Vedanta
in India, a system of religion and philosophy professedly founded on the Vedas. It is divided into the Pûrva mimânsa and the Uttara mimânsa, or the former and the latter mimânsas, which constitutes two of the leading darsanas or schools of philosophy. As the first of these is chiefly practical, the Vedanta philosophy is mainly derived from the second. It was founded by Vyasa, and was modified by Sankara, its commentator. The former identified the world with God, and contended earnestly for the reality of the external universe which he held to have been created by God; the later Vedantists maintained that the universe is but an illusion projected by God, and is itself God. The present Vedanta system is Pantheistic. It has many adherents among the more educated Hindus. American an VEDDER, ELIHU, painter; born in New York City, Feb. 26, 1836. He studied at Paris and in Italy, where he ultimately made his residence. His subjects are mostly ideal "The Lair of the Sea -serpents," "Fisherman and Djin," "Death of Abel," "Greek Actor's Daughter," "Cumean Sibyl," "Nausicaa and her Companions." He also illustrated Edward Fitz-Gerald's "Omar Khayyám" (Boston, 1884). Author of "Digressions of V., " etc.
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Vedder
HENRY CLAY, an American historian; born in De Ruyter , N. Y. , Feb. 26, 1853 ; was graduated at the University of Rochester in 1873 and at the Rochester Theological Seminary in 1876; was on the editorial staff of "The Examiner," a Baptist weekly, in 1876- 1892; and was its editor in 1892-1894. In the latter year he became Professor of Church History at Crozer Theological Seminary . His publications include: "Baptists and Liberty of Conscience" (1885); "The Decline of Infant Bapsaptism" (1890); "A Short History of the Baptists" (1891); " The Higher Criticism" (1892); "Talks with Baptist Young People" ( 1895); "The Decline of the Apostolic Succession in the Church of England" (1894 ); "A History of the Baptists of the Middle States"; "The Gospel of Jesus and the Problems of Democracy " (1914); etc.
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Veery
a small migratory thrush, ranging from the Rocky Mountains eastward. About seven inches long. Reddish brown or tawny above, light beneath, with the sides of the throat streaked with dusky spots. Also known as Wilson's thrush. Like other thrushes it lives on insects found by searching the ground among fallen leaves and pine needles. The veery nests in north countries in tussocks of grass, usually in or near swamps. The nest is composed of grasses or leaves, perhaps of grapevine bark, and lined with fine grasses and roots, or even horsehair. Its eggs are of a light blue with greenish tint. The veery's voice is not so fine as that of the woodthrush. "Its cheery cheeury, cheeury, cheeury, uttered generally from some bough in a pine grove, or other woods, gives life and zest to the woodlands." Says Whittier: And here in spring The veeries sing The song of long ago.
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Vegetable Ivory
the seeds of a Central American palm. The fruits of this palm are globular and are borne near the ground. The seeds are about the size of a hen's egg. When immature they are milky and of a sweet flavor, not unlike that of the cocoanut. In ripening, the nut hardens until it makes a very fit substitute for animal ivory. Before it becomes too hard this nut is easily worked in a lathe and absorbs dyes readily. It is much used in making mottled buttons designed to match the patterns of tweed suits, etc., and for making many small articles of turnery, such as umbrella handles and the like. American manufacturers import about 15,000,000 pounds of vegetable ivory yearly. See Button; Palm
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Vegetable Marrow
a species of gourd cultivated as a culinary vegetable, and used fried, boiled, or otherwise.
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Vegetable Wax
This wax is found as exudations on leaves and fruits, where they form a glaucous surface, which repels water. The bayberry, for instance, is thickly coated with it.
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Vegetarian
one who lives solely on vegetable food. A vegetarian diet includes grain foods, fruit, garden vegetables, and nuts. The definition does not exclude coffee, tea, or liquor. Some vegetarians claim that milk, butter, cheese, and eggs are proper articles of diet; but meat of all kinds, including fish and fowl, are excluded. A large part of the world is inhabited by vegetarians, not from choice but from necessity.The agricultural peasant of Europe goes without meat for weeks. Eggs are too expensive for home consumption. He cannot afford to buy meat. Many a German peasant dines on rye bread, milk, and vegetables without seeing meat for weeks at a time. The Japanese workman cannot afford meat. There are sects in India that have refused to eat meat for ages. Ingenious arguments have been built up to prove that man does not require flesh. It is altogether probable that in meat-eating countries too much flesh is eaten; but the best medical authorities are of the opinion that a well balanced diet should include meat in reasonable quantities.
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Vehm-Gerichte
A secret tribunal which during the Middle Ages exercised a peculiar jurisdiction in Germany and especially in Westphalia. Its origin is quite uncertain. The sessions were often held in secret, and the uninitiated were forbidden to attend them on pain of death. The most absurd stories have been circulated concerning them, that they met in underground chambers and so forth. These have been discounted by modern research. Far from dabbling in the occult, these courts frequently punished persons convicted of witchcraft and sorcery.
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Veii
an ancient city of ETRURIA (q. v.); in early times the formidable rival of Rome. supposed to have been at Isola Farnese, 12 miles from Rome. It waged 14 distinct wars with Rome-an almost incessant warfare down to its capture after a 10 years' siege by Camillus (396 b. c.).
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Vein
. See Circulation ; Blood
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Veiovis
A Roman deity, whose name is explained by some to mean little Jupiter ; while others interpret it the destructive Jupiter, and identify him with Pluto . He was represented as a youthful god armed with arrows. Velitrae (Velletri). An ancient town of the Volscians in Latium, but subsequently belonging to the Latin League. It is chiefly celebrated as the birthplace of the emperor Augustus. Venti (The Winds). The master and ruler of all the winds is Aeolus , who resides in the island Aeolia; but the other gods also, especially Zeus (Jupiter), exercise a power over them. Homer mentions by name Boreas (north wind), Eurus (east wind), Notus (south wind), and Zephyrus (west wind). According to Hesiod, the beneficial winds-Notus, Boreas, Argestes, and Zephyrus-were the sons of Astraeus and Eos; and the destructive ones-such as Typhon-are said to be the sons of Typhoeus.
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