LUMINARY

n : One who throws light upon a subject; as an editor by not writing about it. LUNARIAN, n. An inhabitant of the moon, as distinguished from Lunatic, one whom the moon inhabits. The Lunarians have been described by Lucian, Locke and other observers, but without much agreement. For example, Bragellos avers their anatomical identity with Man, but Profe or Newcomb says they are more like the hill tribes of Vermont. LYRE, n. An ancient instrument of torture. The word is now used in a figurative sense to denote the poetic faculty, as in the following fiery lines of our great poet, Ella Wheeler Wilcox: I sit astride Parna us with my lyre, And pick with care the disobedient wire. The stupid shepherd lolling on his crook With deaf attention scarcely deigns to look. I bide my time, and it shall come at length, When, with a Titan’s energy and strength, Pll grab a fistful of the strings, and O, The world shall suffer when I let them go! Farquharson Harris. M Mace, n. A staff of office signifying authority. Its form, that of a heavy club, indicates its original purpose and use in di uading from di ent. ch014.xhtml m 208