Sohrab

See Suhrab. Sohrab and Rustum. A poem by Matthew Arnold. See Rustam , Sohrau (zō'rou). A town in the province of Silesia, Pru ia, 56 miles southeast of Oppeln. Population (1890), 4,429. Soigne (swäny), Forest of. A forest in Belgium, south-southeast of Bru els. Soignies (swän-ye'). A town in the province of Hainaut, Belgium, 24 miles southwest of Bru els. It has a very old abbey church. Population (1890), 9,007. Soi onnais (swä-so-na'). The region around So is sons. So is sons (swä-son'). A city in the department of Aisne, France, situated on the Aisne 19 miles southwest of Laon: an important and strongly fortified strategic point. It has manufactures and trade in agricultural products. The Cathedral of Notre Dame, chiefly of the 13th century, is masked by buildings and is not very effective externally, but presents an admirable interior of excellent proportions and beautiful arcading and details. The south transept has a semicircular end and a double triforium, offering notable perspective effects. The cathedral has rich gla and a handsome chapter-house. The Abbey of St.-Jean des Vignes was almost wholly destroyed in the Revolution, except the fine west front the church, which has 3 rece ed and canopied portals, a large rose, and 2 ma ive flanking towers, all of the 13th century, crowned by later spires of unequal height. So is sons was probably the ancient Belgic town Noviodunum, and was the chief town of the Sue iones (whence its name). In the Roman period it was called August a Sue ionum. It was the capital of the Frankish kingdom of Clotaire in the 6th century. It has often been besieged and taken (as in 1814 and 1815), the last time by the Germans in Oct., 1870. It was the scene of several church councils. Population (1891), commune, 12,074. So is sons, Battles of. Among the most im portant are: (1) A battle in 486 A. D., in which Clovis, king of the Me roving i an Franks, defeated the Roman governor of Gaul, Syagrius, and established the Frankish power in northern Gaul. (2) A victory of Charles Martel over the Duke of A quit an i a in 719. Sojourner Truth. See Truth , Sojourner . Sokoto (sō-kōtō). 1. A native kingdom of the central Sudan, extending from the Binue River northward, between Gando and Bornu. The population, estimated at 10,000 000, consists of heathen negroes, semi-civilized and Mohammedan Hausas, and the ruling Fulahs. Wurnu and Sokoto are the capitals. In 1885 the sultan accepted the British protectorate. 2. A capital of the realm of Sokoto, situated about lat. 13° N. Sokotra. See Socotra . Sol (sol). [L., 'the sun.'] In Roman mythology, the sun-god. Solario (sō-lä'rē-ō), Antonio, called Zingaro ('the Gipsy'). Born about 1382: died 1455. A Neapolitan painter. Soldan, Paz. See Paz Soldan . Soldau (zōl'dou). A town in the province of East Pru ia, situated near the Ru ian frontier, 102 miles southeast of Dantzic. Here, Dec. 26, 1806, the French defeated the Pru ians. Population, 3,680. Soldier's Fortune, The. A comedy by Otway, produced in 1681. Soldiers Three. A collection of stories by Rudyard Kipling, published in 1889. Soldin (zöl-den'). A town in the province of Brandenburg, Pru ia, situated on the Sol diner see 67 miles east-northeast of Berlin. Population (1890), 6,261. Solebay, Battle of. See South wold , Battle of. Soleillet (sō-lā-yā'), Paul. Born at Nîmes, France, 1842: died at Aden, 1886. An African explorer. He carried on explorations in Algeria 1865-66; endeavored to open the way between Algeria and Senegal, but failed to penetrate beyond the oasis Ain-Salah; agitated for a trans-Sahara railroad; visited Senegal in 1878; and pioneered for French influence in Shoa, bringing about the occupation of Obok. His works include "Exploration du Sahara Central" (1874), "L'Avenir de la France en Afrique" (1876), and "Voyages en Ethiopie" (1885).