Page:Collier's New Encyclopedia v. 04.djvu/126

LEFT FAMINE 96 FANEUIL ties of our nature, and is essentially fitted to develop and foster those habits and affections on which the happiness and welfare of mankind depend. It can, however, exist in a state of purity only where monogamy prevails. In botany, a synonym for Order (q. v.). In zoology, the group above the genus. An order of animals should be divided into families according to the form of species, but, in fact, the great- est confusion reigns in the classification of the animal kingdom. FAMINE, a scarcity of food over large areas, resulting in suffering or death by starvation and disease to mul- titudes. Short crops are caused by drought, excess of rainfall, severe and untimely frosts, the ravages of insects and vermin, the devastation of war, wholesale destruction of forests, dis- eases of plants, etc. The Greek republics enacted very strenuous laws regarding the trade in grain; and the Romans, even at the time of their greatest prosperity, were so dependent on Egypt and Sicily for their breadstuffs, that even a brief delay in the aiTcival of the ships caused local famines. In the Middle Ages famines were of frequent occurrence and were often accompanied by frightful social phenomena. The famine of 1125 dimin- ished the population of Germany one- half. All through the Middle Ages pub- lic opinion upheld the city authorities in driving out of the gates the neediest inhabitants and letting them perish. In a famine which devastated Hungary in 1505 parents who killed and ate their children were not punished. As late as the middle of the 17th century famines were a common affliction in Europe and even in the 18th century they still oc- curred. The last time a period of bad hai-vests was designated as a famine in Germany was in 1817. During and in the year following the "World War (1914-1918), there were many deaths from famine in Europe, but it is inconceivable at the present time that a general famine should devastate western or central Europe or the Americas. In India and other parts of Asia the situation is diffei-ent. In India, where there are eight months of dry weather and the crops depend on the rainfall of four months and subsequent irrigation, if there is any lack in the monsoon, famine is almost sure to fol- low. Under the I'ule of the English, too, the population has greatly increased, and, while the majority of people live from hand to mouth in ordinary times, the slightest failure in the rice crop causes the famine point to be immedi- ately reached. The recent famine in India cost the government in 1900-1901 $28,235,000. Apart from this $13,700,- 000 was advanced to native states for famine relief and $4,735,000 for special agricultural advances. In 1870-1872 Persia lost 1,500,000 inhabitants, a quarter of the whole population. In the N. provinces or China, Shensi, Shansi, and Honan, with a population of 56,- 000,000, during the years following 1877 it was reckoned that between 4,000,000 and 6,000,000 people perished. In the famine of 1891-1892 in Russia it was estimated that in 18 provinces 27,000,- 000 inhabitants were affected. In the summer of 1920, a famine in China caused thousands of deaths. FANATIC, a person affected by ex- cessive zeal and enthusiasm, especially on religious subjects; one laboring under wild and extravagant notions of reli- gion; an enthusiast; a visionary. In ancient Rome the term was applied to such as passed their time in temples, and who, pretending to be inspired by the divinity, would burst into wild and frantic gestures, utter pretended pro- phecies, cut themselves with knives, etc. Hence, the term has in modern times come to be applied to such as manifest a religious enthusiasm, uncontrolled by reason or experience. Fanaticism is sometimes applied in a wider sense to any excessive prepossession of the mind by ideas of any kind. It has prevailed under different forms in all ages of the world; and one of its most remarkable and dangerous features is the tendency that it has to spread over large masses of a people. The very earnestness of the fanatic serves to carry conviction to the minds of others. Among persons of this class were Madame Guyon, Joanna Southcott, and numerous others. FAN CORAL, in zoology, the name of the genus Rhipidogorgia, belonging to the family Gorgonidae. FANDANGO, a lively Spanish dance in triple time, derived from the Moors. It is danced by two persons, male and fe- male, and accompanied by the sounds of the guitar. The dancers have castanets which they beat in time to the measure, though sometimes the male dancer beats a tambourine. Also the accompaniment of this dance. FANEUIL, PETER, an American merchant; born in New Rochelle, N. Y., in 1700; settled in Boston, Mass., where he became a successful merchant. In 1740 he built a market house at his per- sonal expense as a gift to the town. During the Revolutionary War thi* building was often used as a meeting-