magnetarium for reproducing and studying the Madness, and Imprisonment of Torquato Tasso phenomena of the earth's magnetism. WILDE, LADY JANE FRANCESCA ELGEE (182696). An English writer, wife of Sir William Robert Wilde. She was born at Wexford, Ireland, and after her marriage began to contribute both in prose and in verse to the nationalist newspaper, The Nation. Indeed, an article from her pen, signed Speranza, was the ostensible reason for the suppression of the journal in 1848. Her publications include: Poems by Speranza (1871); Driftwood from Scandinavia (1884); Ancient Legends, Mystic Charms, and Supersti. tions of Ireland (1887); Ancient Cures, Charms, and Usages of Ireland (1890); Notes on Men, Women, and Books (1891); and Social Studies (1893). WILDE, OSCAR FINGALL O'FLAHERTIE WILLS (1856-1900). An English author, son of Sir William Wilde, a distinguished surgeon, and his wife, Jane Francesca, known as a writer of verse. He was educated at Magdalen College, Oxford, where he took his degree in 1878, winning also the Newdigate prize for English verse. He went to London soon afterwards, and devoted himself to poetry and to the exposition of aesthetic culture, of which he was in a sense the apostle, though some exaggerations in his manner and that of his disciples were keenly satirized by Du Maurier in Punch, and by Gilbert in the opera Patience. A volume of his poems was published in 1881, a tragedy, Guido Ferranti, in 1890, and Intentions, a collection of brilliant essays, in 1891. From 1893 to 1895 he won considerable success as a writer of comedies, deficient in dramatic construction, but remarkable for their sparkling epigrammatic cleverness-Lady Windermere's Fan and The Importance of Being Earnest among them; also Salome, a drama in the medieval style. The most widely read of his books was The Picture of Dorian Gray, a novel (1891). His talents were undoubtedly great, and his poems, of which a complete edition was published in 1903, were usually marked by great beauty of style and thought. But the end of his life was sad. Convicted in 1895 of a grave offense against morality, he was imprisoned for two years, during which he wrote one of his strongest poems, A Ballad of Reading Gaol. After his release he went to Paris, where he died November 30, 1900. An He WILDE, RICHARD HENRY (1789-1847). American poet, born in Dublin, Ireland. came to America with his parents in 1797, settling finally at Augusta, Ga. He studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1809, rose rapidly in his profession, became Attorney-General of the State, and was three times a member of Congress, 1815-17, 1824-25, and 1827-35. He was a lyric poet of merit, and during a stay in Europe from 1835 to 1840 did considerable study in Dante and Tasso, and helped to discover Giotto's portrait of the first-named poet. On his return from Europe he attained success at the bar of New Orleans, and was made professor of constitutional law in the University of Louisiana. He is best known as the author of the beautiful lyric, "My Life is Like the Summer Rose." A long posthumous poem, Hesperia, was published in 1867, and during his life he issued The Love, (1842). WILDEBEEST. See GNU; ANTELOPE. WILDENBRUCH, vil'den-brook, ERNST VON (1845-). A German dramatist and novelist, born in Beirut, Syria, where his father was Prussian consul, February 3, 1845. He served two years in the army, then studied law, and entered the Government service. He became privy councilor of legation in 1897. Of his earlier dramas the more successful were Väter und Söhne (1882), Harold (1882), Der Mennonit (1882), all in a somewhat radical spirit. More significant are the series of national dramas, Die Karolinger (1882), Die Quitzows (1888), Der neue Herr (1891), Heinrich und Heinrich's Geschlecht (1895), Willehalm (1897), and Die Tochter des Erasmus (1900) all remarkable literary expressions of the new Prus sia. In his short stories and novels, e.g. Der Meister von Tanagra (1880), Der Astronom (1887), Das edle Blut (1893), Franzeska von Rimini (1893), Eifernde Liebe (1893), Schwester-Seele (1894), Der Zauberer Cyprianus (1896), and Tiefe Wasser (1898), as well as in social drama, Wildenbruch has shown great originality in tragic development. Among his Lieder und Gesänge (1877) and Dichtungen und Balladen (1884) are pieces, notably "The Witches' Song," that have become widely popular. WILDER, wil'der, ALEXANDER (1823-). An American physician and author, born in Verona, N. Y. He was an editor of the Syracuse Star in 1852, and in 1856 of the New York Teacher. From 1858 to 1871 he was on the staff of the New York Evening Post, and from 1878 to 1883 was professor of physiology and psychological science in the United States Medical College. His publications include: The Worship of the Serpent (1877); Vaccination a Fallacy (1878); and editions of T. Taylor's Eleusinian and Bacchic Mysteries (1875); R. P. Knight's Symbolical Language of Ancient Art and Mythology (1876); Max Müller's India: What Can It Teach Us? (1883); and Iamblichos, On the Mysteries. WILDER, BURT GREEN (1841-). An American comparative anatomist, born in Boston. He graduated from the scientific department of Harvard College in 1862, and its medical department in 1866; served as assistant surgeon and surgeon of the Fifty-fifth (Negro) Massachusetts Infantry, 1863-65; was assistant in comparative anatomy in the Harvard Museum of Comparative Zoology, 1866-67; curator of herpetology in the Boston Society of Natural History and a university lecturer, 1867-68; professor of zoology in Cornell University since 1867; and lecturer on zoology in the University of Michigan, medical department, 1876-77. His work since 1880 has been principally noticeable from his attention to securing a simple anatomic nomenclature. In 1885-86 he was president of the American Neurological Association. In 1892 he was honored by the presentation of a Festschrift written by his pupils, called The Wilder Quarter-Century Book (Ithaca, 1893). Among his voluminous contributions to literature are: What Young People Should Know; Anatomy, Physiology, and Hygiene of the Human Reproductive Organs (Boston, 1875); Health Notes for Students (New York, 1883); Human Locomotion (New York, 1870); Anatomical Technology as Applied to the Cat, with Gage (New York and Chicago, 1882); and Physiology Practicums (Ithaca, 1895). WILDER, MARSHALL PINCKNEY (17981886). An American merchant and agriculturist, born at Rindge, N. H. He received a common school education, worked on a farm for some time, and in 1825 became a merchant in Boston in the West India trade. He was a member at different times of both Houses of the Massachusetts Legislature, being chosen president of the Senate in 1850, and was also a member of the Executive Council. He was one of the organizers of the Constitutional Union Party, which nominated Bell and Everett in 1860. Having acquired a large fortune, he turned his attention to the development of agriculture. He founded the United States Agricultural Society and the Massachusetts Agricultural College, was an officer of various agricultural and genealogical societies, and was one of the earliest promoters of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Among his publications are a number of addresses and The Hybridization of the Camellia and Its Varieties (1847) and other lectures on floriculture, pomology, and agriculture. was begun at midnight of May 3d, Warren's corps, preceded by cavalry and followed by the corps of Sedgwick, crossing at Germana Ford, while Hancock crossed at Ely's Ford, farther down the river. The right column was ordered to proceed to Wilderness Tavern, at the junction of the Germanna Plank Road and the Orange County Turnpike; Hancock's objective was Chancellorsville. As soon as Lee became acquainted with the movement of the Union troops he adopted the bold expedient of changing front and sent the corps of Ewell and Hill along the Orange County Turnpike and the Orange Plank Road to take Grant's army in flank. Early in the morning of May 5th Warren sent Griffin westward along the pike and Crawford along the plank road to ascertain the presence of the enemy. Griffin came into contact with Ewell and a little later Crawford became engaged with Hill's troops. Believing at first that the enemy's forces were but a strong rear guard, Grant made no attempt to support Warren, but some time before noon it became evident that the main strength of the Confederates was in front. Sedgwick's corps was thereupon directed to support Warren on the right, while orders were sent to Hancock, who was now some distance beyond Chancellorsville, to return by the Brick Road and take up his position at its junction with the Orange Plank Road. Until Hancock's arrival a division of the Sixth Corps under General Getty was ordered to hold back the Confederates, under Hill, at that point. Owing to the nature of the ground, Sedgwick was delayed in bringing support to Warren on his left, and though Griffin's and Wadsworth's divisions drove Ewell's vanguard before them, they were compelled to give way before the attack of the lat ter's main force. The Sixth Corps as it was working into position was also struck by Ewell, but after a fierce struggle the Confederates were repulsed. Getty, meanwhile, hard pressed by Hill, was relieved by the arrival of Hancock at WILDERNESS, BATTLE OF THE. about three in the afternoon, and a desperate conA battle of the Civil War in America, fought on May 5-6, flict ensued, at a close distance, in which neither 1864, between the Army of the Potomac under side gained any distinct advantage. Wadsworth, General Meade, with General Grant in supreme sent to the support of Hancock's right, did not command, and the Army of Northern Virginia arrive until night put an end to the combat. under General Lee. The Wilderness is a regionOwing to the impossibility of manoeuvring in the of dwarfed woods and tangled undergrowth lying south of the Rapidan River, and extending for WILDERMUTH, vil'der-moot, OTTILIE (181777). A German novelist. She was born at Rottenburg-on-the-Neckar, was married in 1843 to Professor Wildermuth, of Tübingen, and in that city passed the remainder of her life. Her novels had a wide popularity, which was well deserved, since she pictured with much grace the life of the region to which she confined her workSwabia. She also wrote excellent stories for the young. The best of her works are: Bilder und Geschichten aus Schwaben (1852-54); Auguste (1857); Bilder aus der Wirklichkeit (1861); and Zur Dämmerstunde (1871). about fifteen miles from east to west and ten miles from north to south, the nature of the ground being such as to render cavalry operations and the use of artillery almost impossible. The battle of the Wilderness was the opening engagement of the campaign of 1864 in Virginia. The Confederate army, consisting of three corps, lay in a strong position south of the Rapidan, with its right under Ewell on the river, the centre under A. P. Hill at Orange Court House, and the left under Longstreet at Gordonsville. Its strength was about 62,000 men, with 224 guns. The Union army was encamped north of the Rapidan from Hazel's River through Culpeper to Stevensburg. It comprised the corps of Warren (Fifth), Sedgwick (Sixth), and Hancock (Second). With Burnside's corps a day's march to the north, the Union strength amounted to about 120,000 men, with 316 guns. Grant's plan was to cross the Rapidan, turn Lee's right flank, and interpose his army between the Confederate forces and Richmond. The movement of troops tangled underbrush, the conflict became a struggle between lines of men closely in touch, but for the most part invisible. It was almost exclusively a musketry battle. The combat between Warren and Ewell and that between Hancock and Hill were practically isolated. During the night Burnside's corps was brought to the front and placed between Warren and Hancock. Longstreet was summoned by Lee from Gordonsville and ordered to reinforce Hill on his right. It was Lee's intention to hurl Longstreet against the Union left in an attempt to throw it back on the Rapidan. To gain time for Longstreet's arrival and to divert attention from the move, he ordered an assault on the Union right. The assailants were thrown back and Sedgwick took up an advanced position. At the same time Hancock assailed Hill in front, while Wadsworth struck him on the flank. The Confederates were driven back for more than a mile, when the Union advance ceased, owing to the confusion in the lines and to the fact that Hancock had left part of his corps behind, in anticipation of a flanking movement by Longstreet. The lat 1. WILD GOAT; PASANG (Capra ægagrus). 2. ANGORA RAM. 3. MARKHOR (Capra Falconeri); Kabul variety. 4. BHARAL (Ovis nahura). 5. AOUDAD (Ovis tragelaphus). 6. WESTERN CAUCASUS TUR (Capra Severtzowi). 7. OORIAL or SHA (Ovis vignei). 8. ALPINE IBEX (Capra ibex). ter had actually begun such a movement, but had been summoned to reinforce Hill's weakened forces in front, and now came on the field of battle, driving Hancock back to his original position. At this critical moment for the Union army, however, Longstreet was wounded and the violence of the attack subsided until about four o'clock, when Lee threw Hill's and Longstreet's corps against Hancock. Aided by a fire which broke out in the underbrush and seized on the logs of the Union breastworks, while the wind blew the smoke into the faces of the Federals, the Confederates broke through the Union line and a Confederate flag was planted upon the intrenchments. Almost immediately, however, the Confederate line was driven back. The battle ended with an assault by Ewell on the Union right, in which two brigades were captured and the Union line was for a time endangered. The Confederate advance, however, was checked and night made an end of hostilities. No definite gain had been made by either side, and within a few days fighting was resumed at Spottsylvania Court House (q.v). The losses were heavy, the best authority placing the Union casualties at 2265 killed, 10,220 wounded, and 2902 missing, a total of 15,387. The woods took fire in many places, and at least 200 wounded perished in the flames. The Confederate records show 2000 killed, 6000 wounded, and 3400 missing, a total of 11,400. Among the general officers killed were Wadsworth and Baxter, of the Union army, and Jenkins of the Confederates, while Getty of the one and Longstreet of the other side were wounded. Consult: Johnson and Buel (eds.), Battles and Leaders of the Civil War (New York, 1887); Humphreys, The Virginia Campaign of 1864 and 1865 (New York, 1883); Grant, Personal Memoirs (last ed., New York, 1895); Badeau, Military History of Ulysses S. Grant (New York, 1868-81); and Swinton, Twelve Decisive Battles of the War (New York, 1867). An He WILDES, wildz, FRANK (1843-1903). American naval officer, born in Boston. graduated at the Naval Academy in 1863, and saw active service on the steam sloop Lackawanna and the monitor Chickasaw in the operations against Mobile. He became a commander in 1880, and a captain in 1894. In the battle of Manila Bay in 1898 he commanded the cruiser Boston, and for his services was advanced five numbers. He became a rear-admiral in 1901. WILDFIRE, MADGE. The nickname of Margaret Murdochson, a gypsy girl in Scott's Heart of Midlothian. She is corrupted by George Robertson and goes mad on being deserted by him. WILD FOWL. A general term, formerly in more common use than now for wild birds, especially such as interested sportsmen, in distinction from domesticated fowls. The term became more and more restricted to game-birds, and especially to the ducks, geese, and the like, or 'waterfowl,' and to the shore birds; and a person who made a practice of shooting this class of birds for sport was known as a 'wildfowler.' The indefiniteness of the term gradually caused its disuse as sport became more specialized and ornithological information more extensive and exact, and the term 'wild fowl' has gradually become relegated to poetic use when a pleasing suggestion is required rather than precise characterization. WILD GINGER. See ASARABACCA. WILD GOATS, SHEEP, AND IBEXES. A group of small ruminants not easily divisible technically even into the two apparently easily distinguishable genera Ovis (sheep) and Capra (goats and ibexes); and characterized by the massive, angulated horns borne by the male (rams), which in the sheep tend to form a coil beside the head, and in the goats sweep backward from the forehead and show a strongly crossridged front. The wild sheep and goats are mountain-dwelling animals, and are limited, with one exception, to the central elevated regions of the Old World, stretching from the Pyrenees, Atlas, and Abyssinian mountains through the Sinaitic Carpathian, Armenian, and Persian chains, to the Himalayan and Mongolian ranges, which are continued northeastward to Bering Strait. Each separate section of the line of uplift has one or more peculiar species. There is also an American species or group of species (see BIGHORN) native to the northern cordillera, as far south as the borders of Mexico. The species are not many, most of them have a comparatively limited and local range, and several are extinct as wild animals. The genus Ovis has given to civilized man the domestic sheep, but their specific source (or sources) is uncertain. The domestic goat seems to have been derived with little admixture from the wild goat still extant in Southwestern Asia. See GOAT; IBEX; SHEEP. WILD-GOOSE CHASE, THE. A comedy by John Fletcher, produced in 1621, printed in 1652. Four acts of Farquhar's The Inconstant were taken from it. WILDING. (1) The principal character in Shirley's The Gamester. In his adaptation of this play, The Gamesters, December 22, 1757, Garrick himself assumed the rôle. (2) The principal character in Foote's play The Liar. The author himself created the rôle of Young Wilding in this play. WILD ONION. See ALLIUM. WILD PIGEON. Specifically, the American passenger pigeon. See PIGEON. WILD SARSAPARILLA. See ARALIA. WILD SPINACH. See CHENOPODIUM. WILD WOOD, WILL. The pseudonym of the American writer on sports Frederick Eugene Pond (q.v.). WILES, IRVING (1861-). An American figure. and portrait painter, born in Utica, N. Y. He was a pupil of his father, then studied at the Art Students' League, New York City, under Carroll Beckwith and William Chase, and from 1882 to 1884 in Paris under Lefebvre and Carolus-Duran. After further studies in Italy he returned to New York. Wiles furnished illustrations for many of the leading magazines, but devoted himself principally to painting in oils and water-colors. The merit of his work gained for him various prizes besides the gold medal at the World's Columbian Exposition, Chicago (1893), and a medal at the Paris Exposition (1900). Among his paintings are the "Corner Table," the "Sonata," "Sunshine and Flowers" (a portrait of a woman and child), "Memories" (1891, Carnegie Collection), the |