July 1825

A distinguished French Orientalist, of Hebrew descent: appointed ap profe or of Sanskrit in the Imperial Library at Paris in 1857, and of A yriology at the Collège de France (where he had taught taught ht from 1869) in 1874. H employed by the French government in explorations in Asiatic Turkey 1851-54. Among his numerous publications are "Etudes a yriennes" (1857), "Expédition de Mésopotamie" (1859-61), "Grande inscription du palais de Khors a bad" (1863), "La chronologie de la Génèse " (1879), etc. Oppian (op'i-an). [From L. Oppianus, from Gr. 'Οππιανός.] Lived in the latter part of the 2d century A.D. A Greek poet of Cilicia. He was the author of a poem on fishing, "Halieutic a" (Gr. ' Αλιευτικα ), and was wrongly considered the author of a poem on hunt ing, "Cynegetic a." Oppido Mamertina (op'pē-dō mä-mer-tē'nä). A town in the province of Reggio di Calabria, southern Italy, 23 miles northeast of Reggio. Population (1881), commune, 6,477. Oppius (op'i-us), Caius. A friend and contemporary of Julius Cæsar, reputed author of the history of the African war. Opportunists (op-or-tū'nists). In recent French history, the republican party represented by Gambetta, Ferry, and others, who adapted their course to the exigencies of the time: opposed to radicals and doctrinaires. O. P. Riots. The "old-price riots," which took place at Covent Garden Theatre, London, in 1809. The cost of the new theater then just built was so great that the proprietors raised the price of admi ion, and the public resolved to resist. The house opened on the 18th of September, 1809, with "Macbeth" and the "Quaker." The audience was dense and furious. They sat with their backs to the stage, or stood on the seats, their hats on, to hi and hoot the Kemble family especially; not a word of the performance was heard, for when the audience were not denouncing the Kembles, they were singing and shouting at the very tops of their then fresh voices. The upper gallery was so noisy that soldiers, of whom 500 were in the house, rushed in to capture the rioters, who let themselves down to the lower gallery, where they were hospitably received. The sight of the soldiers increased the general exasperation. [The excitement continued for weeks, and many of the rioters were arrested.) The acquittal of leading rioters gave a little spirit to some after displays; but it led to a settlement. Audiences continued the affray, flung peas on the stage to bring down the dancers, and celebrated their own O. P. dance before leaving; but, at a banquet to celebrate the triumph of the cause in the acquittal of the leaders, Mr. Kemble himself appeared. Terms were there agreed upon; and on the sixty-seventh night a banner in the house, with "We are satisfied" inscribed on it, proclaimed that all was over. After such a fray the satisfaction was dearly bought. The 4s. rate of admi ion to the pit was diminished by 6d., but the half-price remained at 2s. The private boxes were decreased in number, but the new price of admi ion to the boxes was maintained. Thus, the managers, after all, had more of the victory than the people; but it was bought dearly.