FOLKLORE 165 FONT discoverer of the circulation of the blood. Pop. about 35,000. FOLKLORE, the science which em- braces all that relates to ancient obser- vances and customs, to the notions, be- liefs, traditions, superstitions, and preju- dices of the common people. Gomme's divisions are: (1) Traditional Narra- tives: (a) Folk-tales, (b) Hero Tales, (c) Ballads and Songs, (d) Place Leg- ends; (2) Traditional Customs: (a) Lo- cal Customs, (b) Festival Customs, (c) Ceremonial Customs, (d) Games; (3) Superstitions and Beliefs: (a) Witch- craft, (b) Astrology, (c) Superstitious Practices and Fancies; (4) Folk-speech: (a) Popular Sayings, (b) Popular No- menclature, (c) Proverbs, (d) Jingle Rhymes, Riddles, etc. Folklore had indeed been observed and noted by countless vi^riters from the Father of History downward, but it was not till after the beginning of the 19th century that its value for the elucidation of the social history of mankind had become apparent to thinkers, and its systematic study been sei'iously begun. Meantime the reawakening to natural poetry and to the beauty of free emotion- al expression in literature, which lay at the foundation of what it is usual to call Romanticism, had already commenced even in the 18th century, and the publi- cation of Percy's "Reliques of Ancient English Poetry" (1765) had given a powerful impulse to Scott and others in England, to Herder, and to Arnim and Brentano in Germany, who found lying to hand a rich wealth of traditional poetry, the poetic value of which they fortunately had the eyes to see. But the study of folksongs really began with Scott's "Minstrelsy of the Scottish Bor- der" (1802-1803). Popular traditions began to be valued duly just as they began to decline and disappear; but for- tunately a plentiful crop had been gath- ered and put into writing beyond the risk of oblivion. Such works as E. B. Tylor's "Primi- tive Culture" (1871), and G. L. Gom- me's "Folklore Relics of Early Village Life" (1883), have shown us what sig- nificant constructive results may already be attained with the evidence we possess. FOLLEN, ELIZA LEE (CABOT), an American author; born in Boston, Mass., Aug. 15, 1787. She was the wife of Charles T. C. Follen, whose memoirs she wrote (1842). Her other works are: "Well-Spent Hours" (1827); "Poems" (1839); "Anti - Slavery Hymns and Songs" (1855) ; "Twilight Stories" (1855); and "Home Dramas" (1859). She died in Brookline, Mass., Jan. 26, 1860. FOLLICLE^ a form of fruit placed by Lindley in his class Apocarpi. It differs from the legume in having but one valve instead of two. A flower of Nigella, or one of Delphinium, produces several such follicles. In anatomy, a follicle is a minute secreting bag, which commonly opens upon a mucous membrane; a simple gland. It is called also a crypt or lacuna. FOMENTATION, the application of a liquid, such as water, generally warm, to a portion of the body to remove exter- nal or internal disease. The application is usually made by means of flannel, steeped in the liquid. If the water be charged with mucilaginous principles, it is called emollient; if with a narcotic one it is said to be sedative or anodyne. FOND DU LAC, a city and county- seat of Fond du Lac co., Wis., on Winne- bago lake, at the mouth of Fond du Lac river, and on the Chicago, Milwaukee, and St. Paul, the Chicago and North- western, and the Minneapolis, St. Paul and Sault Ste. Marie raih-oads; 60 miles N. W. of Milwaukee. There is steam- boat connection through Winnebago Lake and Fox river with all the Great Lakes. Here are a high school, St. Agnes Hospital and Sanatorium, a court house, Grafton Hall (Prot. Epis.), several banks, and daily and weekly newspapers. It has manufactories of engines, machin- ery, flour, paper, carriages, lumber, leather, typewriters, drugs, candies, etc. Pop. (1910) 18,797; (1920) 23,427. FONT, the vessel which contains the water for the purposes of baptism. The font is the only relic of our ancient archi- tecture which in its form is at all analo- gous to the Grecian and Roman vases. Norman fonts are generally square or circular; the first frequently placed on five legs. The circular form continued to be much used during the early English period; so, occasionally, was the square. Throughout the continuance of the Dec- orated style, the octagon was generally employed, sometimes the hexagon. Dur- ing the Perpendicular style, the octagon was almost always used. Until the Reformation, and occasionally after, dip- ping was practiced in England. Pouring or sprinkling was not unusual previous to the Reformation; for as early as the year 754, pouring, in cases of necessity, was declared by Pope Stephen III. to be lawful; and in the year 1311, the Council of Ravenna declared dipping or sprinkling indifferent; yet dipping appears to have been in England the more usual mode. Fonts were required to be covered and locked, and the covers were highly orna- mented.
