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LEFT VIEUXTEMPS 217 VIGNY traversed by ranges of low hills, includ- ing the Monts du Limousin. There is much cattle breeding. Kaolin is the chief mineral product, and much porcelain is made. VIEUXTEMPS, HENRI, a Belgian composer; born in Verviers, Belgium, Feb. 20, 1820; began to give concerts in his 13th year, and after completing his studies at Vienna and Paris spent most of his time in traveling from place to place as a performer till in 1870 he became a teacher in the Brussels conser- vatoire. He retired in 1873. His works comprise concertos, fantasies, and dances for the violin. He died June 6, 1881. VIGFTJSSON, GUDBRAND, a Scandi- navian scholar; bom in Frakkanes, Ice- land, March 13, 1827. He was educated first at the high school of Reikiavik, afterward at Copenhagen University. He lived in Copenhagen from 1849 till 1864, having devoted himself to the study of old Icelandic literature. His first work, "Timatal," on the chronol- ogy of the Sagas, was published in 1855, and revealed the hand of a master. In 1858 he brought out the "Biskupa Sogur, or Lives of the Icelandic Bish- ops," and in 1864 the "Eyrbyggja Saga." In the latter year he came to England to undertake the Icelandic-English lexi- con, begun by Cleasby, and in 1866 be- gan at Oxford this work, which kept him engaged for seven yearSj the result being the excellent dictionary issued from the Clarendon Press. In 1878 the Claren- don Press published his "Sturlunga- Saga," to which he prefixed ''Prole- gomena" containing a complete history )f the classic literature of Iceland. This was followed by several minor works and essays by the "Orkneyinga Saga" and "Hakonar Saga" and by the "Coi'pus Poeticum Boreale" (in conjunc- tion with F. York Powell), a complete collection of the ancient Icelandic poetry, with translation. He was lat- terly engaged upon a work entitled "Origines Islandiae," but died before its completion. In 1884 he was appointed lecturer in Icelandic and kindred sub- jects at the University of Oxford. He died in Oxford, England, Jan. 31, 1889. VIGIL, in ecclesiastical and Church history, originally the watch kept on the night before a feast (from the 11th or 12th century) the day and night preceding a feast. The practice of spending the night in public prayer, which is probably older than Christian- ity, prevailed in the early Church, and down to the 14th century was the usual preludQ to the greater festivals. But there were many objections to the cus- tom, which, fi"om about that date was gradually discontinued. In the Roman Church the Midnight Mass before the feast of Christmas is the only relic of the old custom. Broadly speaking, the vigils of the Roman Church have been transferred to the English Prayer Book. Theoretically, all vigils are fast-days, but in the Roman Church the customs of different countries vary slightly. Also the devotional exercises or services ap- propriate to the vigil or eve of a festival. VIGNAUD, (JEAN) HENRY, an American diplomatist; born in New Or- leans, Nov. 27, 1830; engaged in teach- ing and newspaper work till the outbreak of the Civil War, then became a captain in the 6th Louisiana Regiment ; was taken prisoner at New Orleans in 1862. After his release, as secretary of the Con- federate Diplomatic Commission, he went to Paris in 1863. He was con- nected with the Alabama Claims Com- mission in 1872, and in the following year was a United States delegate to the International Metric Conference. He was made second secretary to the Amer- ican legation in Paris in 1875 and first secretary in 1882, serving until 1909. He published several books on Colum- bus and on early voyages to America. VTGNY, ALFRED VICTOR, COMTE DE, a French author; born during his parents' imprisonment in the prison at Loches (Indre-et-Loire), March 27, 1797; entered the ai*my at the Restora- tion; and served 14 years. Garrison life wearied a soul athirst for glory, but his pride found a solitary consolation in verse. As early as 1822 he published anonymously a small volume of verse, followed in 1824 by "Eloa, or the Sister of an Angel," an exquisite piece of mystic phantasy. Before the Revolution of July he had published his collected "PoemS; Antique and Modern" (1826), containing "Moise" and "Dolorida"; "Cinq Mars" (1826), a historical ro- mance; a translation of "Othello" (1829) ; and a drama "The Farrier of Ancre" (1830). After that year he pub- lished only works in prose: "Stello" (1832) ; "Grandeur and Military Ser- vitude" (1835); and a drama, "Chat- terton" (1835) — the highest moment of his fame. From that time he ceased not to write but to print. He left a voluma of verse — "Destinees" — published in 1864, which contains some of his finest and most virile work, and a collection of personal notes, printed with doubtful wisdom by Louis Ratisbonne under the title "Journal of a Poet" (1867). While stiH young he attached himself to the