He
wrote also the following dramas: (Isaura of
Castile); “The Emperor Friedrich III.
wrote also the following dramas: (Isaura of
Castile); “The Emperor Friedrich III.
Warner - World's Best Literature - v29 - BIographical Dictionary
During
much of his life he was in Russian service;
and was once banished to Siberia by the Em-
peror Paul, who however recalled him a year
later through being moved by something in one
of his plays, gave him a rith estate, and made
him aulic councilor and director of the court
theatre at St. Petersburg. He was assassinated
in Germany as a Russian spy, by a student.
(Complete Dramatic Works,' 40 vols. , 1840-41. )
Kotzebue, Wilhelm von. A German miscel-
laneous writer, brother of August; born at Neval,
March 19, 1813; died there, Nov. 5, 1887. Of
his works, may be named: (A Hard-Hearted
Friend,' which scored a success, and (Two Sin-
ners,' — both dramas under the pseudonym
«W. Augustsohn; Moldavian Pictures and
Sketches) (1860), (Small Stories from the Great
World) (1862), "Lascar Viorescu) (1863), Arti-
ficial and Natural Life (1869), all anonymous;
(August von Kotzebue) (1884), the romance
(Baron Fritz Reckensteg) (2 vols. , 1885), (Rou-
manian Folk Songs) (1859), all under his own
14, 1801.
name.
Kouns, Nathan Chapman (könz). An Amer-
ican novelist; born in Missouri, 1833 ; died 1890.
A lawyer by profession, he was State librarian
of Missouri (1886-90). He wrote two historical
romances : Arius the Libyan,' and Dorcas,
the Daughter of Faustina. '
Kovalevsky, Sonya (kõ-vä-lev'ske). An em-
inent Russian mathematician, said to be the
greatest woman mathematician of any age ;
born in Moscow, 1850; died at Stockholm, 1891,
'where she was professor of mathematics at the
University. See her (Recollections of Child-
hood, with a biography by the Duchess of
Cajanello (Anne Charlotte Leffler-Edgren ).
Her works include theses on Rotation); “The
Laplace Hypothesis ); (Light); etc. She also
wrote some popular novels under the pseudo-
nym “Tanya Rerevski); among them “The
Private Tutor, (The Rajevski Sisters,' etc.
Krantz, Albert (kränts). A German his-
torian; born in Hamburg, about 1450; died
there, Dec. 7, 1517. He became rector of the
University of Rostock in 1482, represented the
Hanseatic towns in several important diplo-
matic missions, and was chosen arbitrator by
the King of Denmark and the Duke of Hol-
stein, in their dispute over the province of
Ditmarsch. His historical works are distin-
guished by great erudition, and a critical spirit
rarely found in his day. He published: (Van-
dalia, or the History of the Vandals? (1519);
(Saxonia) (1520); (Chronicles of the Kingdoms
of Sweden, Denmark, and Norway) (1545);
(Metropolis, or History of the Church in Sax.
ony' (1548).
Krapotkin, Peter Alexievich, Prince. A
Russian scientist, revolutionist, editor, lecturer,
and author; born at Moscow, Dec. 9, 1842. He
was in the Russian army for a time, and made
extensive journeys in Siberia and Mantchuria.
Charged with anarchist affiliations, he was im-
prisoned two years in Russia, escaped, founded
the anarchist paper La Révolte in Geneva
(1879), and after being expelled from Switzer-
land in 1881, commenced a crusade against the
Russian government in the English and French
press. He was imprisoned in France from 1883
to 1886, under a law directed against the In-
ternational Workingmen's Association, of which
he was a member. He has lectured in various
parts of the world ; is the author of "To Young
People) (1881); Words of a Revolutionist
(1885);"In Russian and French Prisons) (1887);
(In Search of Bread' (1892); and pamphlets on
nihilistic subjects; and his contributions on
modern scientific subjects to the leading re-
views are numerous and interesting.
Krasicki, Ignacy (krä-sitz'ke). A Polish
ecclesiastic and author; born at Dubiecko, Ga-
licia, in 1734; died at Berlin, Germany, March
He became bishop of Ermeland in
1767, archbishop of Gnesen in 1795, and for
many years was one of the most brilliant figures
at the court of Frederick II. The characteristics
of his productions are caustic wit and a facile
and agreeable style, which procured for him the
title of the Polish Voltaire. ) (Monacho.
machia, or the Battle of Monks) is considered
his best work, but his "Satires) (1778) and
(Fables) (1780) also take a high rank.
Krasinski, Sigismund, Count (krä-sin'skē).
A noted Polish poet; born in Paris, Feb. 19,
1812; died there, Feb. 23, 1859. On account of
his health he lived in various European capi-
tals outside Poland. He became one of Po-
land's three greatest poets, exerting a wide
influence on her literature. The drama (Irid.
ion,' depicting the contrast between Christianity
and paganism in Rome under the Cæsars, ap-
peared in 1836, and is generally thought his
finest work. Next best are the symbolic drama
(Nieboska Comedya' (The Undivine Comedy:
1837-48), "Przedswit) (The Dawn : 1843); and
(Psalmy Przyszlósci(Psalms of the Future :
1845-48), collections of lyric poems full of re-
ligion and patriotism. His writings were all
published anonymously or under fictitious names.
(Works,' 4 vols. , 1880-88. ) *
Kraszevsky, Jósef Ignacy (krä-shev'ské). A
noted Polish novelist; born at Warsaw, July
28, 1812; died at Geneva, March 19, 1887. He
was the author of over 500 works, consisting,
besides valuable historical writings, of romances,
novels, critiques, travels, political treatises, epic
poems, etc. Of poetry, among his chief works
was the epic (Anafielas' (1840-43), in three parts,
founded on Lithuanian history. (The Devil
and the Woman) (1841) was an imaginative
drama. But his best work was in his romances
## p. 315 (#331) ############################################
KRAUSE - KRUGER
315
(
an
and novels, over 240 in number. Among them
were: (The Poet and the World' (1839);
Ulana) (1841), containing pictures of Polish
society ; (The Hut beyond the Village) (1855),
which became very popular in his country;
( About to Die) (1871). His celebrated series
of novels depicting Polish history from the
earliest times made him the Walter Scott of
Poland. It has been said of him that he taught
his countrymen to know better both their
past and themselves. ”
Krause, Karl Christian Friedrich (krous'é).
A German philosopher; born at Eisenberg,
Saxe-Altenburg, May 6, 1781; died at Munich,
Sept. 27, 1832. For two years he was tutor at
the University of Jena, and then traveled about
Germany, France, and Italy. Besides treatises
on music, language, and philosophy, he pub-
lished several works on Freemasonry, which best
represent his peculiar philosophic ideas. Chief
among them are: “Observations on the History
of Freemasonry) (1810); (The Three Oldest
Monuments of Freemasonry' (1810); Proto-
type of Mankind) (1811).
Krehbiel, Henry Edward. An American
musical critic; born in Ann Arbor, Mich. , 1854.
He was musical critic successively on the Cin-
cinnati Gazette and the New York Tribune.
His published works include: “The Technics
of Violin Playing) (1880); “Review of the New
York Musical Season (1885-86); and the same
for the season of 1886-87.
Kremer, Alfred von (krā'mer). An Aus-
trian diplomatist and Orientalist; born in Vi-
enna, May 13, 1828. Upon his return from a
visit to Syria and Egypt he was made pro-
fessor of modern Arabic in the Polytechnic
School, Vienna ; and since 1858 has held im-
portant positions in the consular service at
Cairo, Galatz, and Beyrout. He published
(1875-77) A History of Oriental Civilization
under the Khalifs, which has firmly established
his reputation as an Orientalist. Other im-
portant works are: (Egypt) (1863); Legends
of Southern Arabia) (1866); (History of the
Dominant Ideas of Islam) (1868); (The Idea
of Nationality and the State' (1885).
Kremnitz, Mite (Marie) (krem'nits). A
prolific German miscellaneous writer; born at
Greifswald, Jan. 4, 1852. Of her works on Rou-
mania, may be named : (Roumanian Sketches)
(1877); New Roumanian Sketches) (1881);
(Roumanian Tales) (1882). Prominent among
her other books are: Exiles) (1890), a ro.
mance; (Love's Curse (1881), written under
the pseudonym “George Allan”; “A Prince's
Child (1882). In collaboration with “Carmen
Sylva,” she has written : (Anne Boleyn) (1886);
(From Two Worlds) (3d ed. 1887); (Astra)
(3d ed. 1887); Revenge) (2d ed. 1889); (Astray)
(3d ed. 1890).
Krestovskiſ, Vsevolod Vladimirovich (kres-
tof'skē). A Russian military officer and histo-
rian ; born at Kiev, Feb. 11, 1840. After a short
course of study at the University of St. Peters-
burg, he entered a regiment of uhlans and sub-
sequently was transferred to the Imperial Guard,
which he accompanied during the war with
Turkey (1877) as official historian attached to
the general staff. On his return he published
account of his experiences, in (Twenty
Months in the Active Army) (1879). He is best
known, however, as a novelist : his Not the
First nor the Last) (1859); ( The Sphinx' (1860);
(Slums of St. Petersburg) (1867); Egyptian
Darkness); etc. , enjoying great popularity in
Russia and Germany.
Krestovsky, V. , later Krestovskiï (pseudo-
nym) (kres-tof'skē). See Khvostchinskaia.
Kretzer, Max (kretz'er). A German novel-
ist; born at Posen, May 7, 1854. He is a pro-
lific and powerful realist. Several of his works
have been on socialism. Among the best of
his writings are : (Berlin Tales and Pictures of
Manners) (2d ed. 1887); (Civil Death) (1888),
a drama; (The Deceived' (2d ed. 1891); (The
Sermon on the Mount) (2d ed. 1891), deal-
ing with social questions; (The Creator of
Millions) (1891); (Uncle Fifi) (2d ed. 1892);
(The Two Confederates) (3d ed. 1893), deal-
ing with social questions; 'Strange Enthusiasts)
(2d ed. 1893).
Kroeger, Adolph Ernst. An American prose-
writer; born in Schwabstedt, Schleswig, 1837 ;
died in St. Louis, Mo. , 1882. During the Civil
War he served on Frémont's staff. By transla-
tions of the works of Fichte, Kant, and Leibnitz,
he largely contributed to a better understand-
ing of German literature in this country. He
wrote for the St. Louis Journal of Speculative
Philosophy. He published Fichte's (Science
of Knowledge) (1868); the same author's (Sci-
ence of Rights) (1869). He also issued (Our
Forms of Government, and the Problems of the
Future) (1862).
Krüdener, Barbara Juliane von, Baroness
(krü'de-ner). A Russian novelist and mystic;
born at Riga, Nov. 21, 1764; died at Karassu-
Bazar, Dec. 24, 1824. Her checkered and ro-
mantic career touched the extremes of life -
worldliness and sainthood. After having left her
husband, with whom her union had been un-
happy and whom she had deceived, and tasted
Parisian dissipation, she became a Swedenborg-
ian, and devoted herself to helping the poor
and afflicted. Surrounded by a retinue of clergy,
she traversed Europe, preaching eloquently to
the people a return to primitive Christianity, and
being persecuted and expelled by the different
governments. She was the friend of Queen
Louise of Prussia and of Alexander I. of Rus-
sia, and is said to have been very influential
in the formation of the Holy Alliance. She
foretold Napoleon's triumphant return from
Elba. Her death was the result of ascetic prac-
tices. Her literary reputation rests upon the
famous romance (Valéria, or Letters of Gustave
de Linar to Ernest de G- (last ed. 1878),
containing the history of her marital relations.
Krüger, Johann Christian (krüg'er). A
German dramatist; born at Berlin, 1722; died
.
## p. 316 (#332) ############################################
316
KRUMMACHER - KÜRNBERGER
His very
at Hamburg, Aug. 23, 1750. He studied phil-
ology, but became an actor and a playwright.
Among his comedies were : (The Clergy in
the Country); (The Blind Husband); 'The
Candidates, or the Way to Get Office);
(The Wedded Philosopher); (The Devil's a
Coward); and the universally popular Duke
Michael. (Poetical and dramatic works, 1763. )
Krummacher, Friedrich Adolf (krö'mäch-er).
A German writer of parables; born at Tecklen-
burg, July 1767; died at Bremen, April 4, 1845.
A minister in the German Reformed Church
and a professor of theology, he became widely
known by his Parables) (1805), which ran
through many editions and are familiar in an
English translation. They were as a rule short,
written in simple prose, on such subjects as
(The Blind Man, Life and Death, (The
Hero, etc. , and became a sort of international
property, being even printed in schoolbooks.
None of his other writings won popularity.
Kruse, Heinrich (kröʻzė). A German poet;
born at Stralsund, Dec. 15, 1815.
successful works consist of dramas, idyls, and
lyrics. Of tragedies, the best known are (The
Countess) (1868, his first attempt); "King
Eric) (2d ed. 1873); (Wullenwever) (3d ed.
1878); (The Outlaw) (2d ed. 1881); Brutus)
(2d ed. 1882); (The Byzantine Maiden) (2d
ed. 1885); (Arabella Stuart) (1888). Three
farces, (The Devil at Lubeck,) (The Jealous
Miller,' and (Steadfast Love,' appeared in one
volume in 1887; (Seven Little Dramas) was
published in 1893. In his dramatic work the
dialogue is pithy and the characters are sharply
detined, while the keen humor that fills the
comedies and farces breaks out intermittently
in the tragedies also. His idyls can be best
seen in (Sea Tales) (first collection 1880, 2d
ed. 1889; second collection 1889). His lyrics
appeared in Poems) (1891).
Krylov, Ivan Andréevitch (krē-lof'). A
Russian writer of fables; born at Moscow, Feb.
13, 1768; died at St. Petersburg, Nov. 21, 1844.
He is the most popular author in Russia; the
children learn to read from his books, and many
of his verses have become national proverbs.
His statue stands in the summer garden at St.
Petersburg. He produced 142 fables original
in substance and form, and 56 translations or
imitations. Without ill-nature, their satire on ex-
isting conditions is keen. They are written in
verse, simple and attractive in style; - any child
or peasant readily understands them. They
have been translated into every European lan-
guage. The first collection appeared in 1890.
(Works, 1859. )
Kugler, Franz Theodor (kög'ler). A Ger-
man writer on art and its history; born at
Stettin, Jan. 19, 1808; died at Berlin, March 18,
1858. He was appointed a professor of fine
arts in the University of Berlin in 1833, and
subsequently became a member of the Acad-
emy of Berlin. His works have undoubtedly
had great infuence on German art and culture :
notably a (History of Painting from Constantine
the Great to the Present Times) (1837); “Hand-
book of the History of Art) (1841-42); His.
tory of Architecture) (1856). He is also the
author of a History of Frederick the Great)
(1840), which is popular in Germany.
Kühne, August. See Dewall.
Kühne, Gustav (kü'nė). A prolific German
novelist and poet; born at Magdeburg, Dec. 27,
1806; died at Dresden, April 22, 1888. Among
his novels, the later ones of which show a ten-
dency toward too many reflections and a lack
of form, were : (A Quarantine in the Madhouse)
(1835); (Feminine and Masculine Characters)
(2 vols. , 1838); “Portraits and Silhouettes) (2
vols. , 1843); (Convent Tales) (2d ed. 1862);(The
Rebels of Ireland (2d ed. 1863); "German Men
and Women (2d ed. 1863); (The Freemasons)
(2d ed. 1867). Of poems, in addition to those
contained in his collected works, he published:
(Roman Sonnets) (1869); (Christ on his Travels)
(1870); (Wittenberg and Rome' (3 vols. , 1877);
(Romances, Legends, and Fables) (1880).
He
wrote also the following dramas: (Isaura of
Castile); “The Emperor Friedrich III. "; "De-
metrius); etc. For several years he edited the
celebrated periodicals Journal for the Elegant
World, and Europa. He belonged to the “ Young
Germany) school of literature. (Works, 10
vols. , 1862-67. )
Kulmann, Elisabeth Borisovna (köl'män).
A Russian poet; born at St. Petersburg, 1808;
died 1825, at 17. She was very precocious in
language-study and literary aptitude, and wrote
in Russian, German, and Italian. Her Russian
poems, edited by the Russian Academy, appeared
in 1833; the best edition of her German verse
is that of 1857 ; the Italian poems were published
at Milan in 1847. Her poetry, written in a sim-
ple and clear style, showed keen observation,
considerable descriptive power, and a lively
imagination: Goethe prophesied for her an
honorable place in literature. A monument
was erected to her memory by the Russian em-
press.
Kunstmann, Friedrich (könst'män). A
German historical and geographical writer;
born at Nuremberg, Jan. 4, 1811; died at Mu-
nich, Aug. 15, 1867. He was private tutor to
the Princess Donna Amalia of Brazil in Lis-
bon (1841-46), and on his return to Munich
was appointed to a professorship in the uni-
versity. He contributed papers to the transac-
tions of the Munich Academy, and published:
( The Latin Penitential Books of the Anglo-
Saxons) (1844); "Africa before the Discoveries
of the Portuguese) (1853); (The Discovery of
America from the Most Ancient Sources) (1859),
with an atlas giving fac-simile copies of early
maps.
Kürnberger, Ferdinand (kürn'bârg-er). A
German novelist · born at Vienna, July 3, 1821 ;
died at Munich, Oct. 14, 1879. His works are
witty, highly poetical, and written in a pithy
style. His first novel, (Tired of America)
(1856), was his most popular one; it described
the American civilization of that period as
(
## p. 317 (#333) ############################################
KURZ – LA BÉDOLLIÈRE
317
;
merely material. Of several volumes of tales,
(Selected Tales) (1857) contained his best work.
Others of his writings were : the drama (Cata-
line) (1855); the volume of essays (Seal Rings)
(1874); the romance (The Despot of the House)
(1876); Literary Affairs of the Heart) (1877).
Kurz, Heinrich (körts). A German histo-
rian of literature; born at Paris, April 28, 1805;
died at Aarau, Switzerland, Feb. 24, 1873.
Having suffered two years' imprisonment for
articles published in his paper, the Augsburg
Times, he removed to Switzerland, where he
held several professorships and made a special
study of German literature. The results of his
investigations are embodied in the well-known
(History of German Literature) (4 vols. , 1851;
1868–72). Equally important are: Handbook
of the National Poetic Literature of the Ger-
mans) (1840-43); Handbook of German Prose).
(1845-52).
Kurz, Hermann. A German novelist; born
at Reutlingen, Würtemberg, Nov. 30, 1813;
died at Tübingen, Oct. 10, 1873. He is best
known by his two fine romances, (Schiller's
Life in his Native Place) (2d ed. 1856-57), de-
scribing Würtemberg at the time Schiller grew
up there; and Mine Host of the Sun (2d ed. ,
2 vols. , 1862), a Swabian popular tale of psycho-
logical power. (From the Days of Dishonor)
(1871), another strong work, was historical in
tone;'On Shakespeare's Life and Work) (1868)
and the text for Konewka's (Falstaff and his
Companions) (1872) were critical. He trans-
lated from the Italian, Spanish, French, and
English masters, and wrote also two volumes
of poems. ('Works,' 10 vols. , 1874-75. )
Kvitka, Grigoriï Fedorovitch (kvit'kä). A
Russian novelist; born at Osnova (whence his
appellation «Osnovianenko”), near Karkov,
Nov. 29, 1778; died at Karkov, Aug. 20, 1843.
He wrote both in Great and Little Russian, being
one of the chief writers in the latter, his works
in which (new ed. , 2 vols. , 1858) were especially
dear to his countrymen for presenting pictures
of the familiar national life idealized; the most
popular was the novel Maroussia. In Great
Russian he published two novels of manners
and a number of dramas, the most popular of
the latter being 'Selmenko.
Kyd, Thomas. An English dramatist; four-
ished in the sixteenth century. He was the
most popular English writer of tragedies before
Shakespeare, and helped prepare the way for
him. His most successful two plays, his first
and second works respectively, were “The
Spanish Tragedy, or Hieronimo,' and 'Oratio. ?
They were very popular and were frequently
acted, not only in England, but in Germany
and in Holland: but the former was much rid-
iculed by Shakespeare and his contemporaries,
for its bombastic rant; and “Go by. Jeronimy»
(i. e. , “Get out, you lunatic”), from the rav-
ings of the distracted hero, became a common
phrase.
L
Laas, Ernst (lä’äs). A well-known German
philosopher and educator ; born Fürstenwald
on the Spree, June 16, 1837 ; died at Strasburg,
July 25, 1885. He was one of the chief repre-
sentatives of positivism in Germany, though
his strength lay more in criticism than in con-
struction. His principal work, Idealism and
Positivism) (3 vols. , 1879-84), opposed the views
of Plato and Kant. Of his pedagogical writ-
ings, the most important are (German Com-
position in the Upper Gymnasium Classes) (2d
ed. 1877-78), an epoch-making work, and (Ger-
man Education in the Higher Institutions of
Instruction (2d ed. 1886).
Labanca, Baldassare (lä-bänk'ä). An Ital-
ian philosopher; born at Agnone (Molise), 1829.
He has attained great eminence with such works
as Readings in Natural Philosophy) (1864);
(Concerning the True and the False Spirit in
Philosophy' (1857); and many similar ones.
Labarre, called Louis Labar (lä-bär'). A
Belgian journalist and man of letters ; born at
Dinan, Namur, May 1, 1810; died at Ixelles,
Jan. 17, 1892. His first success was a volume
of "Satires and Elegies) (1836), in which his
republican sentiments are strongly expressed.
He has edited Charivari Belge and other jour-
nals. His best works include: A Revolution
to Laugh At,' a comedy; Antoine Wiertz)
(1867), a biography; "Waterloo) (1868), a his-
torical study; and other miscellany.
Labé, Louise (lä-bā). A French poet; true
name Charlieu ; called “the fair rope-maker »
from her husband's business (about 1526-66).
She was early noted for beauty, linguistic talent,
and intrepidity. At 16, disguised as a cavalier,
she took part in the siege of Perpignan. After
marriage at Lyons, her house became the ren-
dezvous of poets, scholars, artists, and musicians.
Her poems are true lyrics, singularly graceful
and original, though showing Petrarch's influ-
ence. She also wrote in prose a charming alle-
gory, Dispute between Folly and Love.
La Bédollière, Émile Gigault de (lä bād-
ol-yır'). A French historian, and social ana-
lyst; born at Amiens, 1812; died in Paris, 1883.
He wrote much, his best works being: "His-
tory of Paris) (1864); (History of the Morals
and Private Life of the French) (1847); (His-
tory of Mother Michel and of her Cat) (1851),
a delightful mock-serious tale, translated into
English by T. B. Aldrich for St. Nicholas.
## p. 318 (#334) ############################################
318
LABEO - LA BRUYÈRE
(
Labeo, Marcus Antistius (lab'ê-7). A cele-
brated Roman jurist of the Augustan age. He
wrote some 400 works on jurisprudence; but of
them one only has come down to our time,
being embodied in the Pandects of the Justin.
ian (Corpus Juris.
Laberius, Decimus (la-bē'ri-us). A Roman
knight and miscellaneous writer; born about
105 B. C. ; died at Puteoli, January 43 B. C. His
writings consisted of farces, comic and satirical
poems, an epic poem on Cæsar's Gallic war,
and a prose work containing anecdotes, etc.
He was compelled by Cæsar to appear on the
stage in one of his own farces, thereby forfeit-
ing his knighthood, which was restored to him
by the dictator.
Labesse, Antoine Édouard Decaudin (lä-
bes'). A French miscellaneous writer; born in
Angoulême, April 11, 1848. He is a prolific
writer on a variety of subjects, his works
including: (The Terrestrial World,' a pop-
ular scientific study ; (Monsieur, Madame, and
Baby'; My First Case); (The King of the
Fjords); and many more.
Labiche, Eugène (lä-bēsh'). An important
French comedy-writer; born in Paris, May 5,
1815; died there, Jan. 23, 1888. Of over 100
comedies, vaudevilles, farces, etc. , of his writ-
ing, almost all possessed strong qualities, in-
cluding striking dialogue, caustic yet never
cruel humor, and stage technique, while several
were models of their kind. Among the best
are: (The Italian Straw Hat) (1851); (The
Misanthrope and the Auvergnat) (1853); Eye
Powder) (with Martin, 1862); (Célimare the
Well-Beloved) (1863); “Cagnotte) (1864); One
Foot in Crime) (with Choler, 1866); etc. (Dra-
matic Works, 10 vols. , 1878–79. ) He wrote a
number of pieces in collaboration.
La Boëtie, Étienne de (lä bo-e-te'). A French
anti-monarchical poet; born at Sarlat, Nov. 1,
1530; died at Germignan, Aug. 18, 1563. He
was a friend of Montaigne, who brought out
an edition of his writings (1570-71). Of these
the best known is the Discourse on Voluntary
Slavery, a rather fat philippic against mon-
archy. (Works, Paris, 1892. )
Laborde, Alexandre Louis Joseph, Count
de (lä-bord'). A French writer of travels; born
in Paris, Sept. 17, 1773; died there, Oct. 24, 1842.
He wrote: (Picturesque and Historic Journey
in Spain) (4 vols. , 1807-18; new ed. 1823);
Description of the New Gardens and Ancient
Castles of France) (1808-15); “The Monuments
of France) (2 vols. , 1816-36); Picturesque Jour-
ney in Austria) (3 vols. , 1821-23); Descriptive
Itinerary of Spain) (3d ed. , 6 vols. , 1827-31);
(Versailles, Ancient and Modern (1840). He
was a soldier, accompanying Napoleon to Spain
and Austria, and a politician.
Laborde, Léon, Marquis de. A French mis-
cellaneous writer, son of Alexandre; born in
Paris, June 15, 1807; died there, March 25, 1869.
Having accompanied his father on a trip to
the East, he wrote : Journey in Arabia Petræa)
(1830–33); Journey in the East) (2 vols. , 1837-
62); History of Engraving) (1839); “The Dukes
of Burgundy) (1849-51); Account of the En-
amels, Jewelry, and Various Objects on Exhi-
bition in the Galleries of the Louvre) (2 vols. ,
1853); (The Renaissance of the Arts at the
Court of France. Vol. I. : Painting) (1855). In
the revolution of 1830 he was General Lafay-
ette's adjutant, was afterwards in the diplomatic
service at London, The Hague, and Cassel, and
succeeded to his father's office.
Labouchere, Henry (lä-bö-shår'). An Eng-
lish journalist and politician; born in London,
1831. He was in the diplomatic service, part
of the time at Washington, and a member of
Parliament. An advanced republican, he used
Truth, the journal established by him in 1876 as
a society and political organ, for the promul-
gation of his ideas, often thereby getting into
serious difficulties. He wrote (Diary of a Be.
sieged Resident in Paris) (1871).
Laboulaye, Édouard René Lefebvre de (lä-
bö-lā'). A distinguished French jurist, histo-
rian, and writer of tales; born at Paris, Jan. 18,
1811; died there, May 25, 1883. He was ap-
pointed professor of comparative jurisprudence
in the Collège de France in 1849, having already
won distinction by several treatises on Roman
and French law. His greatest work outside of
the field of jurisprudence is a (Political His-
tory of the United States, 1620-1789) (3 vols. ,
1855-66). He wrote also (The United States
and France) (1862) and the humorous satiric
novel Paris in America) (1863), which had a
very large circulation (27th ed. 1872). His
novel of Prince Caniche) (1868) reached a
20th edition. But by far his best-known works
of fiction are the three series of Blue Stories,
tales of fairies, elves, enchanters, etc. , original
and retold. Some of his essays on contempo-
rary political and social questions have been
collected and published under the titles "Con-
temporary Studies of Germany and the Slavic
States) (1856); “Religious Liberty) (1858). *
Labrunie. See Gérard de Nerval.
La Bruyère, Jean de (lä brii-yår'). A fa-
mous French moralist and satirist; born in
Paris, August 1645; died at Versailles, May 10,
1696. Appointed tutor of the dauphin, he spent
a large part of his life at the court of Louis
XIV. His great work, on which his reputation
rests, (The Characters of Theophrastus, Trans-
lated from the Greek, with the Characters or
Manners of this Century) (1688), was a cloak
for the keenest and most sagacious observations
on the characters and manners of the court. It
abounds in wit, shows him to have been an ex-
cellent judge of men, and is written in an ad-
mirable style. The number of characters ” was
greatly increased as the various editions came
out. Numerous keys appeared, the first in 1720.
It has been translated into well-nigh every mod-
ern language. A true philosopher, desiring but
to lead a quiet life with his books and friends,
only his worth and tact enabled him always to
(
## p. 319 (#335) ############################################
LACAILLE-LACORDAIRE
319
)
preserve his dignity among the ignorant and ar-
rogant courtiers. *
Lacaille, Nicolas Louis de (lä-käy'). A noted
French astronomer (1713-62). In 1750 he pro-
posed to the Paris Academy an astronomical
expedition to the Cape of Good Hope; the
project being officially sanctioned, he made the
voyage to the Cape 1751, and spent three years
in the southern hemisphere. He made more
observations and calculations than all the other
astronomers of his time put together, and his
exactitude was not inferior to his diligence.
Ilis principal writings are : (The Foundations
of Astronomy) (1757); “Solar Tables); (The
Southern Starry Heavens) (1763), a catalogue
of 10,000 southern stars ; elementary treatises
on Mathematics) (1741), Mechanics (1743),
Astronomy) (1746), "Optics) (1750).
La Calprenède, Gauthier de Coste, Sei-
gneur de (lä käl-pre-nād'). A French romancer
(1610-63). He first entered the field of litera-
ture with tragedies and tragi-comedies, but
had little success.
He then wrote a romance
of chivalry, Cleopatra) (12 vols. , 1647-58), in
which contemporary personages and manners
are portrayed under names and amid surround-
ings of the age of Augustus. The episodes of
intrigue and gallantry are to the last degree
and wearisome; but the characters are
for the most part well defined, some of the
scenes skillfully contrived, and the style always
elegant and perspicuous. Among his other
romances, in a like vein, are Cassandra! (10
vols. , 1642-50); Pharamond' (7 vols. , 1661-70);
Diversions of the Princess Alcidiana (1661).
Lacaussade, Auguste (la-ko-sad'). A French
poet; born in the Isle of Bourbon, 1817. His
most notable volumes of verse include : (Na-
tional Poems) (1871); (Anacreontics); etc.
Lacépède, Bernard Germain Étienne de
Laville, Count de (lä-sā-ped'). A distinguished
French naturalist; born at Agen, Dec. 26, 1756;
died at Épinay, Oct. 6, 1825. The perusal of
Buffon's Natural History) in early life de-
cided his after career. Most noteworthy among
his works are : History of Oviparous Quad-
rupeds) (1788); Natural History of Reptilia)
(1788); Natural History of Fishes,' a work of
the highest authority (6 vols. , 1798-1805); Nat-
ural History of Man (posthumous).
much of his life he was in Russian service;
and was once banished to Siberia by the Em-
peror Paul, who however recalled him a year
later through being moved by something in one
of his plays, gave him a rith estate, and made
him aulic councilor and director of the court
theatre at St. Petersburg. He was assassinated
in Germany as a Russian spy, by a student.
(Complete Dramatic Works,' 40 vols. , 1840-41. )
Kotzebue, Wilhelm von. A German miscel-
laneous writer, brother of August; born at Neval,
March 19, 1813; died there, Nov. 5, 1887. Of
his works, may be named: (A Hard-Hearted
Friend,' which scored a success, and (Two Sin-
ners,' — both dramas under the pseudonym
«W. Augustsohn; Moldavian Pictures and
Sketches) (1860), (Small Stories from the Great
World) (1862), "Lascar Viorescu) (1863), Arti-
ficial and Natural Life (1869), all anonymous;
(August von Kotzebue) (1884), the romance
(Baron Fritz Reckensteg) (2 vols. , 1885), (Rou-
manian Folk Songs) (1859), all under his own
14, 1801.
name.
Kouns, Nathan Chapman (könz). An Amer-
ican novelist; born in Missouri, 1833 ; died 1890.
A lawyer by profession, he was State librarian
of Missouri (1886-90). He wrote two historical
romances : Arius the Libyan,' and Dorcas,
the Daughter of Faustina. '
Kovalevsky, Sonya (kõ-vä-lev'ske). An em-
inent Russian mathematician, said to be the
greatest woman mathematician of any age ;
born in Moscow, 1850; died at Stockholm, 1891,
'where she was professor of mathematics at the
University. See her (Recollections of Child-
hood, with a biography by the Duchess of
Cajanello (Anne Charlotte Leffler-Edgren ).
Her works include theses on Rotation); “The
Laplace Hypothesis ); (Light); etc. She also
wrote some popular novels under the pseudo-
nym “Tanya Rerevski); among them “The
Private Tutor, (The Rajevski Sisters,' etc.
Krantz, Albert (kränts). A German his-
torian; born in Hamburg, about 1450; died
there, Dec. 7, 1517. He became rector of the
University of Rostock in 1482, represented the
Hanseatic towns in several important diplo-
matic missions, and was chosen arbitrator by
the King of Denmark and the Duke of Hol-
stein, in their dispute over the province of
Ditmarsch. His historical works are distin-
guished by great erudition, and a critical spirit
rarely found in his day. He published: (Van-
dalia, or the History of the Vandals? (1519);
(Saxonia) (1520); (Chronicles of the Kingdoms
of Sweden, Denmark, and Norway) (1545);
(Metropolis, or History of the Church in Sax.
ony' (1548).
Krapotkin, Peter Alexievich, Prince. A
Russian scientist, revolutionist, editor, lecturer,
and author; born at Moscow, Dec. 9, 1842. He
was in the Russian army for a time, and made
extensive journeys in Siberia and Mantchuria.
Charged with anarchist affiliations, he was im-
prisoned two years in Russia, escaped, founded
the anarchist paper La Révolte in Geneva
(1879), and after being expelled from Switzer-
land in 1881, commenced a crusade against the
Russian government in the English and French
press. He was imprisoned in France from 1883
to 1886, under a law directed against the In-
ternational Workingmen's Association, of which
he was a member. He has lectured in various
parts of the world ; is the author of "To Young
People) (1881); Words of a Revolutionist
(1885);"In Russian and French Prisons) (1887);
(In Search of Bread' (1892); and pamphlets on
nihilistic subjects; and his contributions on
modern scientific subjects to the leading re-
views are numerous and interesting.
Krasicki, Ignacy (krä-sitz'ke). A Polish
ecclesiastic and author; born at Dubiecko, Ga-
licia, in 1734; died at Berlin, Germany, March
He became bishop of Ermeland in
1767, archbishop of Gnesen in 1795, and for
many years was one of the most brilliant figures
at the court of Frederick II. The characteristics
of his productions are caustic wit and a facile
and agreeable style, which procured for him the
title of the Polish Voltaire. ) (Monacho.
machia, or the Battle of Monks) is considered
his best work, but his "Satires) (1778) and
(Fables) (1780) also take a high rank.
Krasinski, Sigismund, Count (krä-sin'skē).
A noted Polish poet; born in Paris, Feb. 19,
1812; died there, Feb. 23, 1859. On account of
his health he lived in various European capi-
tals outside Poland. He became one of Po-
land's three greatest poets, exerting a wide
influence on her literature. The drama (Irid.
ion,' depicting the contrast between Christianity
and paganism in Rome under the Cæsars, ap-
peared in 1836, and is generally thought his
finest work. Next best are the symbolic drama
(Nieboska Comedya' (The Undivine Comedy:
1837-48), "Przedswit) (The Dawn : 1843); and
(Psalmy Przyszlósci(Psalms of the Future :
1845-48), collections of lyric poems full of re-
ligion and patriotism. His writings were all
published anonymously or under fictitious names.
(Works,' 4 vols. , 1880-88. ) *
Kraszevsky, Jósef Ignacy (krä-shev'ské). A
noted Polish novelist; born at Warsaw, July
28, 1812; died at Geneva, March 19, 1887. He
was the author of over 500 works, consisting,
besides valuable historical writings, of romances,
novels, critiques, travels, political treatises, epic
poems, etc. Of poetry, among his chief works
was the epic (Anafielas' (1840-43), in three parts,
founded on Lithuanian history. (The Devil
and the Woman) (1841) was an imaginative
drama. But his best work was in his romances
## p. 315 (#331) ############################################
KRAUSE - KRUGER
315
(
an
and novels, over 240 in number. Among them
were: (The Poet and the World' (1839);
Ulana) (1841), containing pictures of Polish
society ; (The Hut beyond the Village) (1855),
which became very popular in his country;
( About to Die) (1871). His celebrated series
of novels depicting Polish history from the
earliest times made him the Walter Scott of
Poland. It has been said of him that he taught
his countrymen to know better both their
past and themselves. ”
Krause, Karl Christian Friedrich (krous'é).
A German philosopher; born at Eisenberg,
Saxe-Altenburg, May 6, 1781; died at Munich,
Sept. 27, 1832. For two years he was tutor at
the University of Jena, and then traveled about
Germany, France, and Italy. Besides treatises
on music, language, and philosophy, he pub-
lished several works on Freemasonry, which best
represent his peculiar philosophic ideas. Chief
among them are: “Observations on the History
of Freemasonry) (1810); (The Three Oldest
Monuments of Freemasonry' (1810); Proto-
type of Mankind) (1811).
Krehbiel, Henry Edward. An American
musical critic; born in Ann Arbor, Mich. , 1854.
He was musical critic successively on the Cin-
cinnati Gazette and the New York Tribune.
His published works include: “The Technics
of Violin Playing) (1880); “Review of the New
York Musical Season (1885-86); and the same
for the season of 1886-87.
Kremer, Alfred von (krā'mer). An Aus-
trian diplomatist and Orientalist; born in Vi-
enna, May 13, 1828. Upon his return from a
visit to Syria and Egypt he was made pro-
fessor of modern Arabic in the Polytechnic
School, Vienna ; and since 1858 has held im-
portant positions in the consular service at
Cairo, Galatz, and Beyrout. He published
(1875-77) A History of Oriental Civilization
under the Khalifs, which has firmly established
his reputation as an Orientalist. Other im-
portant works are: (Egypt) (1863); Legends
of Southern Arabia) (1866); (History of the
Dominant Ideas of Islam) (1868); (The Idea
of Nationality and the State' (1885).
Kremnitz, Mite (Marie) (krem'nits). A
prolific German miscellaneous writer; born at
Greifswald, Jan. 4, 1852. Of her works on Rou-
mania, may be named : (Roumanian Sketches)
(1877); New Roumanian Sketches) (1881);
(Roumanian Tales) (1882). Prominent among
her other books are: Exiles) (1890), a ro.
mance; (Love's Curse (1881), written under
the pseudonym “George Allan”; “A Prince's
Child (1882). In collaboration with “Carmen
Sylva,” she has written : (Anne Boleyn) (1886);
(From Two Worlds) (3d ed. 1887); (Astra)
(3d ed. 1887); Revenge) (2d ed. 1889); (Astray)
(3d ed. 1890).
Krestovskiſ, Vsevolod Vladimirovich (kres-
tof'skē). A Russian military officer and histo-
rian ; born at Kiev, Feb. 11, 1840. After a short
course of study at the University of St. Peters-
burg, he entered a regiment of uhlans and sub-
sequently was transferred to the Imperial Guard,
which he accompanied during the war with
Turkey (1877) as official historian attached to
the general staff. On his return he published
account of his experiences, in (Twenty
Months in the Active Army) (1879). He is best
known, however, as a novelist : his Not the
First nor the Last) (1859); ( The Sphinx' (1860);
(Slums of St. Petersburg) (1867); Egyptian
Darkness); etc. , enjoying great popularity in
Russia and Germany.
Krestovsky, V. , later Krestovskiï (pseudo-
nym) (kres-tof'skē). See Khvostchinskaia.
Kretzer, Max (kretz'er). A German novel-
ist; born at Posen, May 7, 1854. He is a pro-
lific and powerful realist. Several of his works
have been on socialism. Among the best of
his writings are : (Berlin Tales and Pictures of
Manners) (2d ed. 1887); (Civil Death) (1888),
a drama; (The Deceived' (2d ed. 1891); (The
Sermon on the Mount) (2d ed. 1891), deal-
ing with social questions; (The Creator of
Millions) (1891); (Uncle Fifi) (2d ed. 1892);
(The Two Confederates) (3d ed. 1893), deal-
ing with social questions; 'Strange Enthusiasts)
(2d ed. 1893).
Kroeger, Adolph Ernst. An American prose-
writer; born in Schwabstedt, Schleswig, 1837 ;
died in St. Louis, Mo. , 1882. During the Civil
War he served on Frémont's staff. By transla-
tions of the works of Fichte, Kant, and Leibnitz,
he largely contributed to a better understand-
ing of German literature in this country. He
wrote for the St. Louis Journal of Speculative
Philosophy. He published Fichte's (Science
of Knowledge) (1868); the same author's (Sci-
ence of Rights) (1869). He also issued (Our
Forms of Government, and the Problems of the
Future) (1862).
Krüdener, Barbara Juliane von, Baroness
(krü'de-ner). A Russian novelist and mystic;
born at Riga, Nov. 21, 1764; died at Karassu-
Bazar, Dec. 24, 1824. Her checkered and ro-
mantic career touched the extremes of life -
worldliness and sainthood. After having left her
husband, with whom her union had been un-
happy and whom she had deceived, and tasted
Parisian dissipation, she became a Swedenborg-
ian, and devoted herself to helping the poor
and afflicted. Surrounded by a retinue of clergy,
she traversed Europe, preaching eloquently to
the people a return to primitive Christianity, and
being persecuted and expelled by the different
governments. She was the friend of Queen
Louise of Prussia and of Alexander I. of Rus-
sia, and is said to have been very influential
in the formation of the Holy Alliance. She
foretold Napoleon's triumphant return from
Elba. Her death was the result of ascetic prac-
tices. Her literary reputation rests upon the
famous romance (Valéria, or Letters of Gustave
de Linar to Ernest de G- (last ed. 1878),
containing the history of her marital relations.
Krüger, Johann Christian (krüg'er). A
German dramatist; born at Berlin, 1722; died
.
## p. 316 (#332) ############################################
316
KRUMMACHER - KÜRNBERGER
His very
at Hamburg, Aug. 23, 1750. He studied phil-
ology, but became an actor and a playwright.
Among his comedies were : (The Clergy in
the Country); (The Blind Husband); 'The
Candidates, or the Way to Get Office);
(The Wedded Philosopher); (The Devil's a
Coward); and the universally popular Duke
Michael. (Poetical and dramatic works, 1763. )
Krummacher, Friedrich Adolf (krö'mäch-er).
A German writer of parables; born at Tecklen-
burg, July 1767; died at Bremen, April 4, 1845.
A minister in the German Reformed Church
and a professor of theology, he became widely
known by his Parables) (1805), which ran
through many editions and are familiar in an
English translation. They were as a rule short,
written in simple prose, on such subjects as
(The Blind Man, Life and Death, (The
Hero, etc. , and became a sort of international
property, being even printed in schoolbooks.
None of his other writings won popularity.
Kruse, Heinrich (kröʻzė). A German poet;
born at Stralsund, Dec. 15, 1815.
successful works consist of dramas, idyls, and
lyrics. Of tragedies, the best known are (The
Countess) (1868, his first attempt); "King
Eric) (2d ed. 1873); (Wullenwever) (3d ed.
1878); (The Outlaw) (2d ed. 1881); Brutus)
(2d ed. 1882); (The Byzantine Maiden) (2d
ed. 1885); (Arabella Stuart) (1888). Three
farces, (The Devil at Lubeck,) (The Jealous
Miller,' and (Steadfast Love,' appeared in one
volume in 1887; (Seven Little Dramas) was
published in 1893. In his dramatic work the
dialogue is pithy and the characters are sharply
detined, while the keen humor that fills the
comedies and farces breaks out intermittently
in the tragedies also. His idyls can be best
seen in (Sea Tales) (first collection 1880, 2d
ed. 1889; second collection 1889). His lyrics
appeared in Poems) (1891).
Krylov, Ivan Andréevitch (krē-lof'). A
Russian writer of fables; born at Moscow, Feb.
13, 1768; died at St. Petersburg, Nov. 21, 1844.
He is the most popular author in Russia; the
children learn to read from his books, and many
of his verses have become national proverbs.
His statue stands in the summer garden at St.
Petersburg. He produced 142 fables original
in substance and form, and 56 translations or
imitations. Without ill-nature, their satire on ex-
isting conditions is keen. They are written in
verse, simple and attractive in style; - any child
or peasant readily understands them. They
have been translated into every European lan-
guage. The first collection appeared in 1890.
(Works, 1859. )
Kugler, Franz Theodor (kög'ler). A Ger-
man writer on art and its history; born at
Stettin, Jan. 19, 1808; died at Berlin, March 18,
1858. He was appointed a professor of fine
arts in the University of Berlin in 1833, and
subsequently became a member of the Acad-
emy of Berlin. His works have undoubtedly
had great infuence on German art and culture :
notably a (History of Painting from Constantine
the Great to the Present Times) (1837); “Hand-
book of the History of Art) (1841-42); His.
tory of Architecture) (1856). He is also the
author of a History of Frederick the Great)
(1840), which is popular in Germany.
Kühne, August. See Dewall.
Kühne, Gustav (kü'nė). A prolific German
novelist and poet; born at Magdeburg, Dec. 27,
1806; died at Dresden, April 22, 1888. Among
his novels, the later ones of which show a ten-
dency toward too many reflections and a lack
of form, were : (A Quarantine in the Madhouse)
(1835); (Feminine and Masculine Characters)
(2 vols. , 1838); “Portraits and Silhouettes) (2
vols. , 1843); (Convent Tales) (2d ed. 1862);(The
Rebels of Ireland (2d ed. 1863); "German Men
and Women (2d ed. 1863); (The Freemasons)
(2d ed. 1867). Of poems, in addition to those
contained in his collected works, he published:
(Roman Sonnets) (1869); (Christ on his Travels)
(1870); (Wittenberg and Rome' (3 vols. , 1877);
(Romances, Legends, and Fables) (1880).
He
wrote also the following dramas: (Isaura of
Castile); “The Emperor Friedrich III. "; "De-
metrius); etc. For several years he edited the
celebrated periodicals Journal for the Elegant
World, and Europa. He belonged to the “ Young
Germany) school of literature. (Works, 10
vols. , 1862-67. )
Kulmann, Elisabeth Borisovna (köl'män).
A Russian poet; born at St. Petersburg, 1808;
died 1825, at 17. She was very precocious in
language-study and literary aptitude, and wrote
in Russian, German, and Italian. Her Russian
poems, edited by the Russian Academy, appeared
in 1833; the best edition of her German verse
is that of 1857 ; the Italian poems were published
at Milan in 1847. Her poetry, written in a sim-
ple and clear style, showed keen observation,
considerable descriptive power, and a lively
imagination: Goethe prophesied for her an
honorable place in literature. A monument
was erected to her memory by the Russian em-
press.
Kunstmann, Friedrich (könst'män). A
German historical and geographical writer;
born at Nuremberg, Jan. 4, 1811; died at Mu-
nich, Aug. 15, 1867. He was private tutor to
the Princess Donna Amalia of Brazil in Lis-
bon (1841-46), and on his return to Munich
was appointed to a professorship in the uni-
versity. He contributed papers to the transac-
tions of the Munich Academy, and published:
( The Latin Penitential Books of the Anglo-
Saxons) (1844); "Africa before the Discoveries
of the Portuguese) (1853); (The Discovery of
America from the Most Ancient Sources) (1859),
with an atlas giving fac-simile copies of early
maps.
Kürnberger, Ferdinand (kürn'bârg-er). A
German novelist · born at Vienna, July 3, 1821 ;
died at Munich, Oct. 14, 1879. His works are
witty, highly poetical, and written in a pithy
style. His first novel, (Tired of America)
(1856), was his most popular one; it described
the American civilization of that period as
(
## p. 317 (#333) ############################################
KURZ – LA BÉDOLLIÈRE
317
;
merely material. Of several volumes of tales,
(Selected Tales) (1857) contained his best work.
Others of his writings were : the drama (Cata-
line) (1855); the volume of essays (Seal Rings)
(1874); the romance (The Despot of the House)
(1876); Literary Affairs of the Heart) (1877).
Kurz, Heinrich (körts). A German histo-
rian of literature; born at Paris, April 28, 1805;
died at Aarau, Switzerland, Feb. 24, 1873.
Having suffered two years' imprisonment for
articles published in his paper, the Augsburg
Times, he removed to Switzerland, where he
held several professorships and made a special
study of German literature. The results of his
investigations are embodied in the well-known
(History of German Literature) (4 vols. , 1851;
1868–72). Equally important are: Handbook
of the National Poetic Literature of the Ger-
mans) (1840-43); Handbook of German Prose).
(1845-52).
Kurz, Hermann. A German novelist; born
at Reutlingen, Würtemberg, Nov. 30, 1813;
died at Tübingen, Oct. 10, 1873. He is best
known by his two fine romances, (Schiller's
Life in his Native Place) (2d ed. 1856-57), de-
scribing Würtemberg at the time Schiller grew
up there; and Mine Host of the Sun (2d ed. ,
2 vols. , 1862), a Swabian popular tale of psycho-
logical power. (From the Days of Dishonor)
(1871), another strong work, was historical in
tone;'On Shakespeare's Life and Work) (1868)
and the text for Konewka's (Falstaff and his
Companions) (1872) were critical. He trans-
lated from the Italian, Spanish, French, and
English masters, and wrote also two volumes
of poems. ('Works,' 10 vols. , 1874-75. )
Kvitka, Grigoriï Fedorovitch (kvit'kä). A
Russian novelist; born at Osnova (whence his
appellation «Osnovianenko”), near Karkov,
Nov. 29, 1778; died at Karkov, Aug. 20, 1843.
He wrote both in Great and Little Russian, being
one of the chief writers in the latter, his works
in which (new ed. , 2 vols. , 1858) were especially
dear to his countrymen for presenting pictures
of the familiar national life idealized; the most
popular was the novel Maroussia. In Great
Russian he published two novels of manners
and a number of dramas, the most popular of
the latter being 'Selmenko.
Kyd, Thomas. An English dramatist; four-
ished in the sixteenth century. He was the
most popular English writer of tragedies before
Shakespeare, and helped prepare the way for
him. His most successful two plays, his first
and second works respectively, were “The
Spanish Tragedy, or Hieronimo,' and 'Oratio. ?
They were very popular and were frequently
acted, not only in England, but in Germany
and in Holland: but the former was much rid-
iculed by Shakespeare and his contemporaries,
for its bombastic rant; and “Go by. Jeronimy»
(i. e. , “Get out, you lunatic”), from the rav-
ings of the distracted hero, became a common
phrase.
L
Laas, Ernst (lä’äs). A well-known German
philosopher and educator ; born Fürstenwald
on the Spree, June 16, 1837 ; died at Strasburg,
July 25, 1885. He was one of the chief repre-
sentatives of positivism in Germany, though
his strength lay more in criticism than in con-
struction. His principal work, Idealism and
Positivism) (3 vols. , 1879-84), opposed the views
of Plato and Kant. Of his pedagogical writ-
ings, the most important are (German Com-
position in the Upper Gymnasium Classes) (2d
ed. 1877-78), an epoch-making work, and (Ger-
man Education in the Higher Institutions of
Instruction (2d ed. 1886).
Labanca, Baldassare (lä-bänk'ä). An Ital-
ian philosopher; born at Agnone (Molise), 1829.
He has attained great eminence with such works
as Readings in Natural Philosophy) (1864);
(Concerning the True and the False Spirit in
Philosophy' (1857); and many similar ones.
Labarre, called Louis Labar (lä-bär'). A
Belgian journalist and man of letters ; born at
Dinan, Namur, May 1, 1810; died at Ixelles,
Jan. 17, 1892. His first success was a volume
of "Satires and Elegies) (1836), in which his
republican sentiments are strongly expressed.
He has edited Charivari Belge and other jour-
nals. His best works include: A Revolution
to Laugh At,' a comedy; Antoine Wiertz)
(1867), a biography; "Waterloo) (1868), a his-
torical study; and other miscellany.
Labé, Louise (lä-bā). A French poet; true
name Charlieu ; called “the fair rope-maker »
from her husband's business (about 1526-66).
She was early noted for beauty, linguistic talent,
and intrepidity. At 16, disguised as a cavalier,
she took part in the siege of Perpignan. After
marriage at Lyons, her house became the ren-
dezvous of poets, scholars, artists, and musicians.
Her poems are true lyrics, singularly graceful
and original, though showing Petrarch's influ-
ence. She also wrote in prose a charming alle-
gory, Dispute between Folly and Love.
La Bédollière, Émile Gigault de (lä bād-
ol-yır'). A French historian, and social ana-
lyst; born at Amiens, 1812; died in Paris, 1883.
He wrote much, his best works being: "His-
tory of Paris) (1864); (History of the Morals
and Private Life of the French) (1847); (His-
tory of Mother Michel and of her Cat) (1851),
a delightful mock-serious tale, translated into
English by T. B. Aldrich for St. Nicholas.
## p. 318 (#334) ############################################
318
LABEO - LA BRUYÈRE
(
Labeo, Marcus Antistius (lab'ê-7). A cele-
brated Roman jurist of the Augustan age. He
wrote some 400 works on jurisprudence; but of
them one only has come down to our time,
being embodied in the Pandects of the Justin.
ian (Corpus Juris.
Laberius, Decimus (la-bē'ri-us). A Roman
knight and miscellaneous writer; born about
105 B. C. ; died at Puteoli, January 43 B. C. His
writings consisted of farces, comic and satirical
poems, an epic poem on Cæsar's Gallic war,
and a prose work containing anecdotes, etc.
He was compelled by Cæsar to appear on the
stage in one of his own farces, thereby forfeit-
ing his knighthood, which was restored to him
by the dictator.
Labesse, Antoine Édouard Decaudin (lä-
bes'). A French miscellaneous writer; born in
Angoulême, April 11, 1848. He is a prolific
writer on a variety of subjects, his works
including: (The Terrestrial World,' a pop-
ular scientific study ; (Monsieur, Madame, and
Baby'; My First Case); (The King of the
Fjords); and many more.
Labiche, Eugène (lä-bēsh'). An important
French comedy-writer; born in Paris, May 5,
1815; died there, Jan. 23, 1888. Of over 100
comedies, vaudevilles, farces, etc. , of his writ-
ing, almost all possessed strong qualities, in-
cluding striking dialogue, caustic yet never
cruel humor, and stage technique, while several
were models of their kind. Among the best
are: (The Italian Straw Hat) (1851); (The
Misanthrope and the Auvergnat) (1853); Eye
Powder) (with Martin, 1862); (Célimare the
Well-Beloved) (1863); “Cagnotte) (1864); One
Foot in Crime) (with Choler, 1866); etc. (Dra-
matic Works, 10 vols. , 1878–79. ) He wrote a
number of pieces in collaboration.
La Boëtie, Étienne de (lä bo-e-te'). A French
anti-monarchical poet; born at Sarlat, Nov. 1,
1530; died at Germignan, Aug. 18, 1563. He
was a friend of Montaigne, who brought out
an edition of his writings (1570-71). Of these
the best known is the Discourse on Voluntary
Slavery, a rather fat philippic against mon-
archy. (Works, Paris, 1892. )
Laborde, Alexandre Louis Joseph, Count
de (lä-bord'). A French writer of travels; born
in Paris, Sept. 17, 1773; died there, Oct. 24, 1842.
He wrote: (Picturesque and Historic Journey
in Spain) (4 vols. , 1807-18; new ed. 1823);
Description of the New Gardens and Ancient
Castles of France) (1808-15); “The Monuments
of France) (2 vols. , 1816-36); Picturesque Jour-
ney in Austria) (3 vols. , 1821-23); Descriptive
Itinerary of Spain) (3d ed. , 6 vols. , 1827-31);
(Versailles, Ancient and Modern (1840). He
was a soldier, accompanying Napoleon to Spain
and Austria, and a politician.
Laborde, Léon, Marquis de. A French mis-
cellaneous writer, son of Alexandre; born in
Paris, June 15, 1807; died there, March 25, 1869.
Having accompanied his father on a trip to
the East, he wrote : Journey in Arabia Petræa)
(1830–33); Journey in the East) (2 vols. , 1837-
62); History of Engraving) (1839); “The Dukes
of Burgundy) (1849-51); Account of the En-
amels, Jewelry, and Various Objects on Exhi-
bition in the Galleries of the Louvre) (2 vols. ,
1853); (The Renaissance of the Arts at the
Court of France. Vol. I. : Painting) (1855). In
the revolution of 1830 he was General Lafay-
ette's adjutant, was afterwards in the diplomatic
service at London, The Hague, and Cassel, and
succeeded to his father's office.
Labouchere, Henry (lä-bö-shår'). An Eng-
lish journalist and politician; born in London,
1831. He was in the diplomatic service, part
of the time at Washington, and a member of
Parliament. An advanced republican, he used
Truth, the journal established by him in 1876 as
a society and political organ, for the promul-
gation of his ideas, often thereby getting into
serious difficulties. He wrote (Diary of a Be.
sieged Resident in Paris) (1871).
Laboulaye, Édouard René Lefebvre de (lä-
bö-lā'). A distinguished French jurist, histo-
rian, and writer of tales; born at Paris, Jan. 18,
1811; died there, May 25, 1883. He was ap-
pointed professor of comparative jurisprudence
in the Collège de France in 1849, having already
won distinction by several treatises on Roman
and French law. His greatest work outside of
the field of jurisprudence is a (Political His-
tory of the United States, 1620-1789) (3 vols. ,
1855-66). He wrote also (The United States
and France) (1862) and the humorous satiric
novel Paris in America) (1863), which had a
very large circulation (27th ed. 1872). His
novel of Prince Caniche) (1868) reached a
20th edition. But by far his best-known works
of fiction are the three series of Blue Stories,
tales of fairies, elves, enchanters, etc. , original
and retold. Some of his essays on contempo-
rary political and social questions have been
collected and published under the titles "Con-
temporary Studies of Germany and the Slavic
States) (1856); “Religious Liberty) (1858). *
Labrunie. See Gérard de Nerval.
La Bruyère, Jean de (lä brii-yår'). A fa-
mous French moralist and satirist; born in
Paris, August 1645; died at Versailles, May 10,
1696. Appointed tutor of the dauphin, he spent
a large part of his life at the court of Louis
XIV. His great work, on which his reputation
rests, (The Characters of Theophrastus, Trans-
lated from the Greek, with the Characters or
Manners of this Century) (1688), was a cloak
for the keenest and most sagacious observations
on the characters and manners of the court. It
abounds in wit, shows him to have been an ex-
cellent judge of men, and is written in an ad-
mirable style. The number of characters ” was
greatly increased as the various editions came
out. Numerous keys appeared, the first in 1720.
It has been translated into well-nigh every mod-
ern language. A true philosopher, desiring but
to lead a quiet life with his books and friends,
only his worth and tact enabled him always to
(
## p. 319 (#335) ############################################
LACAILLE-LACORDAIRE
319
)
preserve his dignity among the ignorant and ar-
rogant courtiers. *
Lacaille, Nicolas Louis de (lä-käy'). A noted
French astronomer (1713-62). In 1750 he pro-
posed to the Paris Academy an astronomical
expedition to the Cape of Good Hope; the
project being officially sanctioned, he made the
voyage to the Cape 1751, and spent three years
in the southern hemisphere. He made more
observations and calculations than all the other
astronomers of his time put together, and his
exactitude was not inferior to his diligence.
Ilis principal writings are : (The Foundations
of Astronomy) (1757); “Solar Tables); (The
Southern Starry Heavens) (1763), a catalogue
of 10,000 southern stars ; elementary treatises
on Mathematics) (1741), Mechanics (1743),
Astronomy) (1746), "Optics) (1750).
La Calprenède, Gauthier de Coste, Sei-
gneur de (lä käl-pre-nād'). A French romancer
(1610-63). He first entered the field of litera-
ture with tragedies and tragi-comedies, but
had little success.
He then wrote a romance
of chivalry, Cleopatra) (12 vols. , 1647-58), in
which contemporary personages and manners
are portrayed under names and amid surround-
ings of the age of Augustus. The episodes of
intrigue and gallantry are to the last degree
and wearisome; but the characters are
for the most part well defined, some of the
scenes skillfully contrived, and the style always
elegant and perspicuous. Among his other
romances, in a like vein, are Cassandra! (10
vols. , 1642-50); Pharamond' (7 vols. , 1661-70);
Diversions of the Princess Alcidiana (1661).
Lacaussade, Auguste (la-ko-sad'). A French
poet; born in the Isle of Bourbon, 1817. His
most notable volumes of verse include : (Na-
tional Poems) (1871); (Anacreontics); etc.
Lacépède, Bernard Germain Étienne de
Laville, Count de (lä-sā-ped'). A distinguished
French naturalist; born at Agen, Dec. 26, 1756;
died at Épinay, Oct. 6, 1825. The perusal of
Buffon's Natural History) in early life de-
cided his after career. Most noteworthy among
his works are : History of Oviparous Quad-
rupeds) (1788); Natural History of Reptilia)
(1788); Natural History of Fishes,' a work of
the highest authority (6 vols. , 1798-1805); Nat-
ural History of Man (posthumous).
