Page:Collier's New Encyclopedia v. 09.djvu/24

SPALATO or SPALATRO  situation the Emperor Diocletian built for himself a colossal palace, to which he retired when he abdicated the throne in 305. The palace faced the sea, looking S.; its walls were from 570 to 700 feet long and 50 to 70 feet high, and inclosed an area of 9½ acres. It stood square, like a Roman camp, and had a gate in the middle of each side, and was of the most solid construction. Architecturally it is of the highest interest in that it contains several features that presage the architectural styles and devices of modern times.

Within the palace area is a building supposed to be the mausoleum of the emperor. Since the year 650 this edifice has been a Christian cathedral; it contains a magnificent marble pulpit. All the interior buildings and nearly all the exterior walls of this gigantic palace are still standing in a fairly good state of preservation. But the interior was converted into a town in 639 by the citizens of Savona who escaped the destruction of their town by the Avars, and it has been occupied ever since. The existing city of Spalato lies, more than half of it, outside the palace walls. It has a lively trade in grain, cattle, oil, horses, etc., the Lasva railway (1895-1897) connecting it with Bosnia and the Danubian lands. Its industries embrace the manufacture of liquors (rosoglio and maraschino). Pop. about 31,500,  SPALDING, ALBERT, an American violinist, born in Chicago, in 1888. He was educated in music in New York, Florence, and Paris, and made his first appearance in the latter city in 1905. Following this, he made a tour of the chief cities of Europe. He appeared with the Damrosch Orchestra in New York City in 1908 and followed this by a concert tour in the United States, and by tours in all of the principal cities of Europe, in Egypt, Cuba, and the West Indies. He was a composer of music for the violin. During the World War he served in the Signal Service as interpreter in Italy.  SPAN, a measure of length, being the distance between the tips of the thumb and little finger when the fingers are expanded to their fullest extent. This space averages about 9 inches, which accordingly is the fixed measure given to the span.  SPANDAU, a town and first-class fortress of Prussia; situated at the confluence of the Havel and the Spree; 8 miles W. by N. of Berlin. The principal defense of the capital on that side, it has very strong modern fortifications, including a citadel. In the “Julius tower”

of this structure is preserved in gold the “Reichskriegsschatz”—$30,000,000 that the government, according to a law of 1871, keeps in reserve for a great war. Spandau before the World War was the seat of large government cannon foundries, factories for making gunpowder and other munitions of war, and has an arsenal. The town, one of the oldest of Brandenburg, was a favorite residence of the electors. It surrendered to the Swedes in 1634, to the French in 1806, and in 1813 to the Prussians. Pop. about 90,000.  SPANIEL, the name given to several varieties or breeds of dogs. Their distinguishing characteristics are a rather broad muzzle, remarkably long and full ears, hair plentiful and beautifully waved, particularly that of the ears, tail, and hinder parts of the thighs and legs. The prevailing color is liver and white, sometimes red and white or black and white, and sometimes deep brown, or black on the face and breast, with a tan spot over each eye. The English spaniel is a superior and very pure breed. The King Charles' dog is a small variety of the spaniel used as a lapdog. The Maltese dog is also a small species of spaniel. The water spaniels, large and small, differ from the common spaniel only in the roughness of their coats, and in uniting the aquatic propensities of the Newfoundland dog with the fine hunting qualities of their own race. Spaniels possess a great share of intelligence, affection, and obedience, which qualities, combined with much beauty, make them highly prized as companions.  SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR, a war between Spain and the United States, which took place in 1898. It arose in large part out of the condition of affairs in Cuba, where Spanish oppression had led to outbreaks for several generations, in some of which American citizens had been involved. The Cubans had revolted in 1895 and the revolt had been suppressed by the Spanish authorities with much ruthlessness. The severity merely drove discontent under cover and sporadic acts of violence continued with an accompaniment of hardship to the civil population to which the people of the United States could not remain indifferent. As a result of a decision in the direction of intervention come to by the United States Government, Secretary of State Richard Olney offered on April 6, 1896, the friendly offices of the United States for the purpose of saving Cuba from impoverishment and of ameliorating the condition of foreigners in the country. The offer was rejected by the Spanish Government and President