Part 304 (1/2)

Ma.s.sACHUSETTS (2,239), a New England State of the American Union, lies on the Atlantic seaboard between New Hamps.h.i.+re and Vermont on the N.

and Rhode Island and Connecticut on the S., with New York on its western border; has a long irregular coast-line and an uneven surface, rising to the Green Mountains in the W.; the scenery is of great beauty, but the soil is in many places poor, the farms raising chiefly hay and dairy produce; the winters are severe; Ma.s.sachusetts is the third manufacturing State of the Union; its industries include cotton, woollen, worsted, clothing, leather and leather goods, iron and iron goods; school education throughout the State is free and of a high standard; there are several universities and colleges, including Harvard, Boston, Williams, and Amherst; founded in 1620 by the Pilgrim Fathers, Ma.s.sachusetts had many hards.h.i.+ps in early days, and was long the scene of religious intolerance and persecution; the War of Independence began at Bunker's Hill and Lexington in 1776; the capital and chief seaport is Boston (448); Worcester (85) has machinery factories, Springfield (44) paper, and Lowell (78) cotton mills; Concord was for long a literary centre.

Ma.s.sAGE, in medicine a process of kneading, stroking, and rubbing, with the fingers and palms of the hands, applied to the body as a whole or to locally affected parts, to allay pain, promote circulation, and restore nervous and vital energy; it was practised in very early times in China and India; was known to the Greeks and Romans, and was revived by Dr. Mezger of Amsterdam in 1853.

Ma.s.sAGETae, a Scythian people on the NE. of the Caspian Sea, who used to kill and eat the aged among them, in an expedition against whom, it is said, Cyrus the Great lost his life.

Ma.s.sENA, Duc de Rivoli, Prince of Essling, one of the most ill.u.s.trious marshals of France, born at Nice; he distinguished himself at Rivoli in 1796, at Zurich in 1799, at the siege of Genoa in 1800, at Eckmuhl and at Wagram in 1809, and was named by Napoleon _L'enfant cheri de la Victoire_, i. e. the favoured child of victory; he was recalled from the Peninsula by Napoleon for failing to expel Wellington, and it appears he never forgot the affront (1758-1817).

Ma.s.sEY, GERALD, English democratic poet, born in Hertfords.h.i.+re; wrote ”Poems and Charms,” ”Voices of Freedom and Lyrics of Love”; has written for the reviews, and taken a great interest in spiritualism; _b_.

1828.

Ma.s.sILLON, JEAN BAPTISTE, celebrated French pulpit orator, born at Hieres, in Provence; entered the congregation of the Oratory, and became so celebrated for his eloquence that he was called to Paris, where he gathered round him hearers in crowds; Bourdaloue, when he heard him, said, ”He must increase, but I must decrease,” and Louis XIV. said to him, ”When I hear others preach I go away much pleased with them, but when I hear you I feel displeased with myself”; he was made bishop of Clermont, and next year preached before Louis XV., now king, his famous ”Pet.i.t Careme,” a series of ten sermons for Lent; he was a devoted bishop, and the idol of his flock; his style was perfect, and his eloquence was winning, and went home to the heart (1663-1742).

Ma.s.sINGER, PHILIP, English dramatist; little is known of his personal history except that he studied at Oxford without taking a degree, that he lived in London, and was buried as ”a stranger” in St.

Saviour's, Southwark; of his 37 plays only 18 remain, and of these the most famous is the comedy ent.i.tled ”New Way to Pay Old Debts,” the chief character in which is Sir Giles Overreach, and the representation of which still holds its place on the stage (1583-1640).

Ma.s.sON, DAVID, man of letters, born in Aberdeen; elected literature as his profession in preference to theology, with the study of which he commenced; joined the staff of the Messrs. Chambers; settled in London, and became professor of English Literature in University College, from the chair of which he removed to the corresponding one in Edinburgh in 1865; edited _Macmillan's Magazine_ from 1859 to 1868; his great work, the ”Life of Milton,” in 6 vols., a thorough book, and of great historical value; has written on ”British Novelists and their Styles,” ”Life of Drummond of Hawthornden,” &c.; became in 1893 Historiographer-Royal of Scotland; _b_. 1822.

Ma.s.sO'RAH, a body of Biblical references, chiefly handed down by tradition, and calculated to be of great service in verifying the original text of the Hebrew Scriptures.

Ma.s.sORETIC POINTS, the vowel points and accents in Hebrew; invented by the Ma.s.sorites, or authors of the Ma.s.sorah.

MASTER HUMPHREY, a character in d.i.c.kens's ”Old Curiosity Shop.”

MASTER OF SENTENCES, PETER LOMBARD (q. v.).

MASTODON, one of an extinct species of mammals akin to the elephant.

MASULIPATAM (38), chief seaport in the district of Kistna, Madras Presidency, India, 215 m. N. of Madras, with a large coasting trade.

MATABELELAND, a country stretching northward from the Transvaal, 180 m. by 150 m., towards the Zambesi River; formerly occupied by peaceful Mashona and Makalaka tribes, but conquered by the Matabele in 1840, and since held by them. They are warlike, and have no industries. The women grow mealies, the men make continual forays on their neighbours. Gold exists in various parts, and the country was declared British territory in 1890. It is developed by the British South African Company, whose chief stations are Buluwayo in the SW. and Fort Salisbury in the NE.

MATANZA (50), a fortified town in Cuba, 32 m. E. of Havana.