demons, is still used; and in order to free any place of vermin a talisman consisting of the figure of the obnoxious animal is made in wax or consecrated metal, in a planetary hour.

He swo that you had robbed his house,
And stote his talismanic louse.

Butler: Hudibras, pt. iii, 1. The word is the Arabic tilasman from late Greek telesma, mystery.

Talisman, The. A novel by Sir Walter Scott (1825), relating the adventures of Sir Kenneth, prince royal of Scotland, as a knight in disguise in the Holy Land under Richard Coeur de Lion. Richard and his noble enemy, Saladin, are leading characters. Hearing of Richard's illness, Saladin assumes the disguise of the physician Adonbec al Hakim and gives his patient a healing drink of spring water into which he has dipped his "talisman." At the end of the novel, Sir Kenneth marries his kinswoman, Lady Edith Plantagenet.

Talking Bird. A marvellous bird in one of the stories of the Arabian Nights. See Parizade.

There is a Green Bird of similar nature in Countess d'Aulnoy's fairy tale, Prince Chery and Fair-star.

Talmud, The (Heb. instruction). The body of Jewish civil and religious law not contained in, but largely derived from, the

Pentateuch. The name was originally applied only to the Gemara (q.v.), but it now usually includes also the Mishna (q.v.).

When the Talmud is spoken of without any qualification the reference is to the Babylonian Talmud, one of the two recensions of the Gemara, the other being the Palestinian Talmud, which is of only about a fourth the volume of the Babylonian, and is considered by Jews of less authority. The Babylonian codification dates from the 5th or 6th century, the Palestinian (or Jerusalem) from about a century earlier.

Talus. In Greek mythology, a man of brass, made by Hephaestus (Vulcan), the guardian of Crete. Whenever he caught a stranger on the island he made himself red-hot and embraced him to death.

He is introduced by Spenser into the Faerie Queene (Bk. v) as the "yron man attendant upon Sir Artegal, and representing executive power "swift as a swallow, and as lion strong."

His name was Talus made of yron mould Immoveable, resistless, without end; Who in his hand an yron flale did hould, With which he thresht out falshood, and did truths unfould. Faerie Queene, V, i, 12.

Tam O'Shanter. A narrative poem by Burns (1791). It was founded on a legend that no sort of bogie could pass the middle of a running stream. Tam saw a hellish legion dancing in Alloway Kirk (near Ayr), and being excited cried out, "Weel done, Cutty Sark!" Immediately the lights were extinguished, and Tam rode for his life to reach the river Doon. He had himself passed the mid-stream, but his horse's tail had not reached that magic line, so Cutty Sark caught hold of it and pulled it off.

Think, ye may buy the joys owre dear
Remember Tam-o'-Shanter's mare.

Burns: Tam-o'-Shanter.

Tamar. In Landor's poem Gebir (q.v.), the brother of Gebir.

Tamburlaine, Tamerlane. Names under which the Tartar conqueror Timur, or Timur-leng, i.e. "Timur the Lame" (1333-1405), is immortalized in Elizabethan drama. He had his capital at Samarkand, was ruler of vast territories in central Ásia and a great part of India, and died while preparing to invade China. Tamburlaine the Great (acted in 1587), a blank verse tragedy, was Marlowe's first play. In it Tamburlaine is a terrible, bloodthirsty, inhuman villain and the action consists of one atrocity after another. In Rowe's play, Tamerlane (1702), the warrior appears as a calm, philosophic prince-out of compliment to William III. There is a poem called Tamerlane by Edgar Allan Poe.

Taming of the Shrew, The. Shakespeare's play (first printed in the 1623 Folio) was a rewriting of an anonymous conceited Historie called The Taming of comedy printed in 1594, - A pleasant a Shrew. As it hath beene sundry times acted by the right honourable the Earle of Pembroke his servants. The "Shrew" is Katharina, a maiden of such violent whims and tempers that it seems unlikely she will find a husband. Her father, Baptista, refuses to allow her lovable younger sister Bianca to marry any of her numerous suitors until Katharina is off his hands. Finally Petruchio appears, marries Katharina in short order, and by his own abrupt highhandedness "tames her to such good effect that he wins a bet with two other men on a test of their wives' obedience. Meantime Lucentio, through the ruse of becoming Bianca's tutor while his servant Tranio assumes his name and clothes, and presses his suit with her father, has succeeded in winning her hand. This entire play is enacted for

It forms a companion volume to his Wonder-Book.

Tammany Hall. The headquarters (in 14th Street, New York) of the controlling organization of the Democratic Party in New York City and State; hence, the Party itself, and, as this has been so frequently prosecuted and exposed for bribery and corruption, used figuratively for wholesale and systematic political or municipal malpractice.

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Tammany was the name of a 17th century Delaware chief, and the patriotic, anti-British leagues of pre-Revolutionary days adopted the name St. Tammany to ridicule the titles of loyalist organizations Societies of St. George, St. Andrew, and so on. After the Revolution these leagues became anti-aristocratic clubs, but all soon died a natural death except "Tammany Society, No. 1," which was that of New York. This flourished, and was converted into a political machine by Aaron Burr in his conflict with Alexander Hamilton (about 1798), and in 1800 played a prominent part in the election of Jefferson to the presidency.

Tam'ora. Queen of the Goths, in love with Aaron the Moor in the play Titus Andronicus, attributed to Shakespeare.

Tan'cred (d. 1112). One of the chief heroes of the First Crusade, and a leading character in Tasso's Jerusalem Delivered. He was the son of Eudes (Otho) and Emma (sister of Robert Guiscard); Bæmond or Bohemond was his cousin. In the epic he was the greatest of all the Christian warriors except Rinaldo, and showed a generous contempt of danger; his one fault was woman's love," and that woman Clorinda, a pagan (Bk. i), whom he unwittingly slew in a night attack, and whose death he lamented with great lamentation (Bk. xii). Being wounded, he was nursed by Ermin'ia, who was in love with him (Bk. xix).

There is an opera Tancred by Rossini (1813).

Tancred or the New Crusade. A novel by Disraeli (Lord Beaconsfield) (1847). Tancred is a young and high-born visionary who leaves the social circles of 19th century London to travel in the East. In the Holy Land he experiences the great Asian mystery" which is to work regeneration for the West.

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Tanglewood Tales. A book of tales retold for children from classic mythology

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Tank. The heavily armored military motor fort, running on caterpillar" wheels, enclosed, and with room in the interior for quick-firing guns and several men, was so called by the War Office before it made its first appearance to prevent information as to its real nature leaking out to the enemy. Telegrams, etc., with inquiries about tanks would cause no suspicion if they fell into enemy hands. Tanks were invented during the Great War, and were first used in the British attack on the German lines at Flers, September 15th, 1916.

Tanner, Jack or John. The hero of Shaw's comedy Man and Superman (q.v.).

Tanner of Tamworth, The. Hero of a ballad in Percy's Reliques, the man who mistook Edward IV for a highwayman. After some little altercation, they changed horses, the King giving his hunter for the tanner's. cob worth about four shillings; but as soon as the tanner mounted the King's horse, it threw him, and the tanner gladly paid down a sum of money to get his old cob back again. King Edward now blew his hunting-horn, and the courtiers gathered round him. "I hope [i.e. expect] I shall be hanged for this," cried the tanner; but the King gave him the manor of Plumpton Park, with 300 marks a year.

Tann'häu'ser. A lyrical poet, or minnesinger, of Germany, who flourished in the second half of the 13th century. He led a wandering life, and is said even to have visited the Far East; this fact, together with his Buszlied (song of repentance), and the general character of his poems, probably gave rise to the legend about him — which first appeared in a 16th century German ballad. This relates how he spends a voluptuous year with Venus, in the Venusberg, a magic land reached through a subterranean cave. At last he obtains leave to visit the upper world, and goes to Pope Urban for absolution. "No," said His Holiness,

you can no more hope for mercy than this dry staff can be expected to bud again." Tannhäuser departs in despair; but on the third day the papal staff bursts into blossom; the Pope sends in every direction for Tannhäuser, but the knight is nowhere to be found, for, mercy having been refused, he has returned to end his days in the arms of Venus.

In Wagner's opera Tannhäuser (1845)

the hero returns from the Venusberg to the court of the Landersve of Thuringia. where the pure and besaniful Elizabeth, ・ the Landgrave's niere, has remained true to him. At a great singing tourney his friend Wolfram von Eschenbach sings of spiritual love, but Tannhäuser, who has promised Venus to sing her praises, bursts out in a wild unholy song which brings upon him the condemnation of the entire court. Elizabeth awaits the result of his repentant pügrimage, but when he is not among the returning pilgrims, she dies. His arrival and the news of the budding staff come too late.

Tanqueray, Paula, Aubrey and Ellean. The leading characters in Pinero's Second Mrs. Tanqueray (q.r.).

Tantalus. In Greek mythology, the son of Zeus and Pluto daughter of Himantes). He was a Lydian king, highly❘ honored and prosperous; but, because he divulged to mortals the secrets of the gods, he was plunged up to the chin in a river of Hades, a tree hung with clusters of fruit being just above his head. As every time he tried to drink the waters receded from him, and as the fruit was just out of reach, he suffered agony from thirst, hunger, and unfulfilled anticipation.

Hence our verb, to tantalize, to excite a hope and disappoint it; and hence the name tantalus applied to a lock-up spirit chest in which the bottles are quite visible but quite un-get-at-able without the key.

Tante. A novel by Anne Douglas Sedgwick (Am. 1911). Tante is the great pianist, Madame Okraska. The novel is the story of the love affair and marriage of Tante's ward Karen Woodruff and Gregory Jardin, a wealthy young lawyer. Tante's jealousy and thirst for admiration finally bring disillusionment to her hitherto adoring young charge.

Tantony Pig. The smallest pig of a litter, which, according to the old proverb, will follow its owner anywhere. So called in honor of St. Anthony, who was the patron saint of swineherds and is frequently represented with a little pig at his side.

Tantony is also applied to a small church bell or to any hand-bell

there is usually a bell round the neck of St. Anthony's pig or attached to the Tau-cross he carries. See St. Antony under Saint.

Tantras, The. Sanskrit religious writings, forming the Bible of the Shaktas, a Hindu sect, the adherents of which worship the divine power in its female

aspect. The Tantras consist of magical formulas for the most part in the form of dialogues between Siva and his wife, and trest of the creation and ultimate destruction of the world, divine worship, the attainment of superhuman power, and final union with the Supreme Spirit They are of comparatively recent date 6th or 7th century A. D, Tamina is Sanskrit for thread, or warp, and hence is used of groundwork, order, or doctrine of religion.

Taoism. One of the three great religious systems of China (Confucianism and Buddhism being the others), founded by the philosopher Lao-tsze (about B. C 604-523), and based on the Tao-teh-king (Book of Reason and Virtue), reputed to be by him.

Taou Yen. In Hergesheimer's Jara Head (q.r.), Gerrit Ammidon's Chinese wife,

Taper and Tadpole. Political tools used by powerful interests to carry out petty, underhanded schemes; so called from two characters introduced by Disraeli in his political novels, Coningsby and Sybil

Tapis. On the tapis. On the carpet; under consideration; now being ventilated. An English-French phrase, referring to the tapis or cloth with which the table of the council chamber is covered, and on which are laid the motions before the House.

Tapley, Mark. Martin's servant and companion in Dickens' Martin Chuzzlewit; often taken as the type of one who is invariably cheerful. His ambition is "to come out jolly" under the most unfavorable circumstances. Greatly attached to Martin Chuzzlewit, he leaves his comfortable situation at the Blue Dragon to accompany him to America, and in "Eden" has ample opportunities of

being jolly" so far as wretchedness could make him so. On his return to England, he marries Mrs. Lupin, and thus becomes landlord of the Blue Dragon.

Tappertit, Sim, i.e., Simon. In Dickens' Barnaby Rudge, the apprentice of Gabriel Varden, locksmith. An oldfashioned, thin-faced, sleek-haired, sharpnosed, small-eyed little fellow was Mr. Sim Tappertit, about five feet high, but thoroughly convinced in his own mind that he was both good-looking and above the middle size, in fact, rather tall than otherwise. Mr. Tappertit had an ambitious soul, and admired his master's daughter, Dolly, but was forced to see

his rival, Joe Willet, successful, and finally married the widow of a bag-andbone collector.

Tar, or Jack Tar. A sailor; probably an abbreviation of tarpaulin, of which sailors' caps and overalls are made. Tarpaulins are tarred cloths, and are commonly used on board ship to keep articles from the sea-spray, etc.

Tar Baby. In one of the best-known stories in Uncle Remus by Joel Chandler Harris, a tar doll set up by the roadside whose unresponsiveness irritates Brer Rabbit to such a pitch that he strikes him, first with one paw, then with another, until he himself is stuck tight.

Tara. The Hill of Tara. In Meath, Ireland. Here the kings, the clergy, the princes, and the bards used to assemble in a large hall, to consult on matters of public importance.

The harp that once thro' Tara's halls
The soul of music shed,

Now hangs as mute on Tara's walls
As if that soul were fled.

Moore: Irish Melodies.

Tara's Psaltery or Psalter of Tara. The great national register or chronicles of Ireland, read to the assembled princes when they met in Tara's Hall in public conference.

He is

Tarakee. A hero of Brahminical legend and miracle of ascetic devotion. fabled to have lived 1100 years, and spent each century in some astounding mortification.

Tarantula. A large and hairy venomous spider (so called from Taranto, Lat. Tarentum, a town in Apulia, Italy, where they abound), whose bite was formerly supposed to be the cause of the dancing mania hence known as tarantism. This was an hysterical disease, common, epidemically, in southern Europe from the 15th to the 17th centuries. From the same insect the tarantella gets its name. This is a very quick Neapolitan dance (or its music) for one couple, and is said to have been based on the gyrations practised by those whom the tarantula had poisoned.

Taras Bulba. A historical novel by Gogol (Rus. 1839), dealing with the career of Taras Bulba, a violent 15th century Cossack. He kills one of his sons, Andrii, who has turned traitor for the sake of a sweetheart; another, Ostap, is captured and tortured to death before his eyes. He now launches forth on a terrible career of revenge with the cry "A mass for Ostap" accompanying his

mad depredations and slaughters. At last he is captured and dies.

Tarheels. Inhabitants of South Carolina, so called from the tar produced there. Tarkington, Booth (1869- ). American novelist and dramatist. His bestknown books are The Gentleman from Indiana, Monsieur Beaucaire, The Conquest of Canaan, The Flirt, Penrod, The Turmoil, Seventeen, The Magnificent Ambersons, Ramsey Milholland, Alice Adams. (See those entries.) His most popular plays are The Man from Home

and Clarence.

Tarpa, Spurius Metius. A famous critic of the Augustan age. He sat in the temple of Apollo with four colleagues to judge the merit of theatrical pieces before they were produced in public.

Tarpe'ian Rock. An ancient rock or peak (now no longer in existence) of the Capitoline Hill, Rome; so called from Tarpeia, a vestal virgin, the daughter of Spurius Tarpeius, governor of the citadel, who, according to the legend, agreed to open the gates to the Sabines if they would give her " what they wore on their arms (meaning their bracelets). The Sabines, "keeping their promise to the ear," crushed her to death with their shields, and her body was hurled from the "Tarpeian Rock." Subsequently, traitors were cast down this rock and so killed.

Tarquin. The family name of legendary line of early Roman kings. Tarquinius Priscus, the fifth king of Rome, is dated B. C. 617-578. His son, Tarquinius Superbus, was the seventh (and last) king of Rome, and it was his son, Tarquinius Sextus, who committed the rape on Lucrece, in revenge for which the Tarquins were expelled from Rome and a Republic established. For the use of this legend in drama see Lucretia.

Tarquin is also the name of a "recreant knight" figuring in the Arthurian cycle. A ballad given in Percy's Reliques tells how Sir Launcelot met a lady who requested him to deliver certain Knights of the Round Table from Tarquin's power. Coming to a river, he saw a copper basin suspended from a tree, and struck it so hard that it broke. This brought out Tarquin and a furious encounter took place, in which the latter was slain, and Sir Launcelot liberated threescore knights and four, all of the Table Round." Tartar. To catch a Tartar. See under Catch.

Tartarin. A famous comic character