ST. PIERRE, BERNARDIN de, an ingenious | SCHILLER (pronounced Shiller), John Chris French writer, author of the popular tale of "Paul and Virginia," b. 1737, d. 1814. Storm in the Indian Ocean, 200. SAL'AMIS, an island on the eastern coast of Greece, celebrated for a naval victory gained over the Persians by the Greeks, B. C. 480. The present name of the island in Colouri. SALT. The allusion (p. 385, line 5) is to an ancient custom. Salt, if used too abundantly, is destructive of vegetation, and causes a desert. Hence, as an emblem of their doom, destroyed cities were sown with salt, to intimate that they were devoted to perpetual desolation. There is an allusion to the practice in Judges 9: 45. SAMARITANS, a mixed race of Israelites and Assyrian colonists, who, in the time of the Saviour, were looked on with great dislike by the Jews. The Samaritans took their name from Samaria, their capital city. The race is now dwindled down to a few families. The Saviour's parable of the "good Samaritan" (Luke 10: 30) has made the phrase proverbial. SA ATIVE (Lat. sano, I heal), having the power to cure or heal. SAN FRANCISCO, a city on the bay of that L..me on the west coast of North America. The growth of this city has been unprecedented in the world's history. In 1847 it was an insignificant place; through the discovery of gold in California, it is now a great city. For a description of its local and maritime advantages, see p. 290. SAND, GEORGE, the name assumed in her published writings by Madame Dudevant, a French novelist, of great but irregular and not always well-directed talents. Fxtract from, p. 439. SANIOUS sa'nious), pertaining to sanies, which is a thin, reddish discharge from wounds or sores. SANSCRIT (that is, the perfect), the present dead language of the Hindoos, in which the books of their religion and laws are written. It is understood now by the Brahmins alone. The Hindoos are the people of Hindostan' in Asia. SANTILLANE (pronounced San-teel-yah-ne in Spanish; San-teel-yahn in French; the a in both as in father). Santillana is the name of a town in Spain. SARMATIA, the ancient name of Poland. SATURDAY (in Latin, Satur'ni dies, Saturn's day), so called from the planet Saturn. SATURNALIA (săt-ur-nā'-li-a), a feast among the Romans in honor of Saturn, an old Italian divinity. The Sa-tur'nian period was the golden age, according to the poets. SAVOYARD (pronounced in French Să-vo-ayar'), a native of Savoy, a duchy bordering on France, Switzerland, and Piedmont. Many of the organ-grinders and exhibitors of shows in Paris are Savoyards. topher Frederic von, one of the most illustrious poets of Germany, was born at Marbach, in Wirtemberg, in 1759; died 1805. The extract (p. 343) is from his celebrated historical tragedy of Wallenstein, admirably translated by Coleridge. SCHOOL. The Greek word schole, from which this is derived, means leisure, spare time; that is, spare time for study; implying that the time must speedily come when our opportunity will be past, and the engrossing occupations of life will leave us little leisure, comparatively, for storing the mind. The word school is sometimes used by seamen as synonymous with shoal: thus we hear of a school of fishes, as on p. 400. In this sense the word seems to be derived from the Saxon sceol, a crowd. On our Common Schools, 185. The Schoolmaster Abroad, 269. SCHOOLMEN, the teachers of that method of philosophizing which arose in the schools and universities of what are commonly called the middle ages embracing the period from the reign of Constantine, A. D. 325, to the era of the invention of printing, 1450-1455. The Schoolmen adopted the principles of Aristotle, and spent much time on points of nice and abstract speculation. Their works are now little read. SCHOTTEL, The Seasons, from the German of, translated by Charles T. Brooks, 83. SCHUBERT, a German writer, from whom the extracts on Telegraphs (p. 376) and on Photography p. 379) were translated by the Rev. W. Furness. SCHWANAU, pronounced Shvar'no. SCIENCE (Lat. sciens, knowing, present participle of scio, I know), in its most comprehensive sense, knowledge, or certain knowledge. The knowledge of reasons and their conclusions constitutes abstract, that of causes and effects and of the laws of nature natural science The science of God must be perfect, the science of man may be fallible. See p. 419. SCOTT, SIR WALTER, eminent as a poet, a novelist, and a historian, was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1771, and died 1832. His death was accelerated by too great mental effort made to relieve him self from pecuniary difficulties incurred by the failure of his publishers. A few minutes before he sank into the state of unconsciousness which preceded his death, he called his son-in law and biographer, Lockhart, to his bed-side, and said, "Lockhart, I may have but a minut to speak to you. My dear, be a good man, -be virtuous, be religious, - -be a good man. Nothing else will give you any comfort when you come to lie here." Let every youth take the admonition to heart, as if it had been addressed per ally to himself by this good and gifted Scott an Early Riser, p. 226. Pibroch of Donuil Dhu, 46. Hymn of the Hebrew Mail, 164. man. Humanity of Bruce, 173. Coronach, 258. BCRIPTURE (Lat. scriptum, past participle of scrib-erë, to write), a writing. By way of distinction, the word is applied to the books of the Old and New Testament, as being the one Scripture needful; just as the term Bible (from the Greek biblos, a book) is applied by way of eminence to the one book. SCURRILOUS (Lat. scurra, a buffoon), using low, obscene, or abusive language. SEASONS, POETRY OF THE, in four parts, 83, 297, 337, 374, 433. SEGUR, COUNT DE, quoted, 329. In Verse, 100, 113, 177, 256, 309, 410. SELF-KILLING, by Chambers, 171. SEMI, a Latin prefix, signifying half; as semi-diameter, half a diameter. SEMINARY (Lat. seminare, to sow), literally, a place where seeds or first principles are implanted; hence, a school, a place of education. SE-MIR'AMIS, an Assyrian queen, wife of Ninus. Her history is much mixed up with fabulous matter. She won great battles, founded many cities, and erected buildings of rare magnificence; but she was cruel, unscrupulous, and treacher ous. SENTIMENT (Lat. sentio, I discern by the senses, I feel), hence it is a thought prompted rather by feeling and impulse than elaborated by the judgment; wherefore sentiment should be under the check and control of principle. SEPTEMBER (Lat. septem, seven), so called from its being the seventh month in the od Roman year, beginning with March. It is the ninth month of our year. SEQUA'CIOUS (Lat. sequax), following, pursuing. It is a poetical word. SERGEANT, JOHN, an eminent American lawyer and statesman, who died in 1853. Declaration of Independence, 381. SEVEN SAGES. The "seven sages" of Greece (referred to p. 429) were Periander, or, as some say, Epimenides, Pit'tucus, Thalēs, Solon, Bias, Chilo, and Cleobu'lus. All of them, except Thales, acquired their distinction by their practical wisdom in regard to the affairs of life. They seem to have been the Franklins of their day. They flourished about 600 B. C. SEX'TANT (Lat. sextans, the sixth part, the limb of the instrument being the sixth part of a complete circle), an astronomical instrument, used principally at sea for measuring the altitudes of celestial objects, by which the latitude in which a ship may be is ascertained. BHAKSPEARE, WILLIAM, or Shakespeare, as his name is sometimes spelled, was born in the little town of Stratford on the Avon, in Warwickshire, England, in April, 1564, and died in 1616, having just completed his fifty-second year. By all who can read the English language he is accounted the greatest dramatic writer of any age. Little is known of his life. Adam and Orlando, 319. Passages from Shakspeare, 391. Wolsey and Cromwell, 421. SHE DIED IN BEAUTY, p. 178. SHELLEY, PERCY BYSSHE, an English poet, b. 1792; drowned by the upsetting of a boat on the Gulf of Lerici, near Leghorn, 1822. He had great genius, unquestionably, but was conceited and presumptuous, undertaking, while yet a boy, to settle questions in philosophy and religion, which, to grapple with fitly, requires a lifetime of study and meditation. His intimate friends were of opinion that, had he lived, the goodness of his heart would eventually have corrected the errors of his head, and that poetry would have worked the cure of his irreligion. Address to a Sky-lark, by, 415. SHERIDAN, RICHARD BRINSLEY, distinguished as an orator and dramatist, was born in Dublin, in 1751; died 1816. He had splendid abilities, but was wanting in that high and steadfast moral principle which could control his appetites, and keep him from being immersed in debt. Anecdote of, p. 278. Extract from his speech against Hastings, 268. SHELL, an instrument of music; the first lyre being made, it is said, by drawing strings over a tortoise-shell. SHIP, THE, by Wilson, 228. SHORE. This word is the old past participle of the verb to shear. "Shore" (says Tooke), "as the sea-shore, shore of a river, is the place where the continuity of the land is interrupted or separated by the sea or the river." The word shore also means a prop or support for a building, ship, &c. SICKLE (sik'). This word is from the Latin sec'ula, a sickle, which is from seco, I cut. SIDNEY, SIR PHILIP, was born in 1554, in Kent, England. He wrote "The Defence of Poetry," and other works. He commanded a detachment of forces sent to assist the people of the Netherlands against the Spanish, and fell in a victorious engagement near Zutphen (pronounced zoot'fen), in 1586. See anecdotes of, 172, 278. SIEGE (seej). The word is derived from the Latin sedo, I sit; and an armed force is sometimes said to sit down before a town. A siege is the act of besetting a fortified place with an army. To raise a siege is to relinquish a siege, or cause it to be relinquished. SIERRA (si-er'ra) is the Spanish name for a saw. Applied to a ridge of mountains, it suggests the resemblance of their outline to that of a saw. SIGNOR, the French mode of spelling the Spanish señor, a title of respect, pronounced seen'yur. BIMMS, WM. G., an American poet and miscellaneous writer, born 1806, in South Carolina. Quoted, p. 298. SI'NE-CURE (Latin, sine, without, cura, care), an office which yields profit, with little of no care attending it. SIRRAH (pronounced sir'rah, or săr'rah), a word of reproach, probably derived from Sir ha!-though this derivation is disapproved by Webster. See Lark. SKY, THE, Our neglect of, 263. SKY-LARK, TO THE, 415. SLOUGH, pronounced slou, when meaning a miry place; and stuf, when meaning the cast skin of a serpent, or the part that separates from a foul sore. SLUG, to lie idle, to play the drone. On the Coming of Spring, 298. SMITH, REV. SYDNEY, an English clergyman, and a contributor to the Edinburgh Review; distinguished for his wit. He was born 1768, died 1845. Labor and Genius, 214. Resistance to Ridicule, 368. SOCLE (so'kl or sok-kl), in architecture, a square member, whose breadth is greater than its height; used instead of a pedestal for the reception of a column. It differs from a pedestal in being without base or cornice. It is derived from the Latin soccus, a shoe. SOC'RA-TES, one of the greatest intellects of any age, was born in Greece, B. C. 470. He taught the immortality of the soul, and strove constantly to enlighten and improve men, to make them happy here, and give them faith in a life hereafter. He believed in one God, to whose providence he traced all human blessings. Being accused of hostility to the popular religion, he was condemned to drink hemlock, a powerful poison, which he did with perfect composure, and died in the seventieth year of his age, retaining to the last his high and hopeful faith. Plato was his most eminent disciple. BOLILOQUY (Lat. solus, alone, and loquor, I speak), a talking to one's self. Contrasted Soliloquies, 80. Soliloquy of Van Artevelde, 384. SOPHIST (Gr. Sophos, wise), a Greek word, originally signifying a wise person, but afterwards restricted to a bad sense, as the persons calling themselves sophists, through their vain subtleties and dishonest arguments, fell into disrepute; so that sophistry came to mean fallacious reasoning, or reasoning sound in appearance only. SOPHOCLES (Sof-o-cles), a Greek dramatic poet, b. 495 B. C. In his ninety-fifth year he is said to have expired from joy, in consequence of the unexpected success of one of his dramas. Extract from, translated by Lytton, 436. SORCERER (the o pronounced as in nor). This word is from the Latin sortitor, a caster of lots, and means a con'jurer, a wizard. SOUNDS AND LETTERS, 15. SOUR-KROUT, cabbage cut fine, pressed, and a very diligent writer, but overtasked his brain to such an extent that he was insane the last few years of his life. The remarks on self-killing (p. 171) apply to his case. The Cataract of Lodore, 36. Night in the Desert, 178. A Fair Day in Autumn, 374. SPAIN. The kingdom of Spain comprises nearly four-fifths of the Pyr-e-ne'an penin'sula, separated from France by the Pyrenees. It is a thoroughly mountainous country. Its chief articles of export are wines, fruits of southern Europe, salt, olive-oil, corks, quicksilver, and a little wool. By the fanatic and insensate proceeding of expelling the Moors (the last remnants of whom were driven out of the country in 1609), Spain lost 800,000 of her most diligent and industrious inhabitants, and the consequences were fatal both to her manufacturing and agricul tural interests. Thus does injustice, in the order of Providence, carry with it its own punishment, to nations as well as to individuals! SPARTA OF LAC-E-DÆMON, one of the most powerful states of ancient Greece. The distinguishing traits of the Spartans were severity, resolution, and perseverance. Defeat and reverse never discouraged them. Their children were early inured to hardship, and at a certain annual festival they were severely flogged, for the purpose of enabling them to bear pain with firmness. Whoever uttered the least cry during the scourging was disgraced. See story of the Spartan boy, p. 77. SPECIAL (special), designating a species or sort; particular, peculiar. Special pleading, in law, is the allegation of special or new matter, as distinguished from a direct denial of matter previously alleged on the opposite side. A special verdict is one in which the facts of the case are put on the record, and the law is submitted to the judges. SPIDER. The Apologue of "The Spider and the Bee" (p. 108), from one of the early productions of Swift, had reference to an active contest going on at the time between the advocates of ancient learning 66 and those of modern learning. The Bee | STOMACH, COMPLAINT OF A, 157. SPINACH (generally written, as pronounced, The Body's Motive Power, 138. voluntariness. SPRAGUE, CHARLES, on the Indians, 303. STALACTITES (Gr. stalak'tis, that which drops), a concretion of carbonate of lime, ETAR. "He saw a star shoot," &c. (p. 92). BTARBOARD. Standing on the deck of a in the Indian Ocean, 200. Fulton's First Steamboat, 324. STRID'ULOUS, from the Latin stri'dulus, mony of the line (p. 321, line 32), the ac- SUFFOLK and NORFOLK were the two broad SUMMUM BONUM. See Bonum. SUPERSCRIPTION (Lat. super, upon, and SWIFT, JONATHAN, a celebrated political and man. The Spider and the Bee, 108. The Sword and the Press, 255. SYLLABLES, Derivation of, &c., 24. TABBY, a term formerly applied to certain TABLE-LAND, elevated flat land, with steep TAD MOR, subsequently called Palmyra, TALENTS. In our use of the word "talents" TALFOURD, THOMAS NOON, an English author TAM'ERLANE, called also Timour, one of the covered with tar to render it water TAYLOR, HENRY, an English dramatic and TAYLOR, JANE, the daughter of an artist in Abuse of the Imagination, 369. TELESCOPE (Greek tele, afar off, skōpeo, I TEMPE (Tem-pe), a beautiful and cele- TENNYSON, ALFRED, poet laureate of Eng 258. TERRA'QUEOUS (Lat. terra, earth, and aqua, TERSE (Lat. tersus, rubbed off). A terse TES'TER, the top covering of a bed. THAMES (pronounced těmz), a river of Eng- 66 Discontented Miller, 222. Present Time, 93. "Blind Street-Fiddler, 93. THEATRE (Gr. theat'ron, from theaomai, 1 THEBES, an ancient city of Upper Egypt, on THE-OD'OLITE, a surveyor's compass, fur |