SONOKA 492 SOPHIA Treaty of London, with England, France, and Russia. He took a conspicuous part in the Peace Conference, and made every effort to secure Italy's claims to Fiume and Dalmatia. Unable to secure the as- sent of the Conference, he left Paris and returned to Italy. Shortly after, the min- istry of which he was a member, fell. SONORA, a frontier State in the N. W. of Mexico; on the Gulf of California; is the second largest in the republic; area, 76,633 square miles. The coast is flat and sandy, the interior filled with wooded mountains and fertile valleys. Malaria is mostly confined to one part of the coast. Here the climate is hot, but in the mountains there is frost for five months in the year. The chief rivers are the Sonora, Yaqui, and Mayo. The prin- cipal wealth of the State is in its min- erals, especially gold, silver, mercury, and iron. Agriculture, wine growing, and cattle-rearing are also successful, and cot- tons, hats, shoes, and soap are manufac- tured. Pop. about 275,000. Capital, Hermosillo; chief port, Guaymas. SONS OF THE AMERICAN REVO- LUTION, NATIONAL SOCIETY OF THE, a patriotic society. It was organ- ized in New York City in 1889 and mem- bership is hereditary, being confined to descendants of those who fought in the cause of American independence, as of- ficer, soldier, seaman, marine, militiaman, or minuteman in the forces of the Con- tinental Congress or of the several colo- nies. The society is a reorganization of the Sons of Revolutionary Sires, which was organized in San Francisco, Cal., in 1875, and after 1889 became the Cali- fornia State Society of the Sons of the American Revolution. The society was incorporated in 1906, and the member- ship is about 13,500. SONS OF THE REVOLUTION, a patriotic society composed of the descend- ants of those who co-operated in the American Revolution. It was organized in New York City in 1876 and reorgan- ized in 1883. Membership is restricted to male lineal descendants and the society has been active in marking with tablets and otherwise indicating and safe-guard- ing places associated with persons and events connected with the war of inde- pendence. Among the monuments due to the society are tablets commemorating the site of the battles of Long Island and of Harlem Heights. The statue of Nathan Hale in City Hall Park was erected by the society. Membership i3 about 7,000. SONS OF VETERANS, a patriotic organization established in Philadelphia, Pa., in 1879. It is an hereditary society, being restricted to lineal male descend- ants of soldiers, sailors and marines who served with honor in the Civil War. The insignia consist of a bronze bar on which are the words "Filii Veteranorum" ; and pendant from this bar is a red, white and blue ribbon attached to a medallion con- taining a monogram of the letters "S. V." in relief on a wreath over crossed can- nons, surmounted by a spread eagle. A parallel society is the Daughters of Vet- erans, consisting of female descendants. The members number about 56,000. SONS OF WAR VETERANS, SO- CIETY OF, a patriotic society estab- lished in 1893, for the purpose of pre- serving and perpetuating the principles for which the Federal soldiers fought in the Civil War, to assist surviving veter- ans and their widows, and help in the mutual benefit and advancement of its members. The society admits to mem- bership any male descendant of an hon- orably discharged Union soldier, sailor, or marine, who served for not less than six months and part of the time at the front. SOPHIA, Empress of Constantinople, niece of Theodora, and wife of Justinian II., with whom she shared in the govern- ment of the state. After the death of that prince in 578 she conspired against Tiberius Constantine, who had been raised to the throne by her advice, and, being defeated by him, was compelled to live in privacy. SOPHIA, half-sister of Peter the Great, and Czarina of Russia; born in 1657; in 1682 she placed herself at the head of the revolt of the stryeltsy. Having succeeded in her ambitious designs, she reigned over the Muscovites under the names of her brothers, Peter and Ivan. The former (Peter the Great), however, finally possessed himself of the sole power; and Sophia died a prisoner in a convent in 1704. SOPHIA, CHURCH OF ST., in Con- stantinople, the most celebrated ecclesi- astical edifice of the Greek Church, now used as a mosque; was built by the Em- peror Justinian, and dedicated in 558. It is in the Byzantine style of architecture, has a fine dome rising to the height of 180 feet, and is richly decorated in the interior. With the principal dome are connected two half domes and six smaller ones, which add to the general effect. The mass of the edifice is of brick, but is over- laid with marble; the floor is of mosaic work, composed of porphyry and verd an- tique. The great piers which support the dome consist of square blocks of stone bound with hoops of iron. The numerous pillars supporting the internal galleries,
