A
celebrated
English As-
syriologist; born in London, March 26, 1840;
died at Aleppo, Aug.
syriologist; born in London, March 26, 1840;
died at Aleppo, Aug.
Warner - World's Best Literature - v29 - BIographical Dictionary
An English miscellaneous
writer; author of Natural Law: An Essay in
Ethics) (1877); (Episodes in the Lives of Men,
Women, and Lovers, stories (1882).
Simms, William Gilmore. An American
novelist and poet; born in Charleston, S. C. ,
April 17, 1806; died there, June 11, 1870. His
IOI
## p. 495 (#511) ############################################
SIMON - SKETCHLEY
-
495
a
)
publications include : (Atalantis: A Tale of
the Sea) (1832), the longest and most noted of
his poems; (The Yemassee) (1835; revised ed.
1853); "Castle Dismal» (1845); (The Wigwam
and the Cabin; or, Tales of the South) (1845–
46); (The Maroon, and Other Tales' (1855);
and "War Poetry of the South) (1867). *
Simon, Jules François Suisse (sē-môn').
A notable French statesman and writer on phil-
osophical and political subjects; born at Lo-
rient, Dec. 31, 1814; died at Paris, June 8, 1896.
He became a member of the Academy, 1875,
and the same year was appointed senator for
life. Among his works are: (Studies on the
Theodicy of Plato and Aristotle) (1840); (His-
tory of the School of Alexandria) (2 vols. ,
1844); Duty) (1854; 15th ed. 1892); «Natural
Religion (1856); "The Workingwoman (1861 ;
9th ed. 1891); Labor) (1866; 4th ed. 1877), a
work which arrested public attention; Free
Trade) (1870); (Reform of Secondary Educa-
tion (1874); (The Twentieth-Century Woman
(1891); - Four Portraits): Lamartine, Lavigerie,
Renan, and Emperor William II. (1896).
Simonds, William. [~ Walter Aimwell. ” ]
An American juvenile writer; born in Massa-
chusetts, 1822; died 1859. Among his best-
known works are: (The Aimwell Stories);
(The Boys' Own Guide); and (The Boys'
Book of Morals and Manners.
Simonides (sē-mon'id - ēz). A celebrated
Greek lyric poet; born in the island of Ceos,
about 556 B. C. ; died about 468. He was at
the height of his fame at the time of the Per.
sian war, and celebrated the heroes of that
struggle and their feats. Of his famous (Epi-
grams,' a good many have come down to us;
but of his Elegies, Dirges, Epinikia, Dithy.
rambs, Hymns, and Pæans, we have but frag-
(
girls (1836); (Shetland and the Shetlanders)
(1840); Modern Flirtations) (1841); (Scotch
Courtiers and the Court) (1842); Jane Bou-
verie; or, Prosperity and Adversity) (1846);
Popish Legends; or, Bible Truths) (1852);
(Torchester Abbey) (1857); (Anecdotes of the
Cæsars) (1858); (Sketches and Short Stories
of Scotland) (1859).
Sinclair, Thomas. A British poet and story-
writer; born near Thurso, Scotland, 1843. He
wrote : (Poems) (1873); (The Messenger,' verses
(1875); Love's Trilogy,' a poem (1876); “The
Goddess Fortune,' a novel (1884); (The Sinclairs
of England (1887).
Sinnett, Alfred Percy. An English jour-
nalist; born in London, 1840. He was on the
staff of the London Globe in 1859; afterwards
edited the Daily Press at Hong Kong. In 1871
he was editor of the Pioneer, at Allahabad,
India. Returning to England in 1882, he pub-
lished "The Occult World' and (Esoteric
Buddhism) (1883), which immediately connected
his name with the Theosophical movement,
and with its originator Madame Blavatsky.
Sismondi, Jean Charles Léonard Simon de
(sis-môn'dē). A celebrated Swiss historian;
born at Geneva, May 9, 1773; died there, June
25, 1842. His principal works are: (History of
the Italian Republics in the Middle Ages (16
vols. , 1807-18); "History of the New Birth of
Liberty in Italy) (2 vols. , 1832); History of
the French) (31 vols. , 1821-34); History of the
Fall of the Roman Empire) (2 vols. , 1835);
Julia Severa; or, The Year 492) (3 vols. , 1822);
(Literature of the South of Europe) (1813). *
Skeat, Walter William. A distinguished
English Anglo-Saxon scholar, philologist, and
lexicographer; born in London, Nov. 21, 1835.
He is professor of Anglo-Saxon at Cambridge
(from 1883); one of the founders of the Eng-
lish Dialect Society; and an authority on early
English literature. He has edited (The Vis-
ion of William concerning Piers Ploughman)
(1867-85); Barbour's (The Bruce) (1870-89);
(Specimens of English Literature, 1298-1579)
(1871 and 1872); numerous poems, metrical
romances, etc. ; and has compiled An Etymo-
logical Dictionary of the English Language)
(4 vols. , 1879-81; new ed. 1884), his chief work.
One of his recent publications is an edition of
Chaucer (6 vols. , 1894).
Skelton, John. An early English satirical
poet; born about 1460; died in 1529. He was
academical laureate at Cambridge and Ox-
ford, and afterwards was appointed by Henry
VII. tutor to Prince Henry, afterward Henry
VIII. He wrote many poems of a jocular and
satirical nature, among which are Philip Spar-
row, the lament of a maiden over the loss
of her pet bird; and (Colin Clout,' a satire on
the clergy.
Sketchley, Arthur, pseudonym of George
Rose. An English dramatist and writer of hu-
morous sketches; born at London, May 19, 1817;
died there, Nov. II, 1882. He wrote: (Pauline,
ments.
3
simpson, John Palgrave. An English
story-writer and dramatist; born at Norwich,
1807; died at London, Aug. 19, 1887. He wrote:
(Second Love) (1846); (Gisela) (1847); "Let-
ters from the Danube) (1847); (The Lily of
Paris; or, The King's Nurse) (1848); Pictures
from Revolutionary Paris) (1848); "Life of Karl
Maria von Weber. His dramatic compositions
were about forty in number; among them are
(The World and the Stage,' and (Sibylla ; or,
Step by Step.
Sims, George Robert. An English dram-
atist and journalist; born in London, Sept. 2,
1847. He is the author of (The Lights o' Lon-
don' (1882); (The Romany Rye) (1883). Some
of his contributions to the press are : Dagonet
Ballads) (1879); (Three Brass Balls) (1880);
( The Theatre of Life) (1881); 'How the Poor
Live) (1883); (Stories in Black and White)
(1885); Mary Jane's Memoir) (1887).
Sinclair, Catherine. A Scotch novelist;
born in Caithness, April 17, 1800; died there,
Aug. 6, 1864. Among her writings are: (Char-
lie Seymour); (Holiday House); Modern Ac-
complishments,' a study of the education of
## p. 496 (#512) ############################################
496
SKINNER-SMITH
a drama (1851); (The Dark Cloud,' drama Aug. 23, 1809; died at Paris, April 3, 1849. In
(1863); "How will They Get out of It,' com- his earlier poems he was under the influence
edy (1864); and about 35 volumes of humor- of Byron; but escapes from it in the 'Ode to
ous pieces selected from his contributions to Liberty,! (Hymn to the Mother of God,' and
the comic journals, among them (Mrs. Brown's (Song of the Lithuanian Legion (1831). The
Visit to the Paris Exhibition (1867), followed sentiment of Polish nationality finds fullest
by a series of observations of the same imagi- expression in the dramatic poem Kordyan
nary personage: In the Highlands) (1869); (1834), and the tragedy (Mazeppa. Slowacki
(On the Grand Tour) (1870); (On the New reaches the height of his lyric power in the
Liquor Law) (1872); “On the Alabama Claims poem "In Switzerland. His last great work,
(1872); “On Home Rule) (1881); etc.
left incomplete, was King Spirit, which he
Skinner, John. A Scotch song-writer; born
designed to be a "Legend of the Ages) of
at Balfour, in Aberdeenshire, Oct. 3, 1721 ; died
Polish history. *
June 16, 1807. His songs were very popular: Smalley, George Washburn. An American
among them were (Tullochgorum,' reckoned
journalist; born in Franklin, Mass. , June 2,
by Burns “the best Scotch song Scotland ever 1833. During the American Civil War, the
saw”; (Ewie wi' the Crookit Horn); John war between Prussia and Russia, and the
o' Badenyon'; (The Old Man's Song. He
Franco-German war, he distinguished himself
wrote an 'Ecclesiastical History of Scotland)
as war correspondent of the New York Trib-
(2 vols. , 1788).
une; and as representative of the same in
Skipsey, Joseph. An English verse-writer; London (1867-95) he gained an eminent rank
author of Poems, Songs, and Ballads) (1862); in journalism. His London Letters and Some
(Miscellaneous Lyrics) (1878). A complete Others) and (Studies of Men) were widely
edition of his works, entitled "Carols from the popular. He has been American correspondent
Coal Fields, and Other Songs and Ballads, of the London Times since 1895.
was issued in 1886.
Smart, Christopher. An English poet, and
Sladen, Douglas Brooke Wheelton. An
one of the interesting figures of literary his-
English poet; born at London, 1856. He is tory; born at Shipbourne, Kent, April 11, 1722 ;
author of Frithjog and Ingebjorg, and Other died May 21, 1771. His fame rests upon a
Poems) (1882); (Australian Lyrics) (1883); (A Song to David? (1763), pronounced by Dante
Summer Christmas: A Tale of Sport) (1884); Gabriel Rossetti "the only great accomplished
(Edward the Black Prince, an epic drama poem of the eighteenth century. ” It is said
(1886); (Australian Ballads and Rhymes) (1888); to have been written in a madhouse, “partly
(The Spanish Armada) (1888), a ballad. with charcoal on the walls, or indented with a
Sleidan or Sleidanus, Johannes (sli'dan). key on the panels of his cell,” the poet hav-
A celebrated German historian; born at Schlei- ing been deprived of his liberty on account of
den near Cologne; died at Strasburg, Oct. 31,
his debts. Noted also is a version of Horace,
1556. His greatest work is Memoirs of the which had a wide sale. Other works are : (Po.
State of Religion and the Civil Government ems) (1752); Power of the Supreme Being'
under the Emperor Charles V? ? (3 vols. , 1555), (1753); «The Hilliad : An Epic Poem (1753);
a history written without partisanship, and in
Poems on Several Occasions) (1763); (Trans-
graceful literary style ; he wrote also a history
lation of the Psalms of David (1765); and
of (The Four Great Empires, Babylonian,
many miscellaneous essays, poems, and trans-
Persian, Greek, and Roman (1556).
lations.
Sloane, William Milligan. An American Smart, Mrs. Helen Hamilton (Gardener).
historian; born in Richmond, O. , Nov. 12, 1850;
An American novelist ; born in Virginia, 1853
graduated at Columbia in 1868; studied in Ber- She has published many works of fiction deal.
lin and Leipsic (1872–76), and during part of ing with social reforms. Among these are :
that time was private secretary of George Ban-
(An Unofficial Patriot); (Is This Your Son,
croft, then minister at Berlin. He was for sev- My Lord? ) (Facts and Fictions of Life); 'Pray
eral years a professor at Princeton, and is now You, Sir, Whose Daughter? ) (The Fortunes of
professor of history at Columbia. He has pub- Margaret Weld. She has also written maga-
lished: (The French War and the Revolution); zine articles, part of them collected as Men,
(Life of James McCosh'; in 1897 brought out
Women, and Gods.
a very important Life of Napoleon,' in 2 vols. Smiles, Samuel. A British miscellaneous
Slosson, Mrs. Annie (Trumbull). An Amer- writer; born at Haddington, Scotland, 1812.
ican story-writer, sister of J. Hammond and Many of his writings had a very wide circu-
Henry Clay Trumbull; born in Hartford, Conn. , lation. Among them are : (Self-Help) (1860);
184-. She has devoted much time to the study Life of George Stephenson (oth ed. 1864);
of entomology, and written many excellent short (Lives of Engineers) (1862; new ed. 1874, 5
stories. Her books include: (Seven Dreamers,' vols. ); (The Huguenots in England and Ire-
a collection of her magazine stories ; (The land) (4th ed. 1876); (Thrift) (1875); (Men
Heresy of Mehetabel Clark); Anna Malann”;
of Invention and Industry) (1884).
(The China Hunter's Club); and others. *
Smith, Adam. A renowned Scotch political
Slowacki, Julius (slo-vats'ke). A celebrated economist; born at Kirkcaldy, June 5, 1723;
Polish poet; born at Kremenecz in Volhynia, died at Edinburgh, July 17, 1790. He wrote a
## p. 497 (#513) ############################################
SMITH: ALBERT - GOLDWIN
497
(Theory of Moral Sentiments) (1759), in which
he finds in human sympathy the cohesive force
of social life; (Origin of Languages) (about
1760); and (in 1776) his great work, Inquiry
into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of
Nations, unfairly said to make self-interest
the chief motor of society: it only makes that
passion the chief motor of making money. *
Smith, Albert. An English humorist ; born
at Chertsey in Surrey, May 24, 1816; died at
Fulham in Middlesex, May 23, 1860.
He was
a leading contributor to Punch. He wrote:
(The Adventures of Mr. Ledbury); (Christo-
pher Tadpole); Pottleton's Legacy); a series
of natural histories” of “The Gent,) (The
Ballet Girl, (The Idler upon Town, "The
Flirt); and (The Medical Student,' a small
volume of amusing skits.
Smith, Alexander. A Scottish poet; born
in Kilmarnock, Dec. 31, 1830; died at Wardie
near Edinburgh, Jan. 5, 1867. Among his works,
(A Life Drama) (1853) attracted great atten-
tion. He wrote: (Sonnets of the War,' with
Sydney Dobell (1855); (City Poems) (1857);
(Edwin of Deira) (1861); also the prose works
Dreamthorpe) (1863), “A Summer in Skye)
(1865), Alfred Hagart's Household) (1866),
and (Miss Oona McQuarrie) (1866).
Smith, Buckingham. An American historian
and philologist; born in Georgia, Oct. 31, 1810;
died in New York, Jan. 5, 1871. He was sec-
retary of legation at Mexico (1850-52), and at
Madrid (1855-58). He made an exhaustive
study of Mexican history and antiquities, and
published many monographs and historical pa-
pers. Among them are: (Narrative of Her-
nando de Soto (1854); (Documents relating to
the History of Florida) (1857); (A Grammatical
Sketch of the Heve Language) (1861); 'Gram-
mar of the Pina Language) (1862).
Smith, Charles Henry. [“Bill Arp. ”] An
American humorist; born in Lawrenceville,
Ga. , June 15, 1826. His literary career began
(1861) in a series of letters under the pseu-
donym above. Alis publications include : Bill
Arp's Scrap-Book) (1886); “The Farm and the
Fireside); and (Georgia as a Colony and State,
1733-1893.
Smith, Charlotte Turner. An English nov-
elist; born 1749; died 1806. She wrote : Elegiac
Sonnets and Other Essays (1784); ‘Emmeline ;
or, The Orphan of the Castle (1788); (Ethe-
linde; or, the Recluse of the Lake) (1789);
"Celestina: A Novel (1791); Desmond: A
Novel (1792); (The Old Manor-House) (1793);
(The Emigrants: A Poem (1793); Natural
History of Birds) (1807).
Smith, Edmund Neale. An English poet;
born 1668; died 1710. His works are: Poem
on the Death of Mr. John Philips) (1708);
(Phædrus and Hippolitus : A Tragedy) (1719);
(Monody on Dr. Pocock) (1750); (Odes' (1719).
Smith, Elizabeth Oakes (Prince). An Amer-
an writer of prose and verse, not her
time; wife of Seba; born in Cumberland, Me. ,
Aug. 12, 1806; died in 1893. Among her nu-
merous works are: “Riches Without Wings'
(1838); (The Newsboy); (The Sinless Child,
and Other Poems) (1841); "Woman and her
Needs) (1847); and (Bald Eagle, the Last of the
Rampaughs) (1867). Her children changed
their name to Oaksmith to identify themselves
with her.
Smith, Francis Hopkinson. An American
artist and author residing in New York; born
in Baltimore, Md. , Oct. 23, 1838. His well-known
contributions to the current literature of the day
have been illustrated by his own hand. Among
his works are: (Well-Worn Roads of Spain);
Holland and Italy); (Old Lines in New Black
and White); (A White Umbrella in Mexico);
(A Book of the Tile Club); (A Day at Laguerre);
(Colonel Carter of Cartersville,' a novel ; (Amer-
ican Illustrators); A Gentleman Vagabond
and Some Others); (Tom Grogan,' a novel;
(Espero Gorgoni, Gondolier. )
Smith, George.
A celebrated English As-
syriologist; born in London, March 26, 1840;
died at Aleppo, Aug. 19, 1876. The importance
of his contributions to our knowledge of Assyr-
ian history and inscriptions is everywhere ac-
knowledged. Part of his published works are:
(The Chaldean Account of Genesis); (As-
syria from the Earliest Times till the Fall of
Nineveh) (1875); (Assyrian Discoveries) (1875),
an account of his own travels and researches;
(The Assyrian Eponym Canon (1876); (His-
tory of Babylonia,' edited by A. H. Sayce (1877);
(History of Sennacherib,' edited by A. H. Sayce
(1878).
Smith, George Barnett. An English jour-
nalist, littérateur, and biographer; born at Oven-
den, near Halifax, Yorkshire, May 17, 1841.
He was for a time on the staff of the London
Globe and Echo; and subsequently contributed
literary, critical, and biographical articles to
British reviews. His chief publications are :
(Poets and Novelists) (1875); "Lives) of Shel-
ley, Gladstone, Peel, Bright, Victor Hugo, and
Queen Victoria ; Prime Ministers of Queen
Victoria) (1886); and the standard History of
the English Parliament' (2 vols. , 1892).
Smith, Gerrit. An American reformer, anti.
slavery advocate, and philanthropist; born in
Utica, N. Y. , in 1797 ; died in New York, Dec.
28, 1874. He was active in the cause of tem-
perance, an uncompromising enemy of slavery,
made large donations in aid of the poor, and
gave land in New York State to many escaped
slaves. He wrote numerous tracts and papers;
and published: (Speeches in Congress (1855);
(Sermons and Speeches) (1861); (The Religion
of Reason (1864); (The Theologies) (1866);
(Nature the Basis of a Free Theology) (1867);
and Correspondence with Albert Barnes)
(1868).
Smith, Goldwin. An eminent English lib.
eral, essayist, and educator, now residing in
Canada; born in Reading, Aug. 13, 1823. In
1868 he was professor of English history at
32
## p. 498 (#514) ############################################
SMITH: HANNAH – WILLIAM
498
e
Cornell University. In 1871 he removed to
Toronto, and is a professor at the Toronto Uni-
versity. His contributions to the reviews of
the day are numerous and important. For a
full account of his works see article. *
Smith, Hannah. (“Hesba Stretton. ”] An
English novelist; born at Wellington, Shrop-
shire. She has written many novels and sto-
ries; including : (Jessica's First Prayer) (1866);
(The Clives of Burcot) (1867); Paul's Court-
ship’ (1867); Hester Morely's Promise) (1868);
and (Bede's Charity' (1882).
Smith, James and Horace. Authors of the
(Rejected Addresses, and other excellent hu-
morous compositions; born in London ; James
born 1775, died 1839; Horace born 1779, died
1849. The managers of the new Drury Lane
Theatre, completed in 1812 to replace the
burned one, offered a prize for the most suita-
ble opening address; the result was a deluge
of such ludicrous rubbish that all had to be
rejected, and Byron was commissioned to write
one. The brothers Smith conceived the idea
of burlesquing the style of leading poets and
other men of letters and public notorieties,
in a set of pieces purporting to be among the
real addresses sent in to the committee but
declined. Hence the volume of "Rejected Ad-
dresses, which by 1819 had reached its six-
teenth edition, and is a livingly familiar classic
still. Its travesties are hardly caricatures so
much as genuine reproductions of the spirit
as well as manner of their subjects. Horace
subsequently published many novels and poems,
the best-known among them being the “Ode to
an Egyptian Mummy. James was afterwards
a well-known diner-out, entertainer, and con-
tributor to periodical literature of his day; his
best-known pieces are (The Taking of Sebas-
topol) and “Surnames Go by Contraries. )
Smith, (Captain) John. The famous Eng.
lish adventurer and colonist; born in Wil-
loughby, Lincolnshire, January 1579; died in
London, June 21, 1631. He was one of the
founders of Virginia, who in 1607 settled in
Jamestown. His writings are: (A Map of Vir-
ginia,' etc. (1612); (The Generall Historie of
Virginia, etc. ( 1624); Description of New
England); (An Accidence, or Pathway to
Experience); (A Sea Grammar); (The True
Travels of Captain John Smith.
Smith, Mary Louise (Riley). An American
verse-writer; born in Brighton, N. Y. , May 27,
1842. She is author of (A Gift of Gentians,
and Other Verses) (1882); “The Inn of Rest)
(1888); and several booklets, in which are
included her notably popular poems (Tired
Mothers, (If, (His Name, and "Sometime.
Smith, Matthew Hale. A Unitarian minister,
journalist, and author; born in Portland, Me. ,
in 1810; died in Brooklyn, N. Y. , 1879. As a
newspaper correspondent under the name (Bur-
leigh,” he attained reputation for vivacity and
piquancy.
He also made successful lecture
tours. His writings include: Universalism
Exposed (1842); (Universalism Not of God
(1847); (Sabbath Evenings! ( 1849 ); Mount
Calvary) (1866); and (Sunshine and Shadow
in New York) (1868-69).
Smith, Richard Penn. An American drama-
tist and novelist; born in Philadelphia, March
13, 1799; died at Falls of Schuylkill, Pa. , Aug.
12, 1854. Among his most distinguished plays
are : Caius Marius,' a tragedy, presented by
Edwin Forrest in 1831 ; (The Disowned'; and
(The Venetians. His other works include:
(The Forsaken,' a novel (2 vols. , 1831 ); Life
of David Crockett (1836); and 'Life of Martin
Van Buren) (1836). His Complete Works,
Embodied in his Life and Correspondence'
was published by his son, Horace Wemyss
Smith (4 vols. , 1888).
Smith, Samuel Francis. An American cler.
gyman and religious verse-writer; born in Bos-
ton, Oct. 21, 1808; died in 1895. He was the
author of numerous hymns, including America,
which was written in 1832; and has published
for young readers and others : Knights and
Sea Kings); Mythology and Early Greek
History); and (Poor Boys who Became Great. "
Smith, Seba. [“Major Jack Downing. ”] An
American journalist and political satirist; born
in Buckfield, Me. , Sept. 14, 1792; died in Patch-
ogue, L. I. , July 29, 1868. His publications in-
clude: (The Life and Writings of Major Jack
Downing,' a series of humorous and satirical let.
ters written during the administration of Presi-
dent Jackson (1833); Powhatan,' a poetic ro-
mance (1841); New Elements in Geometry
(1850); and “Way Down East) (1855).
Smith, Sydney. A celebrated English wit,
clergyman, and essayist; born at Woodford,
Essex, June 3, 1771; died in London, Feb. 22,
1845. He was one of the founders of the Edin-
burgh Review. His writings comprise articles
contributed to the Edinburgh Review and re-
published in book form in 1839; Peter Plym.
ley's Letters) (1807-8), in favor of Catholic
emancipation; (Three Letters to Archdeacon
Singleton on the Ecclesiastical Commission
(1837-39); Letters); “ Papers); etc. *
Smith, Walter Chalmers.
A Scotch poet
and story-writer; born 1824. Among his writ-
ings are : "Olrig Grange: A Poem (1872);
(Hilda among the Broken Gods) (1878); (Ra-
ban, or Life Splinters) (1880); North-Country
Folk Poems) (1883); (Kildrostan, a dramatic
poem (1884).
Smith, William. An English poet and noy-
elist. He wrote: (Guidone : A Dramatic Poem
(2d ed. 1836); (Athelwold, a tragedy (1842);
(Discourse on the Ethics of the School of Paley)
(1839); “Thorndale; or, The Conflict of Opin-
ions) (1857); "Gravenhurst; or, Thoughts on
Good and Evil) (1862).
Smith, William. A distinguished English
classical scholar and compiler of classical dic-
tionaries; born in London, 1813 or 1814; died
1893. He was of great learning, and his works
have been very influential in the guidance and
## p. 499 (#515) ############################################
SMITH-SOMERVILLE
499
extension of scholarship. They include: (Dic-
tionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities' (1840–
42); “Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography
and Mythology) (1843-49); “Dictionary of Greek
and Roman Geography) (1853-57); Dictionary
of the Bible) (1860-63); Dictionary of Christian
Antiquities) (1875-80); Dictionary of Christian
Biography, Literature, Sects, and Doctrines, dur-
ing the First Eight Centuries) (1877-87), with
Dr. Wace. He also published Greek and Latin
text-books, dictionaries, and manuals, besides
editing editions of Gibbon, Hume, Hallam, and
other historians.
Smith, William Robertson. A Scotch theo-
logian and Orientalist; born at Keig, Aber.
deenshire, Nov. 8, 1846; died at Cambridge,
March 31, 1894. Upon concluding his theo-
logical studies at Edinburgh, Göttingen, and
Bonn, he was elected to the chair of Hebrew
and Old Testament exegesis in the Free Church
College, Aberdeen, and almost immediately be-
gan to arouse opposition by the advanced tone
of his lectures, essays, and addresses. A crisis
in his career came upon the appearance of his
Biblical contributions to the ninth edition of
the (Encyclopædia Britannica,' when he was
tried for heresy, but finally acquitted in 1880.
His article on Hebrew Language and Liter-
ature) in the Britannica) led to his removal
from the Free Church College professorship.
The views which occasioned the controversy
are set forth in (The Old Testament in the
Jewish Church (1881), « The Prophets of Israel
(1882), and many important pamphlets. Mean-
while he had been very active in Oriental stud-
ies, and in 1883 became professor of Arabic at
Cambridge. To this period belong Kinship
and Marriage in Early' Arabia) (1885), and
(Religion of the Semites: Fundamental Insti-
tutions) (1889). He was for a time sole editor
of the 'Encyclopædia Britannica. '
Smollett, Tobias George. A celebrated Brit-
ish novelist; born at Dalquhurn, Dumbarton-
shire, Scotland, March 1721 ; died at Monte
Novo, near Leghorn, Italy, Oct. 21, 1771. His
works include: Advice) (1746? ), a satire ;
(Reproof (1746? ), a satire ; (The Adventures
of Roderick Random (1748); (The Regicide)
(1749), a tragedy ; (The Adventures of Pere-
grine Pickle) (1751); (The Adventures of Fer-
dinand, Count Fathom (1753); “Don Quixote)
(1755), a translation from the Spanish of Cer-
vantes; 'Compendium of Voyages and Travels)
(1757); History of England from the Land-
ing of Cæsar to the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle)
(1757); (The Reprisals) (1757), a farce; (The
Adventures of Sir Lancelot Greaves) (1760-61);
a translation of 'Gil Blas) (1761); (The Present
State of all Nations : containing a Geographi-
cal, Natural, Commercial, and Political His-
tory of all the Countries of the Known World)
(1763); (Travels) (1766); (The Adventures of
an Atom (1769), a political satire; and “The
Expedition of Humphrey Clinker) (1771). *
Smyth, Charles Piazzi. A Scotch astrono-
mer; born at Naples, Jan. 3, 1819. His studies
of the great Egyptian pyramid led him to the
conclusion that that structure was raised under
direct inspiration of God, and that therein were
deposited revelations of the great truths of
physical Nature. He wrote "Our Inheritance
in the Great Pyramid) (3d ed. 1880).
Smyth, (Samuel) Newman (Phillips). An
American clergyman and religious writer; born
in Brunswick, Me. , June 25, 1843. His publica-
tions include : "Old Faiths in New Light);
(The Orthodox Theology of To-day); (The
Morality of the Old Testament); (Personal
Creeds); (Christian Ethics ); (The Religious
Feeling); and (The Reality of Faith.
Snider, Denton Jaques. Born in Mt. Gilead,
0. , Jan. 9, 1841. His studies of the great poets,
Homer, Shakespeare, Dante, Goethe, and his
writings on kindred topics, are very numerous,
comprising some eighteen volumes. His book
(A Walk in Hellas) is a remarkable study of
Greece as it is to-day, illuminated by what it
was in its prime. *
Snieders, Jan Renier (snē'ders). A Dutch
novelist; born at Bladel in North Brabant,
Nov. 22, 1812; died at Turnhout, April 9, 1888.
His stories are mostly tales of village life.
Among them are (Amanda); Doctor Mar-
cus); (Narda.
Snoilsky, Carl Johan Gustaf, Count (snoil'.
skē). A Swedish poet; born in Stockholm,
Sept. 8, 1841. His (Sonnets) (1871), and his
translation of Goethe's ballads ( 1876 ), are
among the best in Swedish literature. His later
poems, New Stanzas) (1881), show sympathy
for the unfortunate and oppressed.
Snorri or Snorre Sturluson (snor'ē stér'.
lä-son). An Icelandic historian and states-
man; born 1179; slain 1241. He composed the
Prose or Younger Edda ; and wrote the (Heims-
kringla,' a series of biographies of Norwegian
kings. * (See article (Eddas) in the Library. )
Socrates (sok’ra-tēs). The renowned Athen-
ian philosopher; born at Athens about 470 B. C. ;
died 399 B. C. He left no writings, and his
philosophical method and his teaching are to
be learned from the works of his disciples and
contemporaries, especially Plato and Xenophon.
In the Dialogues) of Plato, or rather in the
earlier dialogues, Socrates is believed to figure
in word and in action as he lived, a sincere
searcher for truth in all things. *
Solomon ben Jehuda ibn Gabirol. See
Avicebron.
Solon (so’lon). The Athenian legislator;
lived about 638–559 B. C. The constitution
which he gave to Athens is very clearly ex-
plained in Grote's History of Greece. Solon
himself defined its character and aims in six
hexameters which have come down to our
time. *
Somerville, Mary Fairfax. A Scottish as-
tronomer and scientist; born at Jedburgh, Dec.
26, 1780; died in Naples, Nov. 29, 1872. She
was elected a fellow of the Royal Astronomical
## p. 500 (#516) ############################################
500
SOPHOCLES-SOUTHWORTH
Society. She published: Mechanism of the
Heavens) (1830), a translation of Laplace's
(Mécanique Céleste,' made at the request of
Lord Brougham; 'Connection of the Physical
Sciences) (1834); Physical Geography) (1849);
(Microscopical and Molecular Science) (1869).
Sophocles (sof'o-klēz). The great Greek
tragic poet was born at Colonus, near Athens,
about 495 B. C. ; died about 405. His seven
extant tragedies are conjectured to have been
given to the public in the following order:
(Antigone) (440 B. C. );Electra”; Trachiniæ);
((Edipus Tyrannus); (Ajax); Philoctetes);
and (Edipus at Colonus. *
Sophocles, Evangelinus Apostolides. A
Grecian scholar and educational writer; born
in Tsangaranda, Thessaly, Greece, March 8,
1807 ; died in Cambridge, Mass. , Dec. 17, 1883.
Coming to America in 1829, he became pro-
fessor of ancient, modern, and Byzantine Greek
in Harvard University in 1860. Among his
publications are: Romaic Grammar) (1842;
2d ed. Boston, 1857 ; London, 1806); “Glossary
of Later and Byzantine Greek) (1860, forming
Vol. vii. , new series of Memoirs of the Amer.
ican Academy'); and (Greek Lexicon of the
Roman and Byzantine Periods, his most im-
portant work (1870).
Sophron (so'fron). A Greek mimetic poet of
the fifth century B. C. , native of Syracuse. His
mimes were dialogues in Doric Greek, half in
play, half in earnest, in which the character-
istics of the lower orders were faithfully ren-
dered. Only inconsiderable fragments of these
compositions have come down to us.
Sordello (sor-delʼlo).
writer; author of Natural Law: An Essay in
Ethics) (1877); (Episodes in the Lives of Men,
Women, and Lovers, stories (1882).
Simms, William Gilmore. An American
novelist and poet; born in Charleston, S. C. ,
April 17, 1806; died there, June 11, 1870. His
IOI
## p. 495 (#511) ############################################
SIMON - SKETCHLEY
-
495
a
)
publications include : (Atalantis: A Tale of
the Sea) (1832), the longest and most noted of
his poems; (The Yemassee) (1835; revised ed.
1853); "Castle Dismal» (1845); (The Wigwam
and the Cabin; or, Tales of the South) (1845–
46); (The Maroon, and Other Tales' (1855);
and "War Poetry of the South) (1867). *
Simon, Jules François Suisse (sē-môn').
A notable French statesman and writer on phil-
osophical and political subjects; born at Lo-
rient, Dec. 31, 1814; died at Paris, June 8, 1896.
He became a member of the Academy, 1875,
and the same year was appointed senator for
life. Among his works are: (Studies on the
Theodicy of Plato and Aristotle) (1840); (His-
tory of the School of Alexandria) (2 vols. ,
1844); Duty) (1854; 15th ed. 1892); «Natural
Religion (1856); "The Workingwoman (1861 ;
9th ed. 1891); Labor) (1866; 4th ed. 1877), a
work which arrested public attention; Free
Trade) (1870); (Reform of Secondary Educa-
tion (1874); (The Twentieth-Century Woman
(1891); - Four Portraits): Lamartine, Lavigerie,
Renan, and Emperor William II. (1896).
Simonds, William. [~ Walter Aimwell. ” ]
An American juvenile writer; born in Massa-
chusetts, 1822; died 1859. Among his best-
known works are: (The Aimwell Stories);
(The Boys' Own Guide); and (The Boys'
Book of Morals and Manners.
Simonides (sē-mon'id - ēz). A celebrated
Greek lyric poet; born in the island of Ceos,
about 556 B. C. ; died about 468. He was at
the height of his fame at the time of the Per.
sian war, and celebrated the heroes of that
struggle and their feats. Of his famous (Epi-
grams,' a good many have come down to us;
but of his Elegies, Dirges, Epinikia, Dithy.
rambs, Hymns, and Pæans, we have but frag-
(
girls (1836); (Shetland and the Shetlanders)
(1840); Modern Flirtations) (1841); (Scotch
Courtiers and the Court) (1842); Jane Bou-
verie; or, Prosperity and Adversity) (1846);
Popish Legends; or, Bible Truths) (1852);
(Torchester Abbey) (1857); (Anecdotes of the
Cæsars) (1858); (Sketches and Short Stories
of Scotland) (1859).
Sinclair, Thomas. A British poet and story-
writer; born near Thurso, Scotland, 1843. He
wrote : (Poems) (1873); (The Messenger,' verses
(1875); Love's Trilogy,' a poem (1876); “The
Goddess Fortune,' a novel (1884); (The Sinclairs
of England (1887).
Sinnett, Alfred Percy. An English jour-
nalist; born in London, 1840. He was on the
staff of the London Globe in 1859; afterwards
edited the Daily Press at Hong Kong. In 1871
he was editor of the Pioneer, at Allahabad,
India. Returning to England in 1882, he pub-
lished "The Occult World' and (Esoteric
Buddhism) (1883), which immediately connected
his name with the Theosophical movement,
and with its originator Madame Blavatsky.
Sismondi, Jean Charles Léonard Simon de
(sis-môn'dē). A celebrated Swiss historian;
born at Geneva, May 9, 1773; died there, June
25, 1842. His principal works are: (History of
the Italian Republics in the Middle Ages (16
vols. , 1807-18); "History of the New Birth of
Liberty in Italy) (2 vols. , 1832); History of
the French) (31 vols. , 1821-34); History of the
Fall of the Roman Empire) (2 vols. , 1835);
Julia Severa; or, The Year 492) (3 vols. , 1822);
(Literature of the South of Europe) (1813). *
Skeat, Walter William. A distinguished
English Anglo-Saxon scholar, philologist, and
lexicographer; born in London, Nov. 21, 1835.
He is professor of Anglo-Saxon at Cambridge
(from 1883); one of the founders of the Eng-
lish Dialect Society; and an authority on early
English literature. He has edited (The Vis-
ion of William concerning Piers Ploughman)
(1867-85); Barbour's (The Bruce) (1870-89);
(Specimens of English Literature, 1298-1579)
(1871 and 1872); numerous poems, metrical
romances, etc. ; and has compiled An Etymo-
logical Dictionary of the English Language)
(4 vols. , 1879-81; new ed. 1884), his chief work.
One of his recent publications is an edition of
Chaucer (6 vols. , 1894).
Skelton, John. An early English satirical
poet; born about 1460; died in 1529. He was
academical laureate at Cambridge and Ox-
ford, and afterwards was appointed by Henry
VII. tutor to Prince Henry, afterward Henry
VIII. He wrote many poems of a jocular and
satirical nature, among which are Philip Spar-
row, the lament of a maiden over the loss
of her pet bird; and (Colin Clout,' a satire on
the clergy.
Sketchley, Arthur, pseudonym of George
Rose. An English dramatist and writer of hu-
morous sketches; born at London, May 19, 1817;
died there, Nov. II, 1882. He wrote: (Pauline,
ments.
3
simpson, John Palgrave. An English
story-writer and dramatist; born at Norwich,
1807; died at London, Aug. 19, 1887. He wrote:
(Second Love) (1846); (Gisela) (1847); "Let-
ters from the Danube) (1847); (The Lily of
Paris; or, The King's Nurse) (1848); Pictures
from Revolutionary Paris) (1848); "Life of Karl
Maria von Weber. His dramatic compositions
were about forty in number; among them are
(The World and the Stage,' and (Sibylla ; or,
Step by Step.
Sims, George Robert. An English dram-
atist and journalist; born in London, Sept. 2,
1847. He is the author of (The Lights o' Lon-
don' (1882); (The Romany Rye) (1883). Some
of his contributions to the press are : Dagonet
Ballads) (1879); (Three Brass Balls) (1880);
( The Theatre of Life) (1881); 'How the Poor
Live) (1883); (Stories in Black and White)
(1885); Mary Jane's Memoir) (1887).
Sinclair, Catherine. A Scotch novelist;
born in Caithness, April 17, 1800; died there,
Aug. 6, 1864. Among her writings are: (Char-
lie Seymour); (Holiday House); Modern Ac-
complishments,' a study of the education of
## p. 496 (#512) ############################################
496
SKINNER-SMITH
a drama (1851); (The Dark Cloud,' drama Aug. 23, 1809; died at Paris, April 3, 1849. In
(1863); "How will They Get out of It,' com- his earlier poems he was under the influence
edy (1864); and about 35 volumes of humor- of Byron; but escapes from it in the 'Ode to
ous pieces selected from his contributions to Liberty,! (Hymn to the Mother of God,' and
the comic journals, among them (Mrs. Brown's (Song of the Lithuanian Legion (1831). The
Visit to the Paris Exhibition (1867), followed sentiment of Polish nationality finds fullest
by a series of observations of the same imagi- expression in the dramatic poem Kordyan
nary personage: In the Highlands) (1869); (1834), and the tragedy (Mazeppa. Slowacki
(On the Grand Tour) (1870); (On the New reaches the height of his lyric power in the
Liquor Law) (1872); “On the Alabama Claims poem "In Switzerland. His last great work,
(1872); “On Home Rule) (1881); etc.
left incomplete, was King Spirit, which he
Skinner, John. A Scotch song-writer; born
designed to be a "Legend of the Ages) of
at Balfour, in Aberdeenshire, Oct. 3, 1721 ; died
Polish history. *
June 16, 1807. His songs were very popular: Smalley, George Washburn. An American
among them were (Tullochgorum,' reckoned
journalist; born in Franklin, Mass. , June 2,
by Burns “the best Scotch song Scotland ever 1833. During the American Civil War, the
saw”; (Ewie wi' the Crookit Horn); John war between Prussia and Russia, and the
o' Badenyon'; (The Old Man's Song. He
Franco-German war, he distinguished himself
wrote an 'Ecclesiastical History of Scotland)
as war correspondent of the New York Trib-
(2 vols. , 1788).
une; and as representative of the same in
Skipsey, Joseph. An English verse-writer; London (1867-95) he gained an eminent rank
author of Poems, Songs, and Ballads) (1862); in journalism. His London Letters and Some
(Miscellaneous Lyrics) (1878). A complete Others) and (Studies of Men) were widely
edition of his works, entitled "Carols from the popular. He has been American correspondent
Coal Fields, and Other Songs and Ballads, of the London Times since 1895.
was issued in 1886.
Smart, Christopher. An English poet, and
Sladen, Douglas Brooke Wheelton. An
one of the interesting figures of literary his-
English poet; born at London, 1856. He is tory; born at Shipbourne, Kent, April 11, 1722 ;
author of Frithjog and Ingebjorg, and Other died May 21, 1771. His fame rests upon a
Poems) (1882); (Australian Lyrics) (1883); (A Song to David? (1763), pronounced by Dante
Summer Christmas: A Tale of Sport) (1884); Gabriel Rossetti "the only great accomplished
(Edward the Black Prince, an epic drama poem of the eighteenth century. ” It is said
(1886); (Australian Ballads and Rhymes) (1888); to have been written in a madhouse, “partly
(The Spanish Armada) (1888), a ballad. with charcoal on the walls, or indented with a
Sleidan or Sleidanus, Johannes (sli'dan). key on the panels of his cell,” the poet hav-
A celebrated German historian; born at Schlei- ing been deprived of his liberty on account of
den near Cologne; died at Strasburg, Oct. 31,
his debts. Noted also is a version of Horace,
1556. His greatest work is Memoirs of the which had a wide sale. Other works are : (Po.
State of Religion and the Civil Government ems) (1752); Power of the Supreme Being'
under the Emperor Charles V? ? (3 vols. , 1555), (1753); «The Hilliad : An Epic Poem (1753);
a history written without partisanship, and in
Poems on Several Occasions) (1763); (Trans-
graceful literary style ; he wrote also a history
lation of the Psalms of David (1765); and
of (The Four Great Empires, Babylonian,
many miscellaneous essays, poems, and trans-
Persian, Greek, and Roman (1556).
lations.
Sloane, William Milligan. An American Smart, Mrs. Helen Hamilton (Gardener).
historian; born in Richmond, O. , Nov. 12, 1850;
An American novelist ; born in Virginia, 1853
graduated at Columbia in 1868; studied in Ber- She has published many works of fiction deal.
lin and Leipsic (1872–76), and during part of ing with social reforms. Among these are :
that time was private secretary of George Ban-
(An Unofficial Patriot); (Is This Your Son,
croft, then minister at Berlin. He was for sev- My Lord? ) (Facts and Fictions of Life); 'Pray
eral years a professor at Princeton, and is now You, Sir, Whose Daughter? ) (The Fortunes of
professor of history at Columbia. He has pub- Margaret Weld. She has also written maga-
lished: (The French War and the Revolution); zine articles, part of them collected as Men,
(Life of James McCosh'; in 1897 brought out
Women, and Gods.
a very important Life of Napoleon,' in 2 vols. Smiles, Samuel. A British miscellaneous
Slosson, Mrs. Annie (Trumbull). An Amer- writer; born at Haddington, Scotland, 1812.
ican story-writer, sister of J. Hammond and Many of his writings had a very wide circu-
Henry Clay Trumbull; born in Hartford, Conn. , lation. Among them are : (Self-Help) (1860);
184-. She has devoted much time to the study Life of George Stephenson (oth ed. 1864);
of entomology, and written many excellent short (Lives of Engineers) (1862; new ed. 1874, 5
stories. Her books include: (Seven Dreamers,' vols. ); (The Huguenots in England and Ire-
a collection of her magazine stories ; (The land) (4th ed. 1876); (Thrift) (1875); (Men
Heresy of Mehetabel Clark); Anna Malann”;
of Invention and Industry) (1884).
(The China Hunter's Club); and others. *
Smith, Adam. A renowned Scotch political
Slowacki, Julius (slo-vats'ke). A celebrated economist; born at Kirkcaldy, June 5, 1723;
Polish poet; born at Kremenecz in Volhynia, died at Edinburgh, July 17, 1790. He wrote a
## p. 497 (#513) ############################################
SMITH: ALBERT - GOLDWIN
497
(Theory of Moral Sentiments) (1759), in which
he finds in human sympathy the cohesive force
of social life; (Origin of Languages) (about
1760); and (in 1776) his great work, Inquiry
into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of
Nations, unfairly said to make self-interest
the chief motor of society: it only makes that
passion the chief motor of making money. *
Smith, Albert. An English humorist ; born
at Chertsey in Surrey, May 24, 1816; died at
Fulham in Middlesex, May 23, 1860.
He was
a leading contributor to Punch. He wrote:
(The Adventures of Mr. Ledbury); (Christo-
pher Tadpole); Pottleton's Legacy); a series
of natural histories” of “The Gent,) (The
Ballet Girl, (The Idler upon Town, "The
Flirt); and (The Medical Student,' a small
volume of amusing skits.
Smith, Alexander. A Scottish poet; born
in Kilmarnock, Dec. 31, 1830; died at Wardie
near Edinburgh, Jan. 5, 1867. Among his works,
(A Life Drama) (1853) attracted great atten-
tion. He wrote: (Sonnets of the War,' with
Sydney Dobell (1855); (City Poems) (1857);
(Edwin of Deira) (1861); also the prose works
Dreamthorpe) (1863), “A Summer in Skye)
(1865), Alfred Hagart's Household) (1866),
and (Miss Oona McQuarrie) (1866).
Smith, Buckingham. An American historian
and philologist; born in Georgia, Oct. 31, 1810;
died in New York, Jan. 5, 1871. He was sec-
retary of legation at Mexico (1850-52), and at
Madrid (1855-58). He made an exhaustive
study of Mexican history and antiquities, and
published many monographs and historical pa-
pers. Among them are: (Narrative of Her-
nando de Soto (1854); (Documents relating to
the History of Florida) (1857); (A Grammatical
Sketch of the Heve Language) (1861); 'Gram-
mar of the Pina Language) (1862).
Smith, Charles Henry. [“Bill Arp. ”] An
American humorist; born in Lawrenceville,
Ga. , June 15, 1826. His literary career began
(1861) in a series of letters under the pseu-
donym above. Alis publications include : Bill
Arp's Scrap-Book) (1886); “The Farm and the
Fireside); and (Georgia as a Colony and State,
1733-1893.
Smith, Charlotte Turner. An English nov-
elist; born 1749; died 1806. She wrote : Elegiac
Sonnets and Other Essays (1784); ‘Emmeline ;
or, The Orphan of the Castle (1788); (Ethe-
linde; or, the Recluse of the Lake) (1789);
"Celestina: A Novel (1791); Desmond: A
Novel (1792); (The Old Manor-House) (1793);
(The Emigrants: A Poem (1793); Natural
History of Birds) (1807).
Smith, Edmund Neale. An English poet;
born 1668; died 1710. His works are: Poem
on the Death of Mr. John Philips) (1708);
(Phædrus and Hippolitus : A Tragedy) (1719);
(Monody on Dr. Pocock) (1750); (Odes' (1719).
Smith, Elizabeth Oakes (Prince). An Amer-
an writer of prose and verse, not her
time; wife of Seba; born in Cumberland, Me. ,
Aug. 12, 1806; died in 1893. Among her nu-
merous works are: “Riches Without Wings'
(1838); (The Newsboy); (The Sinless Child,
and Other Poems) (1841); "Woman and her
Needs) (1847); and (Bald Eagle, the Last of the
Rampaughs) (1867). Her children changed
their name to Oaksmith to identify themselves
with her.
Smith, Francis Hopkinson. An American
artist and author residing in New York; born
in Baltimore, Md. , Oct. 23, 1838. His well-known
contributions to the current literature of the day
have been illustrated by his own hand. Among
his works are: (Well-Worn Roads of Spain);
Holland and Italy); (Old Lines in New Black
and White); (A White Umbrella in Mexico);
(A Book of the Tile Club); (A Day at Laguerre);
(Colonel Carter of Cartersville,' a novel ; (Amer-
ican Illustrators); A Gentleman Vagabond
and Some Others); (Tom Grogan,' a novel;
(Espero Gorgoni, Gondolier. )
Smith, George.
A celebrated English As-
syriologist; born in London, March 26, 1840;
died at Aleppo, Aug. 19, 1876. The importance
of his contributions to our knowledge of Assyr-
ian history and inscriptions is everywhere ac-
knowledged. Part of his published works are:
(The Chaldean Account of Genesis); (As-
syria from the Earliest Times till the Fall of
Nineveh) (1875); (Assyrian Discoveries) (1875),
an account of his own travels and researches;
(The Assyrian Eponym Canon (1876); (His-
tory of Babylonia,' edited by A. H. Sayce (1877);
(History of Sennacherib,' edited by A. H. Sayce
(1878).
Smith, George Barnett. An English jour-
nalist, littérateur, and biographer; born at Oven-
den, near Halifax, Yorkshire, May 17, 1841.
He was for a time on the staff of the London
Globe and Echo; and subsequently contributed
literary, critical, and biographical articles to
British reviews. His chief publications are :
(Poets and Novelists) (1875); "Lives) of Shel-
ley, Gladstone, Peel, Bright, Victor Hugo, and
Queen Victoria ; Prime Ministers of Queen
Victoria) (1886); and the standard History of
the English Parliament' (2 vols. , 1892).
Smith, Gerrit. An American reformer, anti.
slavery advocate, and philanthropist; born in
Utica, N. Y. , in 1797 ; died in New York, Dec.
28, 1874. He was active in the cause of tem-
perance, an uncompromising enemy of slavery,
made large donations in aid of the poor, and
gave land in New York State to many escaped
slaves. He wrote numerous tracts and papers;
and published: (Speeches in Congress (1855);
(Sermons and Speeches) (1861); (The Religion
of Reason (1864); (The Theologies) (1866);
(Nature the Basis of a Free Theology) (1867);
and Correspondence with Albert Barnes)
(1868).
Smith, Goldwin. An eminent English lib.
eral, essayist, and educator, now residing in
Canada; born in Reading, Aug. 13, 1823. In
1868 he was professor of English history at
32
## p. 498 (#514) ############################################
SMITH: HANNAH – WILLIAM
498
e
Cornell University. In 1871 he removed to
Toronto, and is a professor at the Toronto Uni-
versity. His contributions to the reviews of
the day are numerous and important. For a
full account of his works see article. *
Smith, Hannah. (“Hesba Stretton. ”] An
English novelist; born at Wellington, Shrop-
shire. She has written many novels and sto-
ries; including : (Jessica's First Prayer) (1866);
(The Clives of Burcot) (1867); Paul's Court-
ship’ (1867); Hester Morely's Promise) (1868);
and (Bede's Charity' (1882).
Smith, James and Horace. Authors of the
(Rejected Addresses, and other excellent hu-
morous compositions; born in London ; James
born 1775, died 1839; Horace born 1779, died
1849. The managers of the new Drury Lane
Theatre, completed in 1812 to replace the
burned one, offered a prize for the most suita-
ble opening address; the result was a deluge
of such ludicrous rubbish that all had to be
rejected, and Byron was commissioned to write
one. The brothers Smith conceived the idea
of burlesquing the style of leading poets and
other men of letters and public notorieties,
in a set of pieces purporting to be among the
real addresses sent in to the committee but
declined. Hence the volume of "Rejected Ad-
dresses, which by 1819 had reached its six-
teenth edition, and is a livingly familiar classic
still. Its travesties are hardly caricatures so
much as genuine reproductions of the spirit
as well as manner of their subjects. Horace
subsequently published many novels and poems,
the best-known among them being the “Ode to
an Egyptian Mummy. James was afterwards
a well-known diner-out, entertainer, and con-
tributor to periodical literature of his day; his
best-known pieces are (The Taking of Sebas-
topol) and “Surnames Go by Contraries. )
Smith, (Captain) John. The famous Eng.
lish adventurer and colonist; born in Wil-
loughby, Lincolnshire, January 1579; died in
London, June 21, 1631. He was one of the
founders of Virginia, who in 1607 settled in
Jamestown. His writings are: (A Map of Vir-
ginia,' etc. (1612); (The Generall Historie of
Virginia, etc. ( 1624); Description of New
England); (An Accidence, or Pathway to
Experience); (A Sea Grammar); (The True
Travels of Captain John Smith.
Smith, Mary Louise (Riley). An American
verse-writer; born in Brighton, N. Y. , May 27,
1842. She is author of (A Gift of Gentians,
and Other Verses) (1882); “The Inn of Rest)
(1888); and several booklets, in which are
included her notably popular poems (Tired
Mothers, (If, (His Name, and "Sometime.
Smith, Matthew Hale. A Unitarian minister,
journalist, and author; born in Portland, Me. ,
in 1810; died in Brooklyn, N. Y. , 1879. As a
newspaper correspondent under the name (Bur-
leigh,” he attained reputation for vivacity and
piquancy.
He also made successful lecture
tours. His writings include: Universalism
Exposed (1842); (Universalism Not of God
(1847); (Sabbath Evenings! ( 1849 ); Mount
Calvary) (1866); and (Sunshine and Shadow
in New York) (1868-69).
Smith, Richard Penn. An American drama-
tist and novelist; born in Philadelphia, March
13, 1799; died at Falls of Schuylkill, Pa. , Aug.
12, 1854. Among his most distinguished plays
are : Caius Marius,' a tragedy, presented by
Edwin Forrest in 1831 ; (The Disowned'; and
(The Venetians. His other works include:
(The Forsaken,' a novel (2 vols. , 1831 ); Life
of David Crockett (1836); and 'Life of Martin
Van Buren) (1836). His Complete Works,
Embodied in his Life and Correspondence'
was published by his son, Horace Wemyss
Smith (4 vols. , 1888).
Smith, Samuel Francis. An American cler.
gyman and religious verse-writer; born in Bos-
ton, Oct. 21, 1808; died in 1895. He was the
author of numerous hymns, including America,
which was written in 1832; and has published
for young readers and others : Knights and
Sea Kings); Mythology and Early Greek
History); and (Poor Boys who Became Great. "
Smith, Seba. [“Major Jack Downing. ”] An
American journalist and political satirist; born
in Buckfield, Me. , Sept. 14, 1792; died in Patch-
ogue, L. I. , July 29, 1868. His publications in-
clude: (The Life and Writings of Major Jack
Downing,' a series of humorous and satirical let.
ters written during the administration of Presi-
dent Jackson (1833); Powhatan,' a poetic ro-
mance (1841); New Elements in Geometry
(1850); and “Way Down East) (1855).
Smith, Sydney. A celebrated English wit,
clergyman, and essayist; born at Woodford,
Essex, June 3, 1771; died in London, Feb. 22,
1845. He was one of the founders of the Edin-
burgh Review. His writings comprise articles
contributed to the Edinburgh Review and re-
published in book form in 1839; Peter Plym.
ley's Letters) (1807-8), in favor of Catholic
emancipation; (Three Letters to Archdeacon
Singleton on the Ecclesiastical Commission
(1837-39); Letters); “ Papers); etc. *
Smith, Walter Chalmers.
A Scotch poet
and story-writer; born 1824. Among his writ-
ings are : "Olrig Grange: A Poem (1872);
(Hilda among the Broken Gods) (1878); (Ra-
ban, or Life Splinters) (1880); North-Country
Folk Poems) (1883); (Kildrostan, a dramatic
poem (1884).
Smith, William. An English poet and noy-
elist. He wrote: (Guidone : A Dramatic Poem
(2d ed. 1836); (Athelwold, a tragedy (1842);
(Discourse on the Ethics of the School of Paley)
(1839); “Thorndale; or, The Conflict of Opin-
ions) (1857); "Gravenhurst; or, Thoughts on
Good and Evil) (1862).
Smith, William. A distinguished English
classical scholar and compiler of classical dic-
tionaries; born in London, 1813 or 1814; died
1893. He was of great learning, and his works
have been very influential in the guidance and
## p. 499 (#515) ############################################
SMITH-SOMERVILLE
499
extension of scholarship. They include: (Dic-
tionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities' (1840–
42); “Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography
and Mythology) (1843-49); “Dictionary of Greek
and Roman Geography) (1853-57); Dictionary
of the Bible) (1860-63); Dictionary of Christian
Antiquities) (1875-80); Dictionary of Christian
Biography, Literature, Sects, and Doctrines, dur-
ing the First Eight Centuries) (1877-87), with
Dr. Wace. He also published Greek and Latin
text-books, dictionaries, and manuals, besides
editing editions of Gibbon, Hume, Hallam, and
other historians.
Smith, William Robertson. A Scotch theo-
logian and Orientalist; born at Keig, Aber.
deenshire, Nov. 8, 1846; died at Cambridge,
March 31, 1894. Upon concluding his theo-
logical studies at Edinburgh, Göttingen, and
Bonn, he was elected to the chair of Hebrew
and Old Testament exegesis in the Free Church
College, Aberdeen, and almost immediately be-
gan to arouse opposition by the advanced tone
of his lectures, essays, and addresses. A crisis
in his career came upon the appearance of his
Biblical contributions to the ninth edition of
the (Encyclopædia Britannica,' when he was
tried for heresy, but finally acquitted in 1880.
His article on Hebrew Language and Liter-
ature) in the Britannica) led to his removal
from the Free Church College professorship.
The views which occasioned the controversy
are set forth in (The Old Testament in the
Jewish Church (1881), « The Prophets of Israel
(1882), and many important pamphlets. Mean-
while he had been very active in Oriental stud-
ies, and in 1883 became professor of Arabic at
Cambridge. To this period belong Kinship
and Marriage in Early' Arabia) (1885), and
(Religion of the Semites: Fundamental Insti-
tutions) (1889). He was for a time sole editor
of the 'Encyclopædia Britannica. '
Smollett, Tobias George. A celebrated Brit-
ish novelist; born at Dalquhurn, Dumbarton-
shire, Scotland, March 1721 ; died at Monte
Novo, near Leghorn, Italy, Oct. 21, 1771. His
works include: Advice) (1746? ), a satire ;
(Reproof (1746? ), a satire ; (The Adventures
of Roderick Random (1748); (The Regicide)
(1749), a tragedy ; (The Adventures of Pere-
grine Pickle) (1751); (The Adventures of Fer-
dinand, Count Fathom (1753); “Don Quixote)
(1755), a translation from the Spanish of Cer-
vantes; 'Compendium of Voyages and Travels)
(1757); History of England from the Land-
ing of Cæsar to the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle)
(1757); (The Reprisals) (1757), a farce; (The
Adventures of Sir Lancelot Greaves) (1760-61);
a translation of 'Gil Blas) (1761); (The Present
State of all Nations : containing a Geographi-
cal, Natural, Commercial, and Political His-
tory of all the Countries of the Known World)
(1763); (Travels) (1766); (The Adventures of
an Atom (1769), a political satire; and “The
Expedition of Humphrey Clinker) (1771). *
Smyth, Charles Piazzi. A Scotch astrono-
mer; born at Naples, Jan. 3, 1819. His studies
of the great Egyptian pyramid led him to the
conclusion that that structure was raised under
direct inspiration of God, and that therein were
deposited revelations of the great truths of
physical Nature. He wrote "Our Inheritance
in the Great Pyramid) (3d ed. 1880).
Smyth, (Samuel) Newman (Phillips). An
American clergyman and religious writer; born
in Brunswick, Me. , June 25, 1843. His publica-
tions include : "Old Faiths in New Light);
(The Orthodox Theology of To-day); (The
Morality of the Old Testament); (Personal
Creeds); (Christian Ethics ); (The Religious
Feeling); and (The Reality of Faith.
Snider, Denton Jaques. Born in Mt. Gilead,
0. , Jan. 9, 1841. His studies of the great poets,
Homer, Shakespeare, Dante, Goethe, and his
writings on kindred topics, are very numerous,
comprising some eighteen volumes. His book
(A Walk in Hellas) is a remarkable study of
Greece as it is to-day, illuminated by what it
was in its prime. *
Snieders, Jan Renier (snē'ders). A Dutch
novelist; born at Bladel in North Brabant,
Nov. 22, 1812; died at Turnhout, April 9, 1888.
His stories are mostly tales of village life.
Among them are (Amanda); Doctor Mar-
cus); (Narda.
Snoilsky, Carl Johan Gustaf, Count (snoil'.
skē). A Swedish poet; born in Stockholm,
Sept. 8, 1841. His (Sonnets) (1871), and his
translation of Goethe's ballads ( 1876 ), are
among the best in Swedish literature. His later
poems, New Stanzas) (1881), show sympathy
for the unfortunate and oppressed.
Snorri or Snorre Sturluson (snor'ē stér'.
lä-son). An Icelandic historian and states-
man; born 1179; slain 1241. He composed the
Prose or Younger Edda ; and wrote the (Heims-
kringla,' a series of biographies of Norwegian
kings. * (See article (Eddas) in the Library. )
Socrates (sok’ra-tēs). The renowned Athen-
ian philosopher; born at Athens about 470 B. C. ;
died 399 B. C. He left no writings, and his
philosophical method and his teaching are to
be learned from the works of his disciples and
contemporaries, especially Plato and Xenophon.
In the Dialogues) of Plato, or rather in the
earlier dialogues, Socrates is believed to figure
in word and in action as he lived, a sincere
searcher for truth in all things. *
Solomon ben Jehuda ibn Gabirol. See
Avicebron.
Solon (so’lon). The Athenian legislator;
lived about 638–559 B. C. The constitution
which he gave to Athens is very clearly ex-
plained in Grote's History of Greece. Solon
himself defined its character and aims in six
hexameters which have come down to our
time. *
Somerville, Mary Fairfax. A Scottish as-
tronomer and scientist; born at Jedburgh, Dec.
26, 1780; died in Naples, Nov. 29, 1872. She
was elected a fellow of the Royal Astronomical
## p. 500 (#516) ############################################
500
SOPHOCLES-SOUTHWORTH
Society. She published: Mechanism of the
Heavens) (1830), a translation of Laplace's
(Mécanique Céleste,' made at the request of
Lord Brougham; 'Connection of the Physical
Sciences) (1834); Physical Geography) (1849);
(Microscopical and Molecular Science) (1869).
Sophocles (sof'o-klēz). The great Greek
tragic poet was born at Colonus, near Athens,
about 495 B. C. ; died about 405. His seven
extant tragedies are conjectured to have been
given to the public in the following order:
(Antigone) (440 B. C. );Electra”; Trachiniæ);
((Edipus Tyrannus); (Ajax); Philoctetes);
and (Edipus at Colonus. *
Sophocles, Evangelinus Apostolides. A
Grecian scholar and educational writer; born
in Tsangaranda, Thessaly, Greece, March 8,
1807 ; died in Cambridge, Mass. , Dec. 17, 1883.
Coming to America in 1829, he became pro-
fessor of ancient, modern, and Byzantine Greek
in Harvard University in 1860. Among his
publications are: Romaic Grammar) (1842;
2d ed. Boston, 1857 ; London, 1806); “Glossary
of Later and Byzantine Greek) (1860, forming
Vol. vii. , new series of Memoirs of the Amer.
ican Academy'); and (Greek Lexicon of the
Roman and Byzantine Periods, his most im-
portant work (1870).
Sophron (so'fron). A Greek mimetic poet of
the fifth century B. C. , native of Syracuse. His
mimes were dialogues in Doric Greek, half in
play, half in earnest, in which the character-
istics of the lower orders were faithfully ren-
dered. Only inconsiderable fragments of these
compositions have come down to us.
Sordello (sor-delʼlo).
