Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 02.djvu/137

It was said to stand in the middle and highest part of Ida's Plain, which is the centre of the universe. There the Æsir (gods) built a hall, Glads-heim (home of joy), with seats for twelve, and one high-seat for Odin, the All-father; and also a lofty abode called Vingolf, for the goddesses. The gods worked diligently, played at games, were rich in precious things, and happy until three maidens from Jötunheim, 'giants' world,' crossed the plain and entered Asaheim, when corruption began to spread among the inmates. Asgard had many mansions, the largest and noblest of which was Gladsheim, while another, not so large, but fairer and brighter than the sun, was called Gimli. The latter mansion will stand when heaven and earth shall have been destroyed by fire, and will be the dwelling-place of brave and upright men. There is an historical explanation of this myth; that Asaheim was a country east of the Don in Asia, where there was a city of Asgard, in which ruled a chief named Odin, or Woden; that Odin, fearing subjection by the Romans, led his people across Russia to Sweden and settled at Sigtuna (Upsala); that his priests or chief men founded other settlements, and established the worship of their ancestors; that in lapse of time the man Odin and his chiefs came to be looked upon as gods. No date can be settled for such a migration; but from B.C. 120 to 80 has been thought probable, for then Mithridates Eupater was defying the armies of Rome. This theory is based on the account in Heimskringle, which is, however, of doubtful value. See Æsir; and Scandinavian and Teutonic Mythology.

ASGILL, as'gil, John (1659-1738). An eccentric English writer. He was born at Hanley Castle, Worcestershire, and studied for the bar. At intervals during the whole of his checkered life he practiced his profession in some form or other; but he was continually getting into financial and other difficulties. Fortunately for him. Parliament had just passed an act (1700) for the resumption of forfeited estates in Ireland, and commissioners were appointed to settle claims. Seeing his opportunity, he went to Ireland, and found the whole country wrangling in lawsuits. His talents, and the favor of the commissioners, secured to him a lucrative practice; and he even acquired sufficient influence to obtain a seat in the Irish Parliament. Some time, however, before taking his seat, Asgill had published a most extraordinary pamphlet, entitled: An Argument Proving that, According to the Covenant of Eternal Life, Rervealed in the Scriptures, Man May Be Translated Hence, into the Eternal Life Without Passing Through Death, Although the Humane Nature of Christ Himself Could not thus Be Translated till He had Passed Through Death (1700). The Irish Parliament voted the treatise a libel, and expelled the author. Asgill returned to England and entered the English Parliament in 1705 as member for Bramber, in Sussex. But the fame of his unlucky pamphlet at last proved a Nemesis; for the English House, resolving to be not less virtuous than the Irish one, took up the treatise, condemned it to be burned by the common hangman, as profane and blasphemous, and expelled Asgill (1707). After this his circumstances rapidly grew worse, until he finally found something like peace in the King's Bench'and the Fleet, between which two places his excursions were confined for the remainder of his life. The famous pamphlet by which Asgill is remembered, was much praised by Coleridge for its irony. The case for man was, indeed, capitally argued in the terms of the English law. Asgill professed to believe that he was to be translated without dying. Consult the Gregg edition of the argument (New York, 1875). and Coleridge, Table Talk, April 30, 1832, reprint (London, 1883).

ASH (AS. (æsc, MHG. asch, Ger. Esche), Fraxinus. A genus of trees belonging to the natural order Oleaceæ. The leaves are decidu- ous, and are pinnate, with a terminal leaflet. There are about 50 species, mostly natives of Europe, eastern Asia, and of North America. The Common Ash (Fraxinus excelsior) grows wild in the middle and south of Europe and in the north of Asia. It is an undoubted native of

ASH-TREE LEAF AND FRUITAGE.

Great Britain. The flowers are naked; the leaves have five or six pair of leaflets. The flowers appear before the leaves in spring; in- deed, the tree is not covered with leaves until the season is far advanced, and loses them again early in autumn. It is, however, a most beau- tiful and umbrageous tree, highly ornamental in parks; but in parks or hedgerows it is injurious to the grass or crops immediately around it. It rises to the height of 100 to 150 feet, generally with a smooth stem. The wood is white, tough, and hard, which valued by wheelwrights, cart- wrights, coach-makers, joiners, and turners. It is also excellent for fuel. Sometimes it becomes ir- regular in the disposition of its fibres, and finely