and its reputed author is Valmiki, who is said to have taught his poem to the two sons of Ráma. Although the statement is very doubtful, it is certain that Valmiki was a real personage, and that the Rámáyana was not like the Mahábharata, the creation of different minds at various epochs. As a poetical composition the Rámáyana may safely be called the best great poem of India.

RANDOLPH

troops, Ramsay rendered highly important service in holding the British in check, although at the loss of nearly all his command, a service for which he was highly commended and gratefully remembered by Washington. He died at Baltimore, Oct. 23, 1817.

Ranching, the business of cattle raising in the unsettled regions of the west. The name is derived from the Spanish rancho," mess," or " messroom." The special feature of ranching is that cattle are kept in a half-wild state, be

Ramillies (ram'-e-lees), a village of Brabant, Belgium, is memorable as the place near which, on May 23, 1706, the French forces under Villeroy and the elector of Bavaria, were defeated by Marlborough. This victory compelled the French to give up the whole of the Spanish Netherlands.

Ramsay, DAVID, was born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, April 2, 1849, and after graduating at Princeton College, studied medicine, and entered upon the practice of that profession at Charleston, South Carolina, two or three years before the revolutionary war. After the capture of Charleston by the British he was kept by them as a hostage at St. Augustine for nearly a year; and at the close of the war was chosen a member of the continental congress. Besides a number of medical essays and other works, he published a History of South Carolina and a History of the American Revolution. Dr. Ramsay was a member of the South Carolina legislature for several years before his death, which took place May 8, 1815.

Ramsay, NATHANIEL, a soldier of the revolution, was born in Pennsylvania, May 1, 1771, and after graduating at Princeton College, was admitted to the bar and practiced law in Cecil county, Maryland. He entered the army very early in the revolutionary war, and was in command of a Maryland regiment at the battle of Monmouth, when General Lee's retreat seemed so likely to result in the rout of Washington's entire command; and when Washington arrived upon the field and proceeded to reform the

of ground, such pasture as they can find being their only food. The life of ranchmen, or "cowboys," as they are generally called, is not as wild and free as it once was, but still has great charms for many different classes of young men.

Randall, SAMUEL J., American statesman, was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Oct. 10, 1828, and after spending a number of years in mercantile business in his native city, was elected to congress as a democrat in October, 1862. He held this position-being reelected every two years-up to the time of his death, which took place at Washington, D. C., April 13, 1890. After the death of Speaker Kerr in 1876, Randall was elected speaker of the house of repre sentatives to fill out the unexpired term. He was also chosen speaker of the house in 1877, and again in 1879, Throughout his entire congressional career Mr. Randall's ability and integ. rity were conceded by men of all parties, and he was held in the very highest esteem by all his fellow-congressmen.

Randolph, EDMUND J., an American statesman, was born at Williamsburg, Va., Aug. 10, 1753, and after a course of legal study was admitted to the Virginia bar. In 1776 he helped to frame the constitution of Virginia, and became the first attorney-general of that state. He filled the office of governor of Virginia from 1786 to 1788, and was a member of the convention which framed the constitution of the United States. In 1789 he entered Washington's cabinet as attorney-general, and in 1794 was appointed secretary of state to succeed Jefferson, which office he resigned the next year on account of some misunderstanding with the president and his colleagues in reference to the Jay treaty. He died Sept. 12, 1813.

Randolph, JOHN, "of Roanoke," was born in Cawsons, Virginia, June 2,

1773. He was a second cousin of Edmund Randolph, and boasted the Indian princess Pocahontas among his ancestors. It 1799, being only 26 years of age, he entered congress and continued a member of that body, with the exception of two terms, until 1825,when he was chosen United States senator and occupied a seat in that body for two years, during which period he fought a duel with Henry Clay. In 1830 he was appointed minister to Russia, but returned home in the next year, and in 1832 was once more elected to congress. Before taking his seat, however, he died of consumption in Philadelphia, June 24, 1833, having provided in his will for the freedom of his slaves, some three hundred in number. During Randolph's long public career he was highly distinguished alike for wit, eloquence and eccentricity, and was more talked about and written about than any public man of his time; and many of his sallies and pungent utterances are still quoted in Virginia and throughout the country.

Randolph, PEYTON, was born in Virginia in the year 1723, and after studying law in the city of London, was appointed attorney-general of Virginia by the king in 1748. He was president of the continental congress when it first met in Philadelphia in 1774, but resigned the position on account of his health. He again took his seat as member of that body when it reassembled on the 10th of May, 1775, but died of apoplexy in October following.

a

Rangoon, capital of Lower Burmah, stands on the Rangoon river, about 20 miles from its entrance into the Gulf of Martaban. The present city is mostly of modern construction, having been built since the English took possession in 1852. The town extends along the left bank of the river, the docks being opposite to it at the suburb of Da-la, on the other side of the river. A town has existed on the site of Rangoon since the 6th century B. C., but it was called Dagon till it was taken by the Burmese sovereign, Alombra, towards the end of the 18th century. That prince rebuilt the place, and called it Rangoon. Population, 181,210.

Ranjit Singh, founder of the Singh kingdom in the Punjab of India, was born Nov. 2, 1780, his father being a Singh chief, and the head of one of the twelve military organizations of the Singhs. When he was six years

RANUNCULUS

old, his father died; and at a very early age he began to show both a desire and capacity to rule, and after the Shah of Afghanistan had given him the province of Lahore, he directed all his energies to founding a kingdom which should unite all the Singh provinces under his personal rule. This object, after many severe conflicts, he accomplished, thus becoming the ruler of an extensive territory with well-trained army of 70,000 men. In 1836 his army was totally defeated by the Afghans; but this result did not affect his power over any of the territory he had acquired; and his long reign was not disturbed by a single revolt. He died June 27, 1839. He could neither read nor write, yet his signal ability and energy, united with a rare moderation, are without a parallel in Asiatic history.

Ranke (ränk'-eh), LEOPOLD VON, one of the greatest of German historians, was born at Wiehe, about half-way between Gotha and Halle, Dec. 21, 1795. Although he studied philology and theology at Berlin and Halle, his chief thoughts were directed to history, for the study and writing of which he possessed the rarest genius. His historical works, nearly fifty in number, show remarkable skill in grouping, events in proper order and placing them before the reader in a clear and vivid manner, so that he can readily see them in connection with all their causes and relations. Although Ranke was over 90 when he died, he could not have accomplished what he did, had he not been a man of such great industry and application, with a marvelous memory and excellent judgment as to the value of historical material. While his style is not brilliant, it is yet sufficiently clear and interesting. Perhaps the most popular of his works is his History of the Popes, so brilliantly reviewed by Macauley in the Edinburgh Review of September, 1840. Ranke continued to lecture in the University of Berlin until 1872 and died 14 years later, Sept. 23, 1886.

Ranunculus, a class of perennial plants, having many varieties, with five sepals, five petals, many stamens and seed cells grouped into a head. Among the more common varieties are buttercups, which adorn the meadows, the various crowfoots in gardens and pastures, the spearworts in moist places and bachelor's buttons, with longer stems, cultivated in gardens. The garden ranunculus, exclusively the ranun

culus of florists, is a native of the Levant, and has been cultivated for 300 years.

RANUNCULUS.

The

Raphael (räf-a-el), or RAFFAELLO SANTI OF SANZIO, called by his country. men Il Divino, "the divine," is ranked by universal opinion among the greatest of painters. He was born at Urbino, April 6, 1483, and after the death of his father, who was his first instructor, he was placed under Perugino, the most distinguished painter of the period, who was then engaged on important works in the city of Perugia. În 1504 Raphael visited Florence, where he remained until 1508, and then went to Rome on the invitation of Pope Julius II. His celebrated frescoes in the Vatican and numerous important works were then commenced. works of Raphael are generally divided into three classes: his first style, when under the influence of Perugino's manner; his second, when he painted at Florence from 1504 to 1508: and his third style, shown in the works executed by him after he settled in Rome. Each of these styles has its peculiar features and devoted admirers. Those who incline to art employed in the service of religion prefer the first manner as embodying purity and religious feeling. His last manner, perfected when the taste for classical art and learning was excited by the discovery of numerous works of the classic period, is held by many as correctly embodying the highest art; while his Florentine style is especially admired by some as showing his powers freed from the imitation of Perugino and as yet

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unaffected by the conventionalism of classic art. In each of these different styles he has left works of great excellence. He died at Rome, April 6, 1520.

Rappahannock, a river of Virginia, rises in the Blue Ridge of the Allegheny mountains, and flows in a southeasterly course into Chesapeake bay-its total length being about 250 miles. The chief branch of the Rappahannock is the Rapidan, and these two rivers were the scene of several desperate battles during the late civil war, the most noted being Burnside's repulse at Fredericksburg in the winter of 1862-'63.

Raspberry, a choice garden fruit, extensively cultivated in the United States and other countries. There are many cultivated varieties, red, yellow and white, much exceeding the wild raspberry in size. The raspberry loves a light, rich soil, and is partial to shady situations. The fruit is much used for sauce, jellies, etc., and for making or flavoring many kinds of sweetmeats. Different preparations of it are also

used as medicine in cases of fevers and other diseases.

Rat, the name of a species of rodents, hardly needing description to any one familiar with their nature and habits. As to the habits of rats, it is well known that they find their way everywhere; no door is shut to them; they gnaw and burrow through all sorts of obstacles; they run, and leap, and climb, and swim. They are fond of animal food, but will eat almost anything-all is grist to their mill. They have been known to eat holes in fat pigs, to gnaw off the legs of birds, and even to destroy the soles of elephant's

RATTLESNAKE

feet. As they breed very rapidly it has been found necessary to use traps and poisons as a defense against their ravages.

RAWLINS

that have lived nearly a hundred years. The raven has been generally regarded as a bird of evil omen, probably on account of its color and its harsh, croaking voice.

Rattlesnake, a highly venomous and poisonous snake with a rattle of horny rings at the end of its tail. There are about fifteen species, exclusively American. Rattlesnakes are naturally sluggish, except when in pursuit of their natural prey, rats, rabbits, squirrels and other small animals. Their poison is very deadly, rapidly paralyzing the nerve centers as well as the organs of breathing and circulation.

Raubes (row'-bes) Haus ("the Rough House") is the name of an institution founded and managed by Johann Heinrich Wichern at Horn, near Hamburg, in connection with the German Home Mission. It is partly a refuge for neglected children; partly a boarding school for the moral and intellectual education of the children of the higher classes; and partly a training school for those who wish to become teachers or officials in houses of correction, etc. It was opened in 1831 by Wichern; and has since almost grown into a large community. The children live in families of twelve, each family being under the superintendency of an artisan, who employs the children in indoor and outdoor labor according to their capability.

Raven, a species of crow, widely distributed in Europe, northern Asia and North America. Its plumage is glossy black with a purplish-blue luster in some parts, the males being rather larger and more lustrous than the females. The raven is very fond of feeding on rats and other such animals, and its attacks on game and even lambs have led to its extermination in some regions. It is a long-lived bird, there being instances on record of ravens

RAVEN.

Ravenna, a city of central Italy, situated in the midst of a well-watered, fertile and finely wooded plain. Ravenna is an ancient city, rich in monuments of art. Besides a library of nearly 100,000 volumes, it has an archæological museum and a number of educational institutions. The city was probably of Umbrian origin; at least it was an Umbrian city when it passed into the hands of the Romans. Augustus made it a first class seaport and naval station, and 400 years later the Emperor Honorius took refuge there and made it the capital of the Roman empire. It attained its greatest glory under Theodoric the Ostrogoth, whose mausoleum is without the walls. It became a republic in the early part of the 13th century, but it was subject to Venice from 1440 to 1509, at which latter date it passed into the hands of the popes and continued under their dominion until 1860. Byron resided at Ravenna from June, 1819, to October, 1821. Population, 60,573.

Rawlins, JOHN A., American soldier, was born in Galena, Illinois, Feb. 13, 1831, and although his early educational