Each of these 12 subjects appears in only one of the 6 encyclopedias on this shelf. None is long enough to carry a page by itself, so they are gathered here by letter. Anything that grows moves out to a page of its own.
in botany, Ornithogalum umbellatum; natural order Liliaceæ; a bulbous-rooted plant with white star-like flowers. It is common in many parts of Europe and is naturalized in some of the United States.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
a term used in connection with the United States postal service. Prior to 1845 it was the custom in letting the contracts for the transportation of inland mails, other than by railroad or steamboat routes, to give the preference to bidders who offered stage or coach service. This was abolished by act of Congress, March 3, 1845, which provided that the postmaster-general should let all such contracts to the lowest bidder tendering sufficient guarantee for faithful performance, without any condition except to provide for due celerity, certainty and security of transportation. These bids for such service became classified as "celerity, certainty and security bids," and for brevity were designated on the route registers by three stars (***) and known as star routes. Early in 1881 rumors were in circulation of extensive frauds in this branch of the mail service. It was charged that there was a "ring" to defraud the government in which were included some of the large contractors, the Second Assistant Postmaster-General, some of the subordinates in the department, a United States Senator, and others. Proceedings were begun, but no conviction was secured either on these charges or on others which were made in 1883.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
The wheel of the stop work which is pivoted to the barrel and also known as the Maltese cross.
Only in American Watchmaker and Jeweler
the right side of a ship when the eye is directed toward the head, stem, or prow.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
a town of East Pomerania, Prussia; on the navigable Ihna, 25 miles E. S. E. of Stettin. Its well-preserved walls are surmounted by handsome towers, and its chief buildings are the Gothic Marienkirche of the 16th century, with richly adorned interior, a Rathhaus of the 11th century, the quaint Protzensche Haus, and a higher Bürgerschule of 1860. It manufactures woolens, linens, leather, etc., and tradesin grain and cattle. Stargard, destroyed by the Poles in 1120, was raised to the rank of a town in 1229, joined the Hanseatic League, and was strongly fortified. It was important during the Thirty Years' War. Pop. about 27,500.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
in Poland, those noblemen who were reckoned among the dignitaries 58 STAR-SPANGLED BANNER, THE of the land, and who received a castle or landed estate from the crown domains. Some of the starosts had civil and criminal jurisdiction over a certain district, others mere merely enjoyed the revenues of the starosty.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
FRANCES (GRANT), an American actress, born at Oneonta, N. Y., in 1886. She was educated in the public schools of Albany and made her first appearance on the stage in that city in 1901. She joined the Murray Stock Co. of New York City while playing there attracted the attention of David Belasco, who undertook her theatrical training. Under his direction she appeared as leading lady in "The Music Master"; "The Easiest Way," "The Secret," "Little Lady in Blue" and "Tiger, Tiger," the latter in 1919-20.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
HEAT OF. The heat of nine great stars-namely, Rigel, Vega, Sirius, Procyon, Capella, Aldebaran, Betelguese, Alpha Herculis, Beta Pegasi-was analyzed from the Mount Wilson Observatory, by Dr. Charles G. Abbot of the Smithsonian Institution. He is the same scientist who previously had succeeded in measuring the heat of the sun. In making his measurements he uses the Nichols radiometer, a delicate instrument worked by heat. The light from the stars is broken up by the spectroscope into their respective spectra and the heat in the different parts of these can then be measured. The stars measured will present all of the principal types, from blue to red. Some of the expectations-such as, for instance, that the heat from stars of the same color type would be greatest in the same parts of the spectra-were not realized and surprising differences were found. Although the apparatus used detects differences of a hundred millionth of a degree of heat, astronomers claim that this is not sufficient but that it must be sharpened to a thousand millionth, and to a must be examined. Most of the big stars measured were found to be at least twice as hot as the sun. The principal sig. nificance of these new measurements is that they have increased greatly our knowledge of the physical nature of stars.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
the flag of the Confederate States of America. It was merely an adaptation of the stars and stripes, having 3 "alternate stripes red and white," instead of 13 such stripes, and a circle of white stars on a blue field, corresponding to the number of States of the confederacy.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
a whole people united into a body politic; a civil and self-governing community. Also, any body of men constituting a community of a particular character in virtue of certain political privileges, who partake either directly or by representation in the government of their country; an estate; as, The Lords spiritual and temporal and the Commons are the states (or estates) of the realm in Great Britain. In the plural, the legislative body in the island of Jersey, England. It consists of 55 persons, including the bailiff of the island, who is ex officio president. The lieutenant-governor has a power of veto, and the States may not be convened without his consent. Guernsey has an analogous body, the Deliberative States, and a more popular assembly, the Elective States. In both islands the States deal only with questions of internal administration. Also, one of the commonwealths or bodies politic which together go to compose a Federal republic, and which stand in certain specified relations with the central or national government, and, as regards internal affairs, are more or less independent; as, the State of Pennsylvania.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
in numismatics, the name of certain coins current in ancient Greece and Macedonia. The gold stater of Athens was worth about $3.89; the silver stater about 86 cents, and the Macedonian gold stater $5.11.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
in American history, a term employed to designate such rights or authority as may have been retained by the states and not delegated by the Constitution to the general government. The topic is treated more or less fully under CONSTITUTION; CALHOUN; CIVIL WAR; HARTFORD CONVENTION ; NULLIFICATION, and elsewhere.
Only in Aiton's Encyclopedia