professors of natural philosophy, chemistry and physiology, and has laboratories (including, since 1896, the Davy-Faraday research laboratory presented by Dr. Ludwig Mond).
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Royal Observatory
GREEN- WICH, the famous English observatory founded by Charles II. in 1675. The first observation was made Sept. 19, 1675. The Director of the Observatory is styled the Astronomer Royal, and is under the official control of the Admiralty, but receives his appointment directly from the Prime Minister, and holds office by warrant under the royal sign manual. Meridian observations of sun, moon, planets and stars constitute the fundamental work. Photographs of the sun are taken on every available day, and after being measured are carefully stored for reference. Magnetic and meteorological observations, made continuously, form an important branch of the works. The chronometers used in the English navy are purchased, and generally examined, at the Observatory. Hourly and daily time-signals are sent out from the Observatory through the post-office telegraphs giving Greenwich time to all parts of the country.
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Royal Society of Literature
a society founded in England under the patronage of George IV., in 1823, and chartered in 1826. It awards gold medals.
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Royce
JOSIAH, an American educator and author; born in Grass Valley, Cal., Nov. 20, 1855. He became Professor of the History of Philosophy in Harvard in 1892, and published: "A Primer of Logical Analysis" (1881); "The Religious Aspect of Philosophy" (1885); "California" (1886); "The Feud of Oakfield Creek" (1887), a novel; "The Spirit of Modern Philosophy" (1892); "Studies of Good and Evil" (1898); "The World and the Individual" (1900); "The Conception of Immortality" (1900); "Herbert Spencer" (1904); "The Philosophy of Loyalty" (1908); "William James; and Other Essays" (1911); "Problems of Christianity" (1912); "War and Insurance" (1914) (1914); "The The Hope of the Great Community" (1917). He died Sept. 14, 1916.
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Roye
a village in the Department of the Somme, France, situated on the Avre, 26 miles S. E. S. E. of Amiens. The village was taken by the Germans soon after the invasion of France, in September, 1914, but afterward was the scene of much of the heavy fighting in that region. Pop. about 4,500.
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Royle
2026 Editor's Note: This page uses language about race that was commonplace when the book was published and is offensive by today's standards. The text has been left exactly as it was printed, rather than cut or softened, so that the historical record — including how ordinary such language once was — is preserved. (Ed: ET 2026-07-22) EDWIN MILTON, an American dramatist and actor, born at Lexington, Mo., in 1862. He graduated from Princeton in 1883 and took post-graduate courses at the University of Edinburgh. He studied law but did not practice. His first play, "Friends," was produced in 1892. This was followed by "The Squaw Man," "The Struggle Everlasting," "The Silent Call," "The Unwritten Law,' "Peace and Quiet," and "The Longest Way Round."
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Royston Crow
the common English name for the hooded crow, Corvus cornix. See CROW.
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Rozhdestvensky
ZINIVY PE TROVITCH, a Russian naval officer, born in 1848. During the Russo-Turkish War he served as a lieutenant. He rose through the various grades, becoming admiral in 1904. He was placed in command of the Baltic fleet which was dispatched to the Far East. (See Russo- JAPANESE WAR.) He was defeated by the Japanese fleet under Admiral Togo in the battle of the Sea of Japan, in May, 1905. During this action he was taken prisoner. He was tried by courthe was appointed Professor of Philos- martial on his return to Russia, but was acquitted of blame. He died in 1909.
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Ruatan
or ROATAN, an island of Central America, in the Bay of Honduras; area, about 240 square miles. Surface, fertile. The shores abound in fish and somewhat elevated and well wooded; turtles, and near the S. extremity is a good harbor.
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Rubace
or RUBASSE, in mineralogy: (1) Rock crystal from Brazil, inclosing red scales of hæmatite or göthite. (2) Rock crystal which, when heated and plunged into a cool colored sol solution, becomes fissured and admits the red coloring matter. (3) Rubicelle. (4) Rose< quartz.
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Rubaiyat
. See Omar Khayyam ; Persia
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Rubble
a common kind of masonry, tive of the principal scenes of her life. in which the stones are irregular in size and shape. Walls faced with ashlar are generally packed with rubble at the back. Rubble is of various kinds, according to the amount of dressing given to the stones. Common rubble is built with stones left almost as they come from the quarry. Hammer-dressed rubble is so called when the stones are squared with the mason's hammer; coarsed rubble, when the stones are squared and equal in height, etc.
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Rubellite
in mineralogy, a red variety of TOURMALINE (q. v.), occurring in crystals mostly transparent and containing lithia.
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Rubens, Peter Paul
roo'benz, Peter Paul (1577-1640), a celebrated Flemish painter. He studied in Mantua, Naples, and Rome. He did his best work at Antwerp. His greatest work, the Descent from the Cross, is in the Cathedral of Antwerp. Ninety-five of Rubens' paintings are at Munich. His Last Judgment depicts Christ with a more merciful face than that of the Christ of Michelangelo. Among those who join the company of the blessed is a poor, rejoicing negro, showing that Rubens was ahead of his time. He employed many students as assistants. He finished 1,800 paintings. He lies buried in the Cathedral of Antwerp. His collection of engravings, books, and art treasures sold for over $100,000. 2026 Editor's Note: This page uses language about race that was commonplace when the book was published and is offensive by today's standards. The text has been left exactly as it was printed, rather than cut or softened, so that the historical record — including how ordinary such language once was — is preserved. (Ed: BR 2026-07-22)
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