Page:Collier's New Encyclopedia v. 07.djvu/486

LEFT BACK 408 BADCLIFFE matic works, he wrote "Canticles and Hymns for the use of St. Cyr," the "His- tory of Port Royal," etc. In 1673 he was received into the academy, and continued to enjoy the highest favor at court; but having offended the king by a too free use of his pen in drawing up a memorial on the distresses of the people, he lost favor. He died April 21, 1699. RACK, an apparatus for the judicial torture of criminals or suspected per- sons. It consisted of a large, open, wooden frame, within which the person to be tortured was laid on his back on the floor, with his wrists and ankles fastened by cords to two rollers at the end of the frame. These rollers were then drawn or moved in opposite direc- tions till the body rose to a level with the frame. Interrogations were then put, and if the prisoner refused to an- swer, or if his answers were not con- sidered satisfactory, the rollers were further moved, until at last the bones of the sufferer were forced from their sockets. In gearing, a toothed bar whose pitch line is straight, adapted to work into the teeth of a wheel for the purpose of changing rectilinear into circular motion, or vice versa. This contrivance is called a rack-and-pinion, and the motion so im- parted rack-and-pinion motion. In hor- ology, a steel piece in the striking part of a clock. In lace, a certain length of lace-work counted perpendicularly, and containing 240 meshes. In metallurgy, an inclined frame or table, open at the foot, and upon which metalliferous slimes are placed and exposed to a stream of water, which washes off the lighter portions. Nautically, (1) A frame of wood with belaying-pins, or a row of blocks for fair-leaders, or a row of sheaves for reeving the running-rig- ging. (2) A frame with holes for round shot. (3) A box in which the halyards are coiled away. RACKET, the instrument with which players at tennis or rackets strike the ball; a bat, consisting of an elliptical loop formed of a thin strip of wood, across which network of cord or gut is stretched, and to which a handle is at- tached. Also a snow-shoe of cords stretched across a long and narrow frame of light wood ; and a broad shoe or pattern made of wood, used on a man or a horse to support him on the surface of boggy ground. In ornithology, a spatule. RACKHAM, ARTHUR, an English water-color painter and illustrator. Born in 1867, he received his early train- ing at the Lambeth Art School. After making several successful drawings he undertook to illustrate several books, chiefly those dealing with the American, English, and German legends and folk stories. He has contributed illustra- tions for the following works: "Alice in Wonderland," "Midsummer Night's Dream," "Rip Van Winkle," "Grimm's Fairy Tales," Dickens' "Christmas Carol." RACQUETS, a game played in a pre- pared court, open or close, with a small hard ball and a bat like that used for playing tennis. The closed or roofed court is now generally preferred for playing in. It is an oblong, rectangular area, 80 feet long and 40 broad when of full dimensions, and having high walls. The floor is divided into two chief areas of unequal size by a line, called the "short line," drawn across it at two- fifths of the length of the court from the back wall, the smaller area being again divided into two equal parts by a line at right angles to this, and two small areas being marked off in the other space next the short-line, called "service spaces." Two horizontal lines are also drawn across the front wall, one 2 feet 2 inches above the floor, below which if the ball strike it is out of play, the other, the "cut line," 7 feet 9 inches above the floor. The game may be played with either one or two persons on each side. It is decided by lot which side goes in first, and the first player assumes which side of the court he pleases (usually the right), while the other stands in the opposite corner. The first player then begins to "serve," which consists in striking the ball with the bat so as to make it strike the front wall above the cut line, and then rebound into the op- posite corner. If the ball is properly served the second player must strike it before it has made a second bound, so that it strikes the front wall above the lower line; but in returning the ball in this manner the player may if he likes first make it strike either of the side walls. The player may also return it before it touches the floor. The first player then returns the ball in the same way, and this goes on until either player fails. If it is the first player who fails, it is then the turn of the second player to serve. If it is the second player, the first scores one (an ace), and continues to serve, but goes to the opposite side of the court. In general 15 is the game. RADCLIFFE, ANN, an English novel- ist whose maiden name was Ward; born in London, England, July 9, 1746. Her first performance was a romantic tale, entitled "The Castles of Athlin and Dun- bayne"; which was succeeded by "The Sicilian Romance" and "The Romance of