Page:Collier's New Encyclopedia v. 04.djvu/86

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
EUPHORBUS
60
EURIPIDES

Rhine province. As a result of the Peace Treaty of Versailles the city with the district of which it was the capital was transferred to Belgium. It is famous for its iron foundries, woolen and cloth mills, and its breweries. Pop. about 13,500.

EUPHORBUS, the son of Panthous, slain by Menelaus in the Trojan war.

EUPHRATES (-frā′tēz), or EL FRAT, a celebrated river of western Asia, in Asiatic Turkey, having a double source in two streams rising in the Anti-Taurus range. Its total length is about 1,700 miles, and the area of its basin 260,000 square miles. It flows mainly in a S. E. course through the great alluvial plains of Babylonia and Chaldæa till it falls into the Persian Gulf by several mouths, of which only one in Persian territory is navigable. About 100 miles from its mouth it is joined by the Tigris, when the united streams take the name of Shatt-el-Arab.

EUPHUISM, an affected style of speech which distinguished the conversation and writings of many of the wits of the court of Queen Elizabeth. The name and the style were derived from the "Euphues, the Anatomy of Wit," (about 1580), of John Lyly, (about 1554–1606).

EURASIANS (syncopated from Europ-Asians), a name sometimes given to the "half-castes" of India, the offspring of European fathers and Indian mothers. They are particularly common in the three presidential capitals—Calcutta, Madras, and Bombay. They generally receive a European education, and the young men are often engaged in government or mercantile offices. The girls, in spite of their dark tint, are generally very pretty and often marry Europeans.

EURE (er), a river of France, which rises in the department of the Orne, and falls into the Seine after a course of 124 miles, being navigable for about half the distance. It gives its name to a department in the N. W. of France, forming part of Normandy; area, 2,300 square miles. The surface consists of an extensive plain, intersected by rivers, chief of which is the Seine. Almost the whole surface is profitably occupied, the waste not amounting to one-thirtieth of the whole. Apples, pears, plums, and cherries form important crops, and a little wine is produced. The mining and manufacturing industries are extensive, and the department has a considerable trade in woolen cloth, linen and cotton fabrics, carpets, leather, paper, glass, and stoneware. Evreux is the capital. Pop. about 330,000.

EURE-ET-LOIR (er ā lwär), a department in the N. W. of France, forming part of the old provinces of Orléannais and Ile-de-France; area, 2,267 square miles. A ridge of no great height divides the department into a N. and a S. basin, traversed respectively by the Eure and the Loire. The soil is extremely fertile, and there is scarcely any waste land. A considerable portion is occupied by orchards and vineyards, but the greater part is devoted to cereal crops. The department is essentially agricultural, and has few manufactures. The capital is Chartres. Pop. about 275,000.

EUREKA, a city and county-seat of Humboldt co., Cal., on Humboldt bay, and on the Northwestern and Pacific railroad; 225 miles N. W. of San Francisco. It has a fine harbor, which has been improved by the United States government on the jetty plan. The city is situated in the famous redwood region, and has large lumber interests. Sequoia Park, a tract of 20 acres of virgin redwood forest, is near the city. The city has gas and electric lights, high schools, daily and weekly newspapers. Pop. (1910) 11,854; (1920) 12,923. See Big Trees.

EUREKA COLLEGE, a coeducational institution in Eureka, Ill.; founded in 1855 under the auspices of the Christian Church; reported at the close of 1919: Professors and instructors, 23; students, 383; president, L. O. Lehmar.

EURIPIDES (-rip′i-dēz) , a celebrated Athenian tragedian; born in Salamis, in 480 B. C. (or 485). He studied under Prodicus and Anaxagoras, and is said to have begun to write tragedies at the age of 18, although his first published play, the "Peliades," appeared only in 455 B. C. He was not successful in gaining the first prize till the year 441 B. C., and he continued to exhibit till 408 B. C., when he exhibited the "Orestes." The violence of unscrupulous enemies, who accused him of impiety and unbelief in the gods, drove Euripides to take refuge at the court of Archelaus, King of Macedonia, where he was held in the highest honor. Euripides is a master of tragic situations and pathos, and shows much knowledge of human nature and skill in grouping characters, but his works lack the artistic completeness and the sublime earnestness that characterize Æschylus and Sophocles. Euripides is said to have composed 75, or according to another authority 92 tragedies. Of these 18 (or 19, including the "Rhesus") are extant, viz.: "Alcestis," "Medea," "Hippolytus," "Hecuba," "Heracleidæ,"