Thirty Years' War, The
The, a religious and political war in central Europe, 1618-1648. It broke out between the Protestants and Catholics in Bohemia and soon involved all Germany. The German emperor and Spain took the part of the Catholics or southern Germany. Sweden and Denmark took the part of the northern or Protestant princes. France, a Catholic country, under the lead of Richelieu was so influenced by jealousy of the German emperor as to take the Protestant side. Tilly and Wallenstein were the most noted leaders of the Catholic forces; Gustavus Adolphus, the most noted Protestant commander. Conde and Turenne led the French forces. The war was concluded by the peace of Westphalia in 1648. The outside parties, that is to say, Sweden and France, were gainers by the war. The war was in every way disastrous to Germany. Fertile and populous districts were reduced to uninhabited wastes. The destruction of life and property was so great that Germany was set back for a century. See Wallenstein ; Gustavus ; Richelieu ; Turenne
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Thisbe
in classical legend, a Babylonish maiden beloved by Pyramus. They lived in contiguous houses, and as their parents would not let them marry, they contrived to converse together through a hole in the garden wall. On one occasion they agreed to meet at Ninus's tomb, and Thisbe, who was first at the spot, hearing a lion roar, ran away in a fright, dropping her garment on the way. The lion seized the garment and tore it. When Pyramus arrived and saw the garment, he concluded that a lion had eaten Thisbe, and he stabbed himself. Thisbe, returning to the tomb, saw Pyramus dead, and killed herself also. The story is travestied in "The Midsummer Night's Dream," by Shakespeare. common name of
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Thistle
thisl, a common name given to a large group of plants of the composite family. They are allied closely to the burdock. They are characterized by spiny leaves and bracts. The bracts of the head form an acorn-like cup. The flowers are usually purple and some are of great beauty. Growing as they often do in standing grain, the thistles are very troublesome weeds. The worst is the Canadian thistle . The more it is plowed up and persecuted, the more it seems to spread. The only way to exterminate it is to get it entirely out of the ground, for each fragment left behind produces a new plant. The thistle is the national flower of Scotland. Authors are disagreed, however, as to which of several species is to be regarded as the national emblem. See Seeds; Goldfinch ; Dumbarton
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Thistle (ORDER OF THE a Scotch order)
ORDER OF THE, a Scotch order of knighthood, sometimes called the Order of St. Andrew. It was instituted by James VII. (James II. of England) in 1687, when eight knights were nominated. It fell into abeyance during the reign of William and Mary, and was revived by Queen Anne in 1703. As at present constituted, the order consists of the British sovereign and knights to the number of 16. The insignia consists of a collar, badge, jewel, star, and ribbon. The collar is composed of golden thistles and leaves connected by crossed sprigs of rue, enameled. The badge is a golden eight-pointed star, whereon is an enamof St. Andrew, bearing in eled figure are front of him his cross in silver; it is worn attached to the collar. The jewel is worn round the neck with the ribbon. The star is of four points, with a St. Andrew's Cross embroidered in silver upon it. In the center is a green and gold thistle within a circle of green, bearing the motto in golden letters; ribbon, dark green; motto: Nemo me impune lacessit (No one provokes me with impunity). Besides the knights ordinary, there are extra knights (princes), and a dean, a secretary, the lyon-king-at-arms, and the gentleman usher of the green rod.
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Thistle (Prickly plants of the tribe)
the prickly plants of the tribe Cynaraceæ, natural order Composite. There are numerous species, most of which are inhabitants of Europe, as the musk thistle (Carduus nutans), milk thistle (C. Marianus), welted thistle (C. acanthoides), was presiding elder at the India Conferslender-flowered thistle (C. tenuiflorous), the spear thistle (Cnicus lanceolatus), and field thistle (Cnicus arvensis), a well-known plant very troublesome to the farmer. The blessed thistle, Carduus benedictus of the pharmacopeias, Cnicus benedictus or Cirsium benedictum of modern botanists, is a native of the Levant, and is a laxative and tonic medicine. The cotton thistle belongs to the genus Onopordon. The common cotton thistle (O. Acanthium) attains a height of from four to six feet. It is often regarded as the Scotch thistle, but it is doubtful whether the thistle which constitutes the Scotch national badge has any existing type, though the stemless thistle (Cnicus acaulis or Cirsium acaule) is in many districts of Scotland looked on as the true Scotch thistle. Some dozen species of thistle are common in the United States, spreading from New England to Florida; Canada thistle is one of the severest pests of the farmer, W. and S.
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Thoburn
JAMES MILLS, ar American clergyman; born in St. Clairs. ville, O., March 7, 1836; was graduated at Allegheny College in 1857; joined the Pittsburgh Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1858; and engaged in missionary work in India in 1859. He ence in the United States in 1886-1888, and in the latter year was elected missionary bishop of India and Malaysia and devoted himself to mission work until 1908. He was author of "My Missionary Apprenticeship in New York"; "Missionary Sermons"; "India and Malaysia"; "Light in the East"; "The Deaconess and Her Vocation"; "Christless Nations"; "The Church of the Pentecost" (1901), "The Christian Conquest of India," etc.
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Tholen
an island of the Netherlands, in the province of Zeeland, N. of the Ooster Schelde; area, 51 square miles. It has a rich soil, and is protected by dykes. Wheat, rye, barley, oats, flax, and potatoes are its prodmadder, beans, ans, ucts. The chief town has the same name.
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Thomas
CHARLES LOUIS AM- BROISE (to-mä'), a French musical composer; born in Metz, Germany (then in France), Aug. 5, 1811. He entered the Parish Conservatory in 1828, where he carried off the first prize for piano playin 1830, following in 1829, for harmony ing up these two successes by gaining the Grand Prix for musical composition in 1832. Before he had reached the age of 26 Thomas had produced a cantata, a requiem mass for orchestra, and numerous pieces for pianoforte, violin, and orchestra. His first success in opera was with "The Double Ladder" in 1837; followed by "Mina" (1843); "Betty" (1846); "Midsummer Night's Dream" (1850); "The Carnival of Venice" (1853); "The Romance of Elvire" (1860); "Mignon" (1866); "Hamlet" (1868); "Francesca of Rimini" (1882); with innumerable other operas, cantatas, part songs, and choral scenas. Thomas was appointed a member of the Institute in 1851, Professor of Composition in 1852, and succeeded Auber as director of the Conservatory in 1871. He received the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honor in 1880. He died Feb. 12, 1896.
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