Page images
PDF
EPUB
[blocks in formation]

HISTORY, BIOGRAPHY, GEOGRAPHY, DISCOVERY, INVEN-
TION, ARTS, SCIENCES, LITERATURE.

EDITED BY

C. B. BEACH, M. A.

AUTHOR OF "GUIDE TO LITERATURE."

VOLUME II.

CHICAGO:

C. B. BEACH & COMPANY,

1895.

[blocks in formation]
[ocr errors]

THE STUDENT'S CYCLOPÆDIA.

M

MAB-MACAULAY

Mab, a fairy celebrated by Shakespeare, Ben Jonson and other poets. She is usually called Queen Mab, but this does not mean that she is queen of the fairies. That place belongs to Titania, the wife of Oberon. For a description of Queen Mab's mischievous ways, telling how she comes "athwart men's noses as they lie asleep,"eto., see Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. In Shelley's Queen Mab she is made queen of the fairies and given a much wider realm to reign over-the deeds and thoughts of men.

[ocr errors]

Macadam, JOHN LOUDON, inventor of the system of roadmaking known as macadamizing," was born in Ayr, Scotland, Sept. 21, 1756. In 1810 he began to make experiments in roadbuilding, a work to which his future life was devoted. His system was adopted on nearly all the public roads of England, and was introduced into France and other countries. The principles of his system may be briefly stated: In constructing a road it is not necessary to lay a foundation of large stones, as it is a matter of indifference whether the foundation be hard or soft. The material for the road must consist of broken stones, one or two ounces in weight, scattered to a depth of six to ten inches and pressed together as closely as possible. The road is to have a slight fall from the middle to the sides, and ditches are to be dug on each side of the road of sufficient depth to drain it. Macadam was offered the honor of knighthood some time before his death, but declined it. He died at Moffat, Dumfriesshire, Nov. 26, 1836. McAll Mission, the largest Protestant mission in France, was founded in 1871 by Rev. R. W. McAll and his wife. It embraces more than one hundred stations, nearly all of which are in the city of Paris and is supported by Protestants of all denominations in

Y. C.-47.

both England and America. Such has been the progress of this mission that in the 12th year after its foundation it held 15,000 meetings, attended by nearly 1,000,000 persons and distributed more than 500,000 Bibles and tracts.

or

Macaroni (mak-a-rō'-nt), a peculiar paste or dough manufactured from wheat flour into tubes, ribbons threads. It is an Italian invention, and although the process is very simple, the manufacture of macaroni is almost wholly limited to Italy and France, probably because the wheat raised in those countries contains so large a proportion of gluten. Macaroni is used for soups and is exported to all parts of the world.

McArthur, DUNCAN, an American pioneer, was born in Dutchess county, New York, June 14, 1772. He was with General Wayne in his campaign against the Indians in 1797, and soon after that settled in Ross county, Ohio, where he acquired a large landed estate. In the war of 1812 he was commissioned brigadier-general in the army, and in 1814 succeeded General Harrison in command of the army of the west. As such he partly executed a bold plan for conquering upper Canada, which he was obliged to relinquish on account of the failure of other forces to cooperate with him. He served a term in congress, 1823-25, and was governor of the State from 1830-'33. He died April 28, 1839.

Macassar (ma-cas'-sar), a strait about 400 miles long and from 100 to 200 miles wide, connecting the Java and Celebes seas, and separating the island of Celebes from that of Java.

Macaulay (ma-kaw'-l), THOMAS

BABINGTON, the great English historian and essayist, was born in the village of Rothley, Leicestershire, Oct. 25, 1800. From his earliest infancy he showed an eager desire for knowledge and remark

(729)

« PreviousContinue »