GERMAN HISTORY.
P. 1, c. 1—“Clovis,” klō´vis; “Charlemagne,” shar´le-mān´; “Rudolphus,” roo-dŏl´fus; “Swabian,” swa´bī-an; “Hohenstaufen,” ho´en-stow´fen; “Westphalia,” west-phā´lĭ-a.
P. 1, c. 1—“Maes.” The Flemish name for the Meuse.
P. 1, c. 1—“March,” or “Morawa.” A river of Austria. Its position as a boundary of Hungary, and proximity to Vienna, have often made it of historical importance.
P. 1, c. 1—“Mur,” or “Muir,” moor.
P. 1, c. 2—“Prosna,” pros´na; “Nieman,” nee´man.
P. 1, c. 2—“Teutoburg,” toi´to-boorg. A range of mountains in Western Germany, about eighty miles in length. It was in this forest that the German Arminius defeated the Romans in A. D. 9.
P. 1, c. 2—“Erz,” erts. The Erzgebirge, or Ore Mountains, are on the boundary between Bohemia and Saxony, extending about 100 miles. There are several granite peaks in the range. These mountains have long been famous for their mineral products of silver, tin, iron, cobalt, copper, etc. Coal is found also and porcelain clay.
P. 1, c. 2—“Riesen,” ree´zen. Giant mountains. A continuation of the Erzgebirge, lying east of the river Elbe. The range extends about seventy-five miles. It is of the same geological formation as the Erz.
P. 1, c. 2—“Weser,” We´ser; “Vistula,” vist´yu-la.
P. 1, c. 2—“Magyar,” mod´jor. A tribe which came from the far East. In 887 they came into Hungary and soon conquered it and the adjoining country. For one hundred years their conquests were extended, but at last they consolidated the power within their own country. The Magyars possessed an independent kingdom until the present century, but now constitute one of the two leading divisions of the Austro-Hungarian monarchy. The Emperor of Austria is the King of Hungary.
P. 1, c. 2—“Turanians,” tu-ra´ni-ans. The tribes of the Turanians are the Finns, the people of Siberia, the Tartars, the Mongols, and the Mantchoos.
P. 1, c. 2—“Aryan,” är´yan. The tribes speaking the Germanic, Slavic, Celtic, Italic, Greek, Iranian, and Sanskrit languages belong to this family.
P. 1, c. 2—“Teutonic,” teū-ton´ic. The Teutonic dialects were the languages spoken by the ancient Germans, so-called from one of the tribes, the Teutons.
P. 1, c. 2—“Pytheas,” pyth´e-as. He is said to have made two voyages, one to Britain and Iceland, another to the northern coast of Europe.
P. 1, c. 2—“Tuisko,” too-is´ko. The German legends describe the god as a gray-haired man, clad in skins of animals, and with a scepter in his right hand.
P. 2, c. 1—“Tacitus,” tac´i-tus. (A. D. 55-117.) A Roman historian. His histories of the condition and customs of the Britains and Germans are trustworthy accounts, written in a clear and concise style. A history of Rome is his most ambitious work.
P. 2, c. 2—“Suetonius,” swe-to´ni-us. A Roman historian, living in the latter half of the first century. His writings were very voluminous.
P. 2, c. 2—“Kělt,” or “Cělt.” A race of Asiatic origin, which in very early time passed into Europe and gradually worked their way to the present countries of France, and Great Britain. The Irish, Welsh, and the Scotch of the Highlands are descendants of the Celts.
P. 2, c. 2—“Eagle.” From the time of Marius the eagle was the principal emblem of the Roman Empire, and the standard of the legions. In the fourteenth century the Germans adopted it, and afterwards Russia. The arms of Prussia bear the black eagle, those of Poland bore the white.
P. 2, c. 2—“De Moribus Germanorum.” Treatise concerning the customs of the Germans.
P. 2, c. 2—“Titus.” (A. D. 40-81.) Roman Emperor. Titus had opportunities of observing the Germans when he was young, being military tribune in Germany.
P. 2, c. 2—“Wō´dan,” The same as Odin, Wuotan, and Wotan. See “Notes on Scandinavian Literature,” in The Chautauquan for April.
P. 2, c. 2—“Hertha,” also written Ærtha, or Nerthus. As goddess of the earth Hertha was believed to bring fertility. In the spring festivities were held to celebrate her arrival, all feuds were suspended and the greatest rejoicing prevailed.
P. 2, c. 2—“Runes.” The Norsemen had a peculiar alphabet of sixteen letters, or signs. It was not used as we use our alphabet; indeed, as the word rune (mystery) signifies, its meaning was known to but few. The letters were carved on rocks, stones, utensils, etc. Also, as in the case alluded to, on smooth sticks for divination. A mysterious power was supposed to reside in these characters.
The article on “Air,” in the Physical Science series, is abridged from the “English Science Primer on Physical Geography,” by Archibald Geikie. The clear, simple style of the article make annotations unnecessary. The same is also true of the paper on “Political Economy.”