Statute
a law proceeding from the government of a State; the written will of the legislature solemnly expressed according to the forms necessary to constitute it the law of the State. A statute which contravenes a provision of the constitution of a State by whose legislature it was enacted, or of the United States Constitution, is void. Statutes are either public or private (in the latter case affecting an individual or a company); but the term is usually restricted to public acts of a general and permanent character. Statutes are said to be declaratory of the law as it stood before their passing; remedial, to correct defects in the common law; and penal, imposing prohibitions and penalties. The term statute is commonly applied to the acts of a legislative body consisting of representatives. In monarchies not having representative bodies, the laws of the sovereign are called edicts, decrees, ordinances, rescripts, etc.
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Staubbach
a celebrated waterfall of Switzerland. The name signifies dust brook. It is situated in the immediate vicinity of Lauterbrunnen, eight miles south of Interlaken. Some twenty rivulets from the melting snows and mists on the shoulder of the Jungfrau fall from the rocky heights here. The best known of these is the Staubbach. It falls from a projecting rock 980 feet in height, six times the height of Niagara, compared to which, it is, of course a mere cupful. It falls so far that the greater part of the water is converted into mist before it reaches the ground and is wafted by the winds over the meadows far and near. Seen in the morning sunlight it has the appearance of a transparent silvery veil swung to and fro by the wind. Not infrequently it is tinted with all the hues of the rainbow. At times the volume of water, like that of Minnehaha, is somewhat disappointing. See Waterfall
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Staunton
a city of Illinois, in Macoupin co. It is on the Wabash, the Litchfield and Madison, and the Illinois Traction railroads. In the neighborhood are coal mines, and oil and gas wells. Among its public buildings is the Labor Temple. Pop. (1910) 5,048; (1920) 6,- 02 027.
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Staunton (City and county-seat)
a city and county-seat of Augusta co., Va.; on the Chesapeake and Ohio and the Baltimore and Ohio railroads; 136 miles W. N. W. of Richmond. It is situated in the fertile and beautiful Shenandoah valley. Here are the State Institution for the Deaf, Dumb, and Blind, the Mary Baldwin Seminary, the Staunton Military Academy, the Staunton Female Seminary, the Wesleyan Female Institute, the Western State Hospital, Masonic Temple, City Hall, park, street railroad and electric light plants, waterworks, National and State banks, and several daily and weekly newspapers. It has manufactories of ice, sash and blinds, cigars, flour, organs, machinery, building material, agricultural implements, carriages, etc. Pop. (1910) 10,604; (1920) 10,623.
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Staunton (River of Virginia which rises)
a river of Virginia which rises in M Montgomery co., and flows E. across Roanoke co., reaching the Blue Ridge, through which it breaks, so forming picturesque scenery and marvels in rapid descent. It is said to fall 1,000 feet in 20 miles. It has devious windings after it emerges from the mountain depths. It unites with the Dan river at Clarksville, Mecklenburg co., to form the Roanoke; length, 200 miles. STAUROLITE or FAIRY STONE, a mineral found in various parts of the United States, in the Tyrol, in Cornwall (England) and in other parts. Chemically, it is a hydrated silicate of iron, aluminum and magnesium and occurs as brown rhombic crystals, having a cruciform arrangement, and a sub-vitreous lustre. Its specific gravity is 3.5 and hardness 7.5.
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Stavanger
the most important town in the S. W. of Norway; on the S. side of Bukken Fjord; 100 miles S. of Bergen. It has two harbors and derives its importance from its connection with the fisheries of the adjacent coast. The town dates back to the 9th century, but has been frequently destroyed by fire, and is now quite a modern place. The cathedral, a Gothic structure, was founded by an English bishop (Reinald) in the 11th century, but was restored in 1866. Of late years it has become a favorite rendezvous of tourists. Pop. (1918) 46,100.
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Stavropol
formerly a Russian province in the Caucasus and recently part of the Kuban Republic. It has an area of 23,398 square miles, comprising largely untimbered prairies and extensively cultivated for grain. The country was colonized a century ago by Cossacks, but the inhabitants include Poles, Armenians, Greeks and Slavic Russians. Pop. about 1,300,000. The city of Stavropol, capital of the province, is situated on the Atchla, 307 miles southwest of Astrakhan. han. Soap, flour, and leather goods are the products of the chief industries. Pop. about 80,000.
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Stead
WILLIAM THOMAS, an English journalist; born in Embleton, Northumberland, July 5, 1849. He is widely known as editor of the "Review of Reviews," which he founded in January, 1890. He published "The Maiden Tribute of Modern Babylon" (1885). In 1893 he established "Borderland," a periodical devoted to spiritualism. Among his published books are "The United States of Europe" (1899); "Peers or People" (1907). He died in 1912.
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Stead, William Thomas
Journalist and Spiritualist , was born at Embleton, Northumberland, in 1849. On leaving school he was apprenticed in the office of a merchant, but soon drifted into journalism. In 1871 he was editor of the Darlington Northern Echo, and in 1883 of the Pall Mall Subliminal Self Gazette. In 1890 he founded the Review of Reviews, finding therein an outlet for his remarkable energy. His journalistic zeal led him to espouse many causes-he conducted a propaganda in favour of the peace movement, devoted himself to the interests of the Boers during the South African War, and issued cheap reprints of classical works. But not the latest of his activities was concerned with his advocacy of spiritualism. For four years-1893-97-he conducted a spiritualistic organ, the Borderland, and till his death gave the weight of his journalistic and personal influence to the movement. Notwithstanding that there was something of fanaticism in his zeal, and that his ardour sometimes carried him beyond prescribed limits, he was still a force to be reckoned with in the sphere of politics, and Cecil Rhodes, especially, was much influenced by his opinions. Mr. Stead perished with the sinking of the Titanic in April, 1912, since when many spiritualistic circles claim to have seen and spoken with him. His daughter, Miss Estelle Stead, has written his life. Stevenson, R. L.: (See Fiction, Occult English.)
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