Page:Collier's New Encyclopedia v. 08.djvu/221

LEFT SAGA 177 SAGE lowing centuries. The most remarkable are those of Lodbrok, Hervara, Vilkina, Volsunga, Blomsturvalla, Yynglinga, Olaf Tryggva-Sonar, with those of Jomsvikin- gia and of Knytlinga (which contain the legendary history of Iceland), the Heims- Kringla and New Edda, due to Snorri Sturlason. SAGA, a town of Japan, capitol of the province of Hizen, on the island of Kioo Lioo 74 miles N. E. of Nagasaki. It is important as a seaport and commercial center. A large number of brooks and channels traverse the town. The most important channel is that of Sentonofutsi, 50 miles in length. It unites the Gulf of Simabara with the Northern Sea, and greatly conduces to the inland commerce of the island. Pop. about 38.000. SAGAPENUM, a fetid gum - resin brought from Persia and Alexandria, and generally believed to be furnished by some species of the genus Ferula. It occurs either in tears or irregular masses of a dirty brownish color, containing in the interior white or yellowish grains. It has an odor of garlic, and a hot, acrid, bitterish taste. It is occasionally used in medicine as a nervine and stimulating expectorant. SAGAR, or SATTGOR, a well-built town in the Central Provinces of India, in a hilly tract, on a feeder of the Jumna. There are here a Mahratta fort, now converted into British stores, barracks, and a magazine, as well as a jail (1846) and a park (1862) ; and there were for- merly a college (removed to Jabalpur) and a mint (removed to Calcutta). Sa- gar has a trade in salt, sugar, and cloth. Pop. about 44,000. SAGAR, a low, swampy island at the mouth of the Hugli, the holiest branch of the Ganges; it is particularly sacred in the estimation of the Hindus. Multitudes of pilgrims annually resort to it in Jan- uary, and after the three days' festival of purification is over a great fair is held. The island has an area of 225 square miles, but is very thinly inhabited, the greater part being jungle, the haunt of tigers and other wild animals. A light- house (1808), a meteorological observa- tory, and a telegraph station are the chief buildings. SAGE, the genus Salva, specifically S. officinalis and S. grandiflora. The first of these is the common garden sage, a native of the S. of Europe. It has blue flowers, and has run into many varieties. Formerly it had a high reputation as a sudorific, an aromatic, an astringent, and an antiseptic, but it has not now a place in the pharmacopoeia. The Chinese use it as a tonic for debility of the stomach and nerves. It is employed in cooking for sauces and stuffing for luscious meats. Also the genus Artemisia. SAGE, HENRY WILLIAMS, an American philanthropist; born in Middle- town, Conn., Jan. 31, 1814; engaged in business with his uncle in 1832-1854, when he became interested in the lumber regions of Canada and the West, where he bought large tracts of timber and be- came one of the most extensive land own- ers in Michigan. He was elected to the Legislature in 1847 and subsequently as- sociated himself with many philanthropic schemes. His early benefactions included the endowment of the Lyman Beecher lec- tureship at Yale College, the building and endowment of several churches and schools, and the building of the public library at West Bay City, Mich. He was elected a trustee of Cornell University in 1870, and gave to that institution $266,- 000 for the Sage College for Women; $50,000 for the Susan Lynn Sage chair of philosophy; $200,000 for the Sage School of Philosophy; $260,000 and an endowment of $300,000 for the University Library Building; and over $70,000 to other departments. He died in Ithaca, N. Y., Sept. 17, 1897. SAGE, MARGARET OLIVIA SLO- CTTM (Mrs. Russell Sage), an American philanthropist, born in Syracuse, N. Y., in 1828. She was a graduate of the Emma Willard Seminary, and for years taught school, in Troy, N. Y., and else- where. When past forty she met Russell Sage (q. v.), who was then a prospering grocer in Troy. Mrs. Sage was through- out all her life keenly sympathetic toward equal suffrage for women. She was also a keen business woman, and during the last five years of her husband's life trans- acted all his business affairs. At his death she had at her disposal $70,000,000, of which $30,000,000 were devoted to a long series of philanthropies. She died in 1918. SAGE, RUSSELL, an American capi- talist and philanthropist, born in Verona, Oneida co., New York, in 1816. He had only a country school education and at a very early age entered his brother's gro- cery store as clerk. In 1837 he went into a small business for himself, but grad- ually prospered, until he was able to go into the wholesale business. From 1841 to 1847 he was an alderman in Troy, N. Y., and in 1853 was elected to Con- gress by the Whigs. In 1863 he removed to New York and entered the brokerage business, gradually building up a large fortune by speculation in securities, es- pecially of railroads. At the time of his