(Encyclopedia) El DoradoEl Doradoĕlˈdəräˈdō, –rāˈ– [key] [Span.,=the gilded man], legendary country of the Golden Man sought by adventurers in South America. The legend supposedly originated in a…
(Encyclopedia) mummy, dead human or animal body preserved by embalming or by unusual natural conditions. As a rule mummies are from ancient times. The word is of Arabic derivation and refers…
Albanian giants are as tall as pine trees, with black beards that reach to their knees. They catch men to eat and women to fan the flies away. Giants have enormous size and strength packed in a…
CAINE, John Thomas, a Delegate from the Territory of Utah; born in the parish of Kirk Patrick, Isle of Man, January 8, 1829; attended the common schools in Douglas, Isle of Man; immigrated to…
(Encyclopedia) Lewis, Sir George Cornewall, 1806–63, English statesman and man of letters. Entering Parliament as a Liberal in 1847, he served as chancellor of exchequer (1855–58), home secretary (…
(Encyclopedia) MacNeil, Hermon Atkins, 1866–1947, American sculptor, b. Chelsea, Mass., studied in Paris and in Rome. His first work of importance was for the World's Columbian Exposition, Chicago,…
(Encyclopedia) Ramanujan, SrinivasaRamanujan, Srinivasashrēˌnĭväˈsə rämäˈn&oobreve;jən [key], 1889–1920, Indian mathematician. He was a self-taught genius in pure mathematics who made original…
(Encyclopedia) recoilless rifle, light artillery piece, without recoil, usually operated by two men. An American invention, it was used as an infantry weapon for attacking fortifications such as…
(Encyclopedia) SemeleSemelesĕmˈĭlē [key], in Greek mythology, mother of Dionysus, daughter of Cadmus and Harmonia. Zeus, who loved her, appeared to her as a man. Semele asked him to come to her in…
