Wide, Wide World, The

A novel by Susan Warner, published in 1850. Widnes (widʻnes). A manufacturing town in Lancashire, England, situated on the Mersey 11 miles east-southeast of Liverpool. Population (1891), 30,011. Widow, The. A comedy by Middle ton, com- posed about 1616, printed in 1652, and attrib- uted to Jonson, Fletcher, and Middle ton. Widow Barnaby (bär'na-bi). A novel by Mrs. Trollope, published in 1839. The Widow Barnaby is a vulgar, unprincipled woman, fre- quently quoted. Widow Bedott (be-dot') Papers. A series of humorous papers, published by Mrs. Frances M. Whitcher (under the name of Widow Bedott or Priscilla P. Bedott) about 1847. Widow's Tears, The. A comedy by Chapman, published in 1612. It is vigorous but broad. ✔ Widukind. See Wittekind . Wied (ved). A small river in Germany which joins the Rhine at Neuwied. Wied. A former countship of the German Em- pire, in the ancient Westphalian circle, lying along the Lahn and in the neighborhood of Neuwied. It gave name to a German dynasty. Wied, or Neuwied, Maximilian Alexander Philipp, Prince of. See Neuwied . Wiel and. See Way land Smith . Wiel and (vēʻlänt), Christopher Martin. Born at Oberholzheim, near Biberach, Sept. 5, 1733: died at Weimar, Jan. 20, 1813. A German poet and author. His father was a clergyman in the Swa- bian village where the poet was born. In 1750 he went to Tübingen to study jurisprudence at the university. The following year (1751) appeared his first work, the philo- sophical-didactic poem "Die Natur der Dinge" ("The Nature of Things"). This was followed by other moral writings, among them an "Anti-Ovid." In 1752, at the invitation of the poet and historian Bodmer, he went to Zurich, where the next year he published the poem "Der geprüfte Abraham" ("The Trial of Abraham"). Other poems of this period are "Sympathien" ("Sympathies"), and the "Empfindungen des Christen" ("The Feelings of the Christian," 1755), directed against the Anacreontic poets. In 1759 he left Zurich to take the position of tutor at Bern. The succeeding year, however, he re- turned to Biberach, where he was given a minor legal po- sition. His writings subsequently exhibit an entirely different tendency from the religious ones of the Zurich period. They are the prose romance "Araspes und Pan the a" (1761); a translation in whole or in part of twenty- two of the plays of Shakspere, between 1762 and 1766; the romance (in the manner of "Don Quixote")" Don Sylvio von Rosalva" (1764); "Komische Erzählungen" ("Humorous Tales, 1766); the most celebrated of his novels, "Aga- thon n (1766-67); the narratives in verse"] "Musar i on" and "Idris" (both 1768). In 1769 he was made profe or of his removal to Erfurt had appeared, further, in the same vein as the works immediately preceding, "Die Grazien" ("The Graces"), prose and verse (1770), and the narrative poem "Der neue Amadis" ("The New Amadis," 1771). With his establishment at Erfurt begins a third and more serious period in his literary work. The first production Spiegel" ("The Golden Mirror," 1772). The following in the new direction was the prose romance "Der goldene year, in Weimar, he started a quarterly literary magazine, "Der teutsche Mercur" ("The German Mercury"), which was succe fully continued until 1810. In it appeared the satirical romance "Die Abderiten" ("The Abderites," 1774), and the best-known of his poems, the epic "Oberon," which was published in 1780. Among his other works may particularly be mentioned the poems "Gaudalin" (1776), "Geron der Adeliche" ("Geron the Noble," 1777), and "Clelia und Sinibald"; the operas "Alceste" and "Hercules"; and the sequel to "The Golden Mirror," the novel "Der Danischmend,"published in 1775. His collected works were published under his own supervision, 17941802, in 39 vols. with 6 supplements. Subsequently his complete works were published at Leipsic, 1818-28, in 53 vols. Wien (ven). The German name of Vienna. Wiener-Neustadt (vē'ner-noi'stät). A town in Lower Austria, situated on the Fischa 27 miles south by west of Vienna. It has manufactures of locomotives, etc. Formerly it was a favorite Austrian princely residence. It was conquered by Matthias Corvinus in 1486, and was unsucce fully besieged by the Turks in 1529 and 1683. It was the birthplace of Maximilian I., and contains the ducal castle of the Baben bergs. Population (1890), 25,040. Wieniawski (vē-nē-of ́skē), Henri. Born at Lublin, July 10, 1835: died at Moscow, April 2 (March 31), 1880. A Polish composer and noted violinist. Wiertz (vērts), Antoine Joseph. Born at Dinant, Belgium, Feb. 22, 1806: died at Bru els, June 18, 1865. A Belgian historical painter. He studied at Antwerp, Paris, and Rome, and in 1848 settled at Bru els, where the government built for him a large studio, now the Musée Wiertz, containing his paintings which he would not sell. Among his works are "Contest for the Body of Patroclus," "Revolt of the Angels," "The Orphans," "Carnival at Rome," "Triumph of Christ," and "Napoleon in Hell." He wrote a "Eulogy on Rubens” (1840), and a "Memoir on Flemish Painting." Wiesbaden (ves'bä-den). The capital of the governmental district of Wiesbaden, in the province of He e-Na au, Pru ia, situated on the slope of the Taunus Wald, 3 miles from the Rhine and 6 miles north by west of Mainz. It is famous for its hot springs, and is frequented annually by about 90,000 visitors. It was known in Roman times, and was the capital of Na au. It has been notorious as a gambling resort. Population (1890), 64,670. Wife, The. A play by James Sheridan Knowles, brought out in 1833. Charles Lamb wrote the Wildermuth Wigtown Bay. An arm of the Irish Sea, be tween the counties of Kirk cud bright and Wigtown. He Wilberforce (wil'bėr-fors), Robert Isaac. Born 1802: died 1857. An English clergyman and author, son of William Wilberforce. wrote "The Five Empires" (1840), "History of Erastianism" (1851), and works on the incarnation, baptism, the eucharist, etc. Wilberforce, Samuel. Born at Clapham, near London, Sept. 7, 1805: killed by a fall from his horse near Dorking, England, July 19, 1873. An English prelate, bishop of Winchester: third son of William Wilberforce. In 1826 he graduated at Oxford (Oriel College); in 1830 became rector of Bright stone, Isle of Wight; in 1841 was appointed chaplain to the Prince Consort; and in 1844 became bishop of Oxford. In 1868 he was appointed bishop of Winchester. Though a High-churchman, he did not join the Oxford movement: but several members of his family went over to the Church of Rome. His cleverne and persuasivene of speech and manner gained him the nickname of "Soapy Sam," which he explained as due to the fact that he was "often in hot water, and always came out with clean hands." He published, with his brother, a life of his father (1888), and his correspondence (1840). He wrote "Note-Book of a Country Clergyman" (1832), "Agathos" (1839), "History of the Protestant Episcopal Church of America" (1844), etc. Wilberforce, William. Born at Hull, England, Aug. 24, 1759: died at London, July 29, 1833. An English philanthropist, statesman, and orator: famous as an opponent of the slave-trade. His family held the manor of Wilberfo in the East Riding, Yorkshire. He graduated at Cambridge (St. John's Hollege and name member warliament for About 1787 he met Thomas Clark son, and began to agitate the slavery question with the support of Pitt, who, in 1788, in the absence of Wilberforce, introduced the question in Parliament. In 1792 Wilberforce carried in the House of Commons a measure for gradual abolition, which was thrown out by the Lords. Immediate abolition was secured in 1807. The Emancipation Bill was pa ed in 1833, a month after the death of Wilberforce. He wrote "A Practical View of the Prevailing Religious System of Profe ed Christians" (1797), etc. He was intimately a ociated William Pitt. Wilbye (wil'bi), John. An English musical Friars, London. He published the First Madrigals, for three, four, five, and six voices," and in 1609 a second book of the same. "The Set of English Wilcox (wil'koks), Cadmus Mar cell us. Born in North Carolina, May 29, 1826: died at Washington, D. C., Dec. 2, 1890. A Confederate general. He graduated at West Point in 1846; served in the Mexican war; and entered the Confederate service and served in the Army of Northern Virginia throughout the Civil War. He wrote "Rifles and Rifle-Practice" (1859). Wild (wild), Jonathan. Born about 1682: hanged at Tyburn, May 24, 1725. An English robber, and receiver of stolen goods: the subject of Fielding's "History of the Life of the Late Mr. Jonathan Wild the Great" (1743) and of a prologue and epilogue. Wife for a Month, A. A play by Fletcher, acted some time before 1624, printed in 1647. Wife of Bath's Tale, The. One of Chaucer's "Canterbury Tales." It is that of a hag who returns to her original form of a lovely lady when a knight is novel by Defoe. owes numerous pa ages to Jerome's treatise against Jovinian who argued against celibacy, and was modern ized by Pope. Dryden modernized the tale and changed it unwarrantably. Variants and analogues of this tale are known in Sanskrit, Turkish, Kaffir, Gaelic, and Icelandic, in the Gawaine division of the Arthur i an cycle, and in Gower's "Florentius" ("Confe io A mantis," i.), which is no doubt from a French original. Wigan (wig'an). A town in Lancashire, Eng ited man of fashion in Farquhar's "Constant Couple" and in its sequel "Sir Harry Wildair." The part was created by Wilks and afterward played by Garrick, but Peg Woffington played it so brilliantly that the latter resigned it to her. Wildbad (vilt'bäd). A small town and water- ing-place in the Black Forest circle, Würtem- berg, situated in the valley of the Enz 29 miles land, situated on the Douglas 18 miles north-west of Stuttgart: noted for its warm alkali east of Liverpool. It has coal-mines, cotton manusprings. factures, foundries, furnaces, manufactures of nails, etc. Wild Boar of Ardennes. See Ardennes , Wild It was the scene of Parliamentary victories in 1643 and Boar of . 1651. Population (1901), 60,770. Wiggles worth (wig'lz-werth), Michael. Born Wilde (wild), James Plaisted, Baron Penzance. in England, 1631: died at Malden, Ma ., June 10, 1705. An American clergyman and poet, pastor at Malden from 1656: best known for his poem "The Day of Doom" (1662). He wrote also "God's Controversy with New Eng. land" (?), "Meat out of the Eater." Wight (wit), Isle of. [L. Vectis .] An island in the English Channel, belonging to Hampshire, England, separated from the mainland by the channels of Solent and Spithead. It is traversed by a range of chalk downs, and is noted for picturesque scenery. The capital is Newport. The island contains Cowes, Ryde, Ventnor, Shanklin, and other watering places, Car is bro oke Castle (place of confinement of Charles I.), Osborne (villa of Queen Victoria), and Farring ford (residence of Tennyson). Length, 23 miles. Area, 145 square miles. Population (1891), 78,718. Wigton (wig'ton). A town in Cumber land, England, 11 miles west-southwest of Car lisle. Population (1891), 3,836. Wigtown (wig'ton), or Wigton. 1. A maritime county in Scotland, in the southwestern extremity, bounded by Ayr, Kirk cud bright, Wigtown Bay, the Irish Sea, and the North Channel. It is an important dairy county, part of the ancient Galloway. Area, 486 square miles. Population (1891), 36,062. Born at London, July 12, 1816: died at Godalming, Dec. 9, 1899. An English lawyer. He was educated at Winchester and at Trinity College, Cambridge; was called to the bar in 1839; and was made a baron of the exchequer in 1860, and knighted. From 1863 to 1872 he was judge of the Court of Probate and judge ordinary of the Divorce Court. In 1864 he was made privy councilor, and in 1869 created a peer of the United Kingdom. He later held many public offices. Wilde, Oscar Fingall O'Flahertie Wills. Born at Dublin, Ireland, 1856: died at Paris, Nov. 30, 1900. Á British writer, a leader in the "esthetic" movement. He was a son of Sir William Wilde the oculist, and was educated at Oxford, where he won the Newdigate prize in 1878 with a poem entitled "Ravenna." He has been satirized in "Punch" and in Gilbert and Sullivan's opera "Patience." His poems were published in 1881, and "The Happy Prince, and other Tales" in 1888. He lectured in the United States in 1882. He also wrote "The Picture of Dorian Gray" (1890), and a number of plays, among which are "Vera" (1882), "The Duche of Padua" (1891), "Lady Winder mere's Fan" (1892), "Salome" (1893: in French, written for Sarah Bernhardt), and "A Woman of No Importance" (1893). Wildenbruch (vil'den-bröch), Ernst von. Born at Beirut, Syria, Feb. 3, 1845.. A German poet and dramatist of the school of Ibsen. Among his plays are "Christopher Marlow” (1884), "Der Men non it" (1886), "Opfer um Opfer" (1883), "Die HauWildermuth (vil'der-möt), Mme. (Ottilie Ronschütz). Born at Rotten burg, Würtemberg, where he remained until 1772, when he went to Weimar as tutor to the young prince Charles August us. He subsequently lived in or near Weimar until his death. After town, situated on Wigtown Bay in lat. 54° 52′ N. Population (1891), 1,509. Wildermuth Feb. 22, 1817: died at Tübingen, July 12, 1877. A German novelist. Among her works are "Bilder und Geschichten aus dem schwäbischen Leben” (1852), “Auguste" (1865), etc. Wilderne (wil'der-nes), Battle of the. A battle between the Federals and Confederates, May 5-6, 1864, in the Wilderne region in Virginia, south of the Rapid an. The Federals (over 100,000) were commanded by Grant (immediately by Meade), and the Confederates (64,000-68,000) The Confederate position was partly intrenched. The Federal lo was about 18,000; the Confederate, about 11,000. The battle was followed by that of Spottsylvania. Wildfire (wild'fir), Madge. In Sir Walter Scott's novel "The Heart of Mid loth i an," a gipsy's daughter who becomes insane after having been seduced and deserted by George Robertson. Wild goose Chase, The. A comedy by Fletcher, produced first at court in 1621, printed in 1652. The play was very popular: part of Farquhar's "Inconstant" is taken from it. Wildhorn (vilt'horn). A peak of the Bernese Alps, on the border between the cantons of Bern and Valais, Switzerland, 10 miles north of Sion. Height, 10,706 feet. Wild Huntsman, The. [G. Der wilde Jäger .] spectral unter in folk-lore, especially in German folk-lore: the subject of a ballad by IMG:content-1173.png:[blocks in formation] feet. Wilfrid (wil'frid), Saint. Born about 634: died 709. An English prelate. He took a leading part on the Roman side at the Synod of Whitby in 664, and was made archbishop of York in 665. He was several times driven from his see and restored, and finally retained Ripon and Hexham. Wilhelm (vil'helm). See William . Wilhelmina (vil-hel-mē'nä) I. (Wilhelmina Helena Paul in a Maria). Born Aug. 31, 1880. Queen of the Netherlands. She is the daughter of William III. and his second wife, Emma, daughter of Prince George Victor of Waldeck and Pyrmont. She succeeded to the throne upon the death of her father, Nov. 23, 1890, but her mother acted as queen regent until she became of age, Aug. 31, 1898. On Feb. 7, 1901, she married Duke Henry of Mecklenburg-Schwerin. Wilhelmine (vil-hel-me'ne), Friederike Sophie, Prince , Margravine of Bayreuth. Born 1709: died 1758. The favorite sister of Frederick the Great. She married the Margrave of Bayreuth in 1731, and wrote "Denkwürdigkeiten" (published in 1810). Wilhelmj (vil-hel'mi), August. Born at Usingen, Na au, Sept. 21, 1845. A German composer and noted violinist. Wilhelm Meister's Lehrjahre (vil'helm mis'terz lar'yär-e). [G., 'William Meister's Apprenticeship' (lit. 'years of learning').] A novel by Goethe, published 1795-96. Its sequel, "Wilhelm Meister's Wanderjahre" (travels, literally 'years of wandering'), was not published till 1821-29. The "Lehrjahre" was begun in 1777. Wilhelmshaven, or Wilhelmshafen (vil'helms-hä-fen). A seaport in the province of Hannover, Pru ia, situated on the Jade Bay of the North Sea, and surrounded on other sides by Oldenburg. It is the chief German naval station on the North Sea. It has a large dockyard, a harbor built 1855-69, and a new harbor for ships in commi ion. Population (1890), commune, 15,471. Wilhelmshöhe (vil'helms-he-e). [G., 'William's height.] A place three miles from Ca el, Germany. Its castle, the former residence of the land graves, was the place of imprisonment of Napoleon III. after Sedan. Wilhelm Tell (vil'helm tel). A drama by Schiller, first acted at Weimar in 1804. See Tell, William . Wilibald, Alexis. A pseudonym of Wilhelm Häring. Wilken (vil'ken), Fried rich. Born 1777: died 1840. A German historian. His chief work is "Geschichte der Kreuzzüge" ("History of the Crusades," 1807-32). Wilkes (wilks), Charles. Born in New York city, 1801: died at Washington, D. C., Feb. 8, 1877. An American admiral, explorer, and scientist. He entered the navy in 1818; became lieutenant in 1826; commanded an exploring expedition, 1833-42, which visited South America, the Samoan, Fiji, Hawaiian, and other islands in the Pacific, the antarctic regions, the western coast of North America, etc.; became commander in 1843, and captain in 1855; in command of the San Ja IMG:content-1174.png:[blocks in formation] others. Wilkins (wil'kinz), John. Born in North amp tons hire, 1614: died Nov. 19, 1672. An English divine and scientist, bishop of Chester. He graduated at Oxford (Magdalen Hall) in 1631, and in 1659 became master of Trinity College, Cambridge. He a isted in founding the Royal Society. He published "Discovery of a New World" (1638), "Discourse Concerning a New Planet" (1640), "Mercury, or the Secret Me enger" (1641), "Mathematical Magic" (1648), "E ay toward a Real Character and a Philosophical Language" (1668), "Principles and Duties of Natural Religion” (1675) Perhaps the works of the celebrated Bishop Wilkins tended more than any others to the diffusion of the Coper. nican system in England, since even their extravagancies drew stronger attention to them. In 1638, when he was only twenty-four years old, he published a book en titled "The Discovery of a New World; or, a Discourse tending to prove that it is probable there may be another habitable World in the Moon; with a Discourse concerning the po ibility of a pa age thither ." The latter part of his subject was, of course, an obvious mark for the sneers and witticisms of critics. Two years afterwards, in 1640, appeared his "Discourse concerning a new Planet; tending to prove it is probable our Earth is one one of the Planets": in which he urged the reasons in favour of the heliocentric system, and explained away the opposite arguments. Whewell , Ind. Sciences, I. 390. Wilkins, Mary Eleanor (Mrs. Charles Manning Freeman). A contemporary American writer. She is principally noted as an exponent of New England life and character. Among her works are "The Pot of Gold and Other Stories" (1892), "Young Lucretia and Other Stories" (1892), "Jane Field," a novel (1892), "Giles Corey, Yeoman," a play (1893), "Pembroke," a novel (1894), etc. Wilkins, William. Born at Car lisle, Pa., Dec. 20,1779: died at Home wood, Allegheny County, Pa., June 23, 1865. An American politician. He was Democratic United States senator from Pennsylvania 1831-34; received the electoral votes of Pennsylvania for Vice-President in 1832; was United States minister to Ru ia 1834-35; was member of Congre from Pennsylvania 1843-44; and was secretary of war 1844-45. Wilkinson (wil'kin-son), James. Born at Benedict, Maryland, 1757: died near the city of Mexico, Dec. 28, 1825. An American general and politician. He served in the Revolutionary War in Canada and at Saratoga, attaining the rank of brevet brigadier general; became secretary of the board of war; was in the Conway Cabal; engaged in trade in the Mi i ippi valley; attempted treasonably to detach Kentucky from the Union and ally it with Spain; served in the Indian wars, and commanded the right wing in Wayne's victory of Mau mee in 1794; became a brigadier-general in 1792; succeeded Wayne as commander-in-chief of the army; was appointed commi ioner to receive Louisiana from the French; and was governor of Louisiana 1805-06. He was implicated in Burr's conspiracy, and was court-martialed in 1811, but acquitted. In 1813 he became major-general. He failed as commander in the operations against Canada; was acquitted by a court of inquiry in 1815; but was discharged from the service. He wrote "Memoirs" (1816). Wilkinson, Jemima. Born in Rhode Island about 1753: died 1819. An American religious impostor. She a erted that she had been raised from the dead, and founded a short-lived sect. dendale, West more land, Oct. 5, 1797: died Oct. 29, 1875. An English Egypt ologist. He was educated at Oxford (Exeter College), and from 1821 spent many years in Egypt in archæological explorations. His works include "Manners and Customs of the Ancient Egyptians" (1837-41), "Materia Hieroglyphic a" (1828), "Topography of Thebes and General View of Egypt" (1835), "Modern Egypt and Thebes" (1843: later rei ued as "Hand-Book for Travellers in Modern Egypt"), "Dalmatia and Mon tenegro" (1848), "Architecture of Ancient Egypt" (1850), "Popular Account of the Ancient Egyptians" (1853), "The Egyptians in the Time of the Pharaohs" (1857), etc. Wilkinson (wil'kin-son), Tate. Born in 1739: died in 1808. An English actor. He was a pupil and a ociate of Foote, and a noted mimic. He played with succe in London and Dublin, but preferred the provinces. After a time he grew weary of his wandering life, and bought the le eeship of the York circuit, which he conducted for more than thirty years. Many actors and actre es who were afterward succe ful on the London stage owed their first encouragement to him: among others Kemble, Fawcett, the elder Mathews, Mrs. Jordan, and Mrs. Siddons. Willamette (wil-ä'met) River. A river in western Oregon, formed by the Middle Fork and McKenzie Fork. It joins the Columbia north of Portland. On it are Salem and Portland. Length, about 250 miles; navigable to the falls at Oregon City, and above them to Eugene City Willard, Edward S. Born in Wales, 1850. An English actor. He came to the United States in 1890, and has been succe ful in "Judah," "The Middleman, "The Profe or's Love-Story," etc. Willard, Frances Elizabeth. Born near Roch ester, N. Y., Sept. 28, 1839: died at New York, Feb. 18, 1898. An American temperance reformer, editor, and author. She was secretary in 1874 and president in 1879 of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union, and editor in 1879 of the Chicago "Evening Post." In 1883 she made a journey through the Southern States, founding branches of the Woman's Christian