Minims (minimz)

[From L. minimus, least.] An order of monks, founded in the middle of the 15th century by St. Francis of Paula, confirmed by Pope Sixtus IV., and again confirmed by Pope Alexander VI. under the name of "Ordo Minimorum Eremitarum S. Francisci de Paula" - (Order of the Least Hermits of St. Francis of Paula). Members of this order, in addition to the usual Francis can vows, were pledged to the observance of a perpetual Lent. Minister's Wooing, The. A novel by Mrs. Harriet Beecher Stowe, published in 1859. The scene is laid chiefly in New England during the Revolutionary period. Minitari. See Hidatsa . Minna von Barnhelm (min'ä fon bärn'helm). A comedy by Le ing, published in 1767. It is the first German national drama which deals with contemporary events. Minneapolis (min-e-ap'ō-lis). [From Minne(haha) and Gr. πόλις, city.] A city, capital of Hennepin County, Minnesota, situated the Mi i ippi, at the Falls of St. Anthony, northwest of and adjoining St. Paul, in lat. 44° 58′ N., long. 93° 18′ It is the largest city in the State; is noted for its manufactures of flour and lumber, having the most extensive flouring-mills in the world; has also ironworks; and is the seat of the University of Minnesota and of Augsburg Theological Seminary (Luther an). St. Anthony was united with it in 1872. Population (1900), 202,718. Minneapolis and St. Paul are called "the twin cities." gave the name Minnehaha to the principal female char acter of "Hiawatha." Minnesingers (min'e-sing-érz). [G., 'love singers.'] A cla of German lyric poets and singers of the 12th and 13th centuries, so called because love was their chief theme. They were chiefly or exclusively men of noble descent-knights, nobles, princes, and even emperors. They sang their pieces to their own accompaniment on the viol, and often engaged in poetical contests for the gratification of princes and ladies of the court. Among the chief seats minnesingers were Swabia and Austria, and the leading dialect used was the Swabian. The minnesingers were succeeded by the mastersingers. Minnesota (min-e-sō'tä). A river in Minnesota, rising in lakes on the South Dakota border, and joining the Mi i ippi about 7 miles southwest of St. Paul. Length, about 450 miles. Minnesota. One of the North Central States of the United States, extending from lat. 43° 30' to 49° 25′ N., and from long. 89° 29′ to 97° 5' W. Capital, St. Paul. It is bounded by British America on the north, Lake Superior and Wisconsin on the east, Iowa on the south, and the Dakotas on the west. The surface is generally an undulating plain. The "Height of Land" in the north forms the watershed between the Mi i ippi, St. Lawrence, and Hudson Bay systems. The chief rivers are the Mi i ippi and the Red River of the North. The leading industry is agriculture, this being one of the leading States in the production of wheat. The chief exports are wheat, flour, and lumber. It has 84 counties, sends 2 senators and 9 representatives to Congre , and has 11 electoral votes. The region was first explored by the French in the end of the 17th century. The Territory of Minnesota, formed from part of the Northwest Territory (acquired 1783), and from part of the Loui siana Purchase of 1803, was organized in 1849. The State was admitted to the Union in 1858. It was the scene of the Sioux ma acre and war in 1862-63. The name is from that of the river. Area, 83,365 square miles. Population (1900), 1,751,394. Minnesota, University of. An institution of learning for both sexes, situated at Minneapolis. It was chartered in 1868, is attended by about 3,000 students, and has a library of about 55,000 volumes. Minnetonka (min-e-tong'kä), Lake. A small lake about 12 miles west of Minneapolis. Minni (min'i). In Jer. li. 27, the name of a tribe inhabiting ancient Armenia, mentioned in the cuneiform inscriptions. Minor, The. A comedy by Foote, produced in Dublin in 1760, in which he played Shift. In the "Minor," the author pilloried Long ford, the plausible auctioneer; Mother Douglas, a woman of very evil life; and, in Shift, the Rev. George White field, who was nobly, and with much self-abnegation, endeavoring to amend life wherever he found it of an evil quality. Doran, English Stage, II. 122. Minorca (mi-nor'kä), or Menorca (Sp. pron. ma-nor'kä). The largest of the Balearic Islands next to Majorca, situated 27 miles northeast of that island. Capital, Port Mahon. It was held by the British 1708-56, 1763-82, and 1798-1802. Area, 293 square miles. Minories (mi'nor-iz), The. A parish in London, on the left bank of the Thames, not far from the Tower. In old London, the house of the sisters of the Francis can order without the walls at Oldgate was called the Abbey of St. Clare. The nuns were called Poor Clares or Minor e es, whence the name Minories. This is now part of the Jewish quarter. Minors (minorz). The Francis can friars; the Minorites: so called from a name of the Francis can order, Fratres Minores , or Le er Breth ren. Minos (mi'nos). [Gr. Μίνως .] In Greek legend, a king of Crete, and lawgiver of that island: after his death a judge in the lower world. Minot (mi'not), George Richards. Born at Boston, Dec. 28, 1758: died at Boston, Jan. 2, 1802. An American jurist and historian. He wrote a "History of Shays's Rebellion" (1788), and continued Hutch in son's "History of Ma achusetts Bay" (1798-1803). Minotaur (min'ō-târ). [Gr. Μινώταυρος, the bull of Minos.] 1. In Greek mythology, a monster represented as having a human body and the head of a bull, and as the offspring of Pasiphaë (wife of Minos) and a bull sent by Poseidon. He was confined in the Cretan labyrinth and fed with human flesh; devoured the seven youths and seven maid ens whom Minos compelled the A then i ans to send him peri odically as a tribute, and was killed by the hero These us, a member of the last company so sent, who escaped from the labyrinth by the aid of Ariadne, daughter of Minish ships built from the same designs (Minotaur, North umber land, and Agin court), launched in 1863. The dimensions are: length, 400 feet; breadth, 59; displacement, 10,690 tons. She has an all-round belt of armor, protecting water-line and guns, of 54-inch plate over 9-inch wooden backing. Minot's Ledge (mi'nots lej). A reef near the Minutoli, He in rich entrance of Ma achusetts Bay, 15 miles south. east of Boston. It has a lighthouse. Minsheu (min'shū), John. Flourished early in the 17th century. An English lexicographer. He lived chiefly in London in great poverty, visiting Oxford and Cambridge to collect material. He wrote a "Dic tionary in Spanish and English" (1599 and 1623), "A SpanPercival), and a large English dictionary, "Ductor in Linguas, or the Guide into Tongues" (1617, 1625, 1627), containing equivalent words in eleven languages, of great value in the study of English. Grammar" (1599) (both founded on the works of Richard Minsk (minsk). 1. A government in western Ru ia which formed part of the ancient Lithuania. It is surrounded by the governments of Vilna, Vitebsk, Mohileff, Tchernigoff, Kieff, Volhynia, and Grodno. It has a generally flat surface, and abounds in marshes. Area, 35,293 square miles. Population (1892), 1,830,445. 2. The capital of the government of Minsk, situated on the Svislotch about lat. 53° 53′ Ν., long. 27° 33′ E. Population (1897), 91,113. Minstrel, The. A poem by James Beattie, published in 1771-74. Mintaka (min'ta-kä). [Ar. mintaqah al - jauzá , the belt of the giant.] The bright third-magnitude star d Or i on is, the westernmost in the giant's belt. Minto (min'tō), First Earl of (Gilbert Elliot). Born at Edinburgh, April 23, 1751: died June 21, 1814. A British politician and diplomatist. He was governor-general of British India 18071813. Minto, Second Earl of (Gilbert Elliot-Murray-Kynynmound). Born at Lyons, Nov. 16, 1782: died July 31, 1859. A British politician, son of the first Earl of Minto. He was lord privy seal 1846-52. Minto, William. Born in Alford parish, Aberdeen shire, Oct. 10, 1845: died at Aberdeen, March 1, 1893. A Scottish man of letters, editor of the London “Examiner" 1874-78, and profe or of logic and English literature in the University of Aberdeen from 1880. He wrote "English Prose Writers" (1872), "English Poets" (1874), several novels, many of the articles on English authors in the "Encyclopædia Britannica," and numerous contributions to magazines and reviews. Minturnæ (min-tėr'nē). In ancient geography, a town in Latium, Italy, situated near the mouth of the Liris (the modern Garigliano). Minuanes (mē-nö-ä'nāz). An extinct Indian tribe of the La Plata region in South America. They occupied a district between the rivers Paraná and Uruguay, and were closely allied to if not identical with the Charruas (which see). Minuchihr (mod. Pers. pron. mi-nö" chehʻr). ['Heavenly-faced.'] In the Shahnamah, an Iranian king, the son of Iraj and father of Naudar. For his life before his acce ion to the throne of his great-grandfather Faridun, see Faridun . Before his death Faridun intrusted the care of Minuchihr to his trusty warrior Sam, the son of Nariman. The story of Minuchihr's reign is e entially that of the birth and adventures of Zal, the son of Sam, including the birth of Zal's son Rustam, and his first two adventures, the slaying of the white elephant and the taking of Sipand. Minucius Felix (mi-nūʻshi-us fēʻliks), Marcus. A Roman advocate and Christian apologist, probably a contemporary of Marcus Aurelius. His dialogue "Octavius" is the earliest extant work of Latin Christian literature. The scene of the conversation is laid at Ostia, and the speakers are Cæcilius Natalis, Octavius Januarius, and the author. Cæcilius attacks Christianity on various grounds, and Octavius defends it: at the conclusion Cæcilius admits that he is beaten in the argu ment, and the author, who acts as umpire, declares that a decision is unnece ary. Minuit (min'ū-it), or Min new it (min'e-wit), Peter. Born at Wesel, Rhenish Pru ia, about 1580: died at Fort Christina, New Sweden (Delaware), 1641. A colonial official in the Dutch and afterward in the Swedish service in America. He was appointed governor of New Netherlands by the Dutch West India Company Dec. 19, 1625, and landed on Manhattan Island May 4, 1626. He purchased the island from the Indians for trinkets valued at about twenty-four dollars, and erected Fort Amsterdam. He was recalled in Aug., 1631. Having been commi ioned by the Swedish West India Company to found a colony on the west side of Del aware Bay, he left Go then burg with a band of fifty colonists late in 1637, and, after having touched at James town, reached Delaware Bay in April, 1638. He purchased from the Indians the region between Cape Henlopen and the falls of the Delaware at Trenton (to which was given the name of New Sweden), and erected Fort Christina. He remained governor of New Sweden until his death. Minungo (me-nöng'gō). A Bantu tribe of Angola, West Africa, between the Songo tribe and the Kuangu River. Minusinsk (mē-nö-sinsk'). A town in the government of Yeniseisk, Siberia, situated on the Yenisei about lat. 53°45′ N., long. 91°30′E. Population (1889), 5,535. Minutoli (mē-nö ́to-lē), He in rich (Baron Menu von Minutoli). Born at Geneva, May 12, 1772: died at Lausanne, Sept. 16, 1846. A German archæologist and traveler. His chief work is "Reise IMG:content-0782.png:[ocr errors][ocr errors] Minutoli, He in rich zum Tempel des Jupiter Ammon und nach Oberägypten " ("Journey to the Temple of Jupiter Ammon and to Upper Egypt," 1824). Minutoli, Baron Julius von. Born at Berlin, Aug. 30, 1804: died near Shiraz, Persia, rsia, Nov. 5, 1860. A Pru ian administrator, diplomatist, and author, son of He in rich Minutoli. He wrote works on Spain and Portugal. Minyæ (min'i-ē). [Gr. Μινύαι.] In Greek legend, a semi-mythical heroic race, descendants of Minyas, who founded Or cho menus and there established his family. Most of the Argonauts were his descendants. For the so-called "treasury of Minyas," see Or cho menus . Minyas (min'i-as). [Gr. Μινύας.] See Minya. Miolan-Carvalho (myō-lon'kär-vä-lyō'), Madame Marie Caroline Félix. Born Dec. 31, 1827: died July 10, 1895. A noted French singer, the wife of Léon Carvalho, whom she married in 1853. She first went to London in 1860, and sang with great succe both there and in Paris. She retired from the stage before her death. Mionnet (myo-nā'), Théodore Edme. Born at Porn Sept. 2, 1770: died there, 1842 French numismatist. His principal work is "Description des médailles grecques et romaines" (18 vols. 1806-39). Miot (myō), André François, Comte de Mélito. Born at Versailles, France, 1762: died at Paris, 1841. A French diplomatist, politician, and author. IMG:content-0783.png:[blocks in formation] Miquel, Johannes. Born at Neuenhaus, Hannover, Feb. 21, 1829 died Sept. 8, 1901. A German politician. He was a National Liberal me mem ber of the Pru ian House of Deputies from 1867 to 1882, when he entered the Upper Chamber. He was a member of the Reichstag 1867-77, reëntered it in 1887, and was Pru ian minister of finance 1890-1901. Miquelon (mēk-lôn'). A small island south of Newfoundland, belonging to France. Mira (mi'rä or mērä). [NL. Mira , the wonderful.] The remarkable variable star o Ceti, which is sometimes brighter than the second magnitude, and sometimes fainter than the tenth, though its brightne at maximum now seldom exceeds the fourth magnitude: its period is about eleven months. IMG:content-0784.png:[blocks in formation] Mirabeau, Comte de (Gabriel Honoré Riquetti). Born at Bignon, near Nemours, France, March 9, 1749: died at Paris, April 2, 1791. The greatest orator of the French Revolution. child he was unruly that his father treated him with great severity, and ended by putting him through a course of military training. He entered the army, served in Corsica, and rose to the rank of captain of dragoons. He married in 1772, and had soon spent the better part of his wife's fortune. Various intrigues, especially his elopement with Sophie de Ruffey, the young wife of the Marquis de Monnier, led to his imprisonment at different times: he obtained final release in Dec., 1780. Up to that time he had written e ays and pamphlets, translated English and German books, and kept up a correspondence with Sophie de Ruffey, to whom he had dedicated his "Erotica biblion" and other works. After traveling in Switzerland, he went to London (1784-85), and then to Berlin (1785-86). From here he wrote home a series of official reports, "His to ire secrète de la cour de Berlin" (1789), and he also gathered materials for his "Monarchie pru ienne" (1788). Mirabeau was elected a delegate of the third estate from Aix to the convention of the States General in Paris (1789), and his ability as an orator at once made him a political power. In 1790 he became president of the Jacobin Club, also (1791) of the National A embly. His course of life undermined his robust constitution, and he died in his forty-third year. Mirabeau, Marquis de (Victor Riquetti). Born in Provence, France, Oct. 5, 1715: died at Argenteuil, France, July 13, 1789. A French political economist, father of Gabriel Honoré de Mirabeau:called "The Friend of Man" ("L'ami des hommes"), from the title of one of his works. Mirabeau-Tonneau (-to-no'). [F., 'Mirabeau the barrel.']. André Boniface Louis Riquetti, Vicomte de Mirabeau: so nicknamed on account of his size. Mirabel, or Mirabell (mir'a-bel). 1. The principal character in Fletcher's play "The Wild Goose Chase." He is a libertine and fashionable rake, gaining his title of "wild goose" from his succe ful eva. sion of the marriage noose. 2. In Congreve's comedy "The Way of the for his son. World," a brilliant and witty fine gentleman, said to be like Congreve himself. Mirabel, Old. In Farquhar's comedy "The Inconstant," a peevish old man with a fondne Mirabel, Tommy. The son of Old Mirabel: "the inconstant," in Farquhar's play of that name. He is a gay and generous fine gentleman, but unstable in his affections. The first four acts of this play are taken from "The Wild Goose Chase"; and, though somewhat modified, the characters are the same. All these parts Mirror for Magistrates, The Spanish-American revolutionist. He was an officer in the Spanish army 1773-82, and subsequently served with the French allies of the North Americans; was in St. Petersburg, where he received a pension from Catharine II.; fought in the French republican army as general of division 1792-93; and in the latter year was accused before the Revolutionary tribunal, but escaped. He spent many years in scheming for the emancipation of Spanish South America, and made an unsucce ful descent on the coast of Venezuela in 1806, with the design of leading a revolt, After the revolution of 1810 he returned to Venezuela, was made commander of the patriot army, and in April, 1812, was made dictator. The great earthquake of March 26, 1812, left the country impoverished, and was regarded by many as a sign of divine wrath: as a consequence the royalists gained ground, and on July 25 Miranda signed a treaty which gave up the country to them. He was ar rested soon after, sent to Spain, and died in captivity. Miranda's influence on the Spanish-American revolution was very great, but mainly indirect, through the secret societies which he established, and through his influence with European statesmen. See Gran Reunion American a . have been general favorites both with actors and with audiences. Mirabella (mir-a-bel'lä). A fair maiden, in Spenser's "Faerie Queene," who had scorned many lovers. She was sentenced in Cupid's court to ride on a wretched jade, "accompanied by a fool, till she had saved as many lovers as she had slain." Mirach, or Mirak (mi'rak or mē'rak). [Ar. miraq , the loins: but the derivation is doubtful.] The ordinary name of the second-magnitude star ẞ Andromedæ. The name is also applied to the third-magnitude star e Bootis, which is more usually known as Izar (which see). Miranda, Sá de. See Sá de Miranda . Mirandola (mē-rän'dō-lä). A small town in the province of Modena, Italy, 18 miles north-northeast of Modena. It was once the capital of a duchy duke, sold Modena in 1710. painting by Van Dyck, in the musée at Lille, France. Before the saint, who holds the Host, kneels a mule, neglecting oats placed beside him. by Tin to ret to, in the Accademia, Venice. The Miracle of St. Mark, The. A noted painting saint descends from heaven, and saves from the heathen a slave about to suffer martyrdom. It is splendid in color, treatment of light, drawing, and united variety and har. mony of composition. Mirandola, Count of. See Pico . Miranhas, Sp. Mirañas (mē-rän'yäz). A horde of Indians in Brazil and Colombia, principally between the rivers Iça and Japura. They number at least several you sands, are very savage, and are said to be cannibals. Their linguistic affinities are doubtful. Mirbel (mēr-bel'), Charles François, called Bri eau de Mirbel. Born at Paris, March 27, ing by Rubens, in Notre Dame at Malines, Belgium. Itis vigorously drawn and richly colored. Miraflores (mē-rä-floʻres). A village of Peru, 6 miles south of Lima. It is the residence of many wealthy Limeños. Here the Peruvians established their last line of defense against the Chileans, and were defeated after a bloody battle, Jan. 15, 1881. Miraflores, Marquis of (Manuel de Pando). Born at Madrid, Dec. 24, 1792: died there, March 17, 1872. A Spanish diplomatist, politician, and political writer. Miramar (mē-rä-mär'). The palace of the archduke (Mexican emperor) Maximilian, near Triest. Mirambo (mē-räm'bō). Died 1885. A chief of the Wanyamwezi, East Africa, who from the rank of a common porter rose to that of a pow erful chief and conqueror. Miramichi (mir"a-mi-she'). 1. A bay forming an arm of the Gulf of St. Lawrence, situated east of New Brunswick.-2. A river in New Brunswick which falls into Miramichi Bay. Length, about 175 miles. Miramion (mē-rä-myôn'), Madame de (Marie Bonneau). Born at Paris, 1629: died there, 1696. A French woman noted for her good works. After an unhappy youth she founded the House of Refuge, the establishment of Ste.-Pélagie, and the original community of 12 girls which became later the Congrégation des Miramiones. Of this she became the superior, and left her great fortune to this and other benevolent institutions. Miramon (mē-rä-mōn'), Miguel. Born at Mexico City, Sept. 29, 1832: died at Querétaro, June 19, 1867. A Mexican general. He was prominent on the side of the reactionists 1856-58; succeeded Zuloaga as president of that faction Feb. 2, 1859; and during the succeeding two years of the "reform" war spent much of the time in the field against Juarez and his adherents. He was eventually defeated at the battle of Calpulalpam, near Mexico, Dec. 22, 1860, and fled from the country. Maximilian, to whom he adhered, made him grand marshal and minister to Berlin. He returned to Mexico in 1866, became one of Maximilian's most trusted generals, and was captured and shot with him at Querétaro. Miranda (mi-ran'dä). [L., 'admirable.] 1. In Shakspere's play "The Tempest," the daughter of Prospero: she is loved by Ferdinand.