Page:Collier's New Encyclopedia v. 10.djvu/469

WODROW creator, is the ruler of heaven and earth, an omniscient being, the king of the deities. His celestial residence is the palace Heidskialf, in Asgard, from whence his two black ravens, Hugin (Thought) and Munin (Memory), are sent forth daily to gather and bring in tidings of all that is taking place in earth and heaven. He is also the god of war, holding his court in Valhalla, whither brave warriors pass after death to revel in joys of battle and the hunt, such as they loved best on earth. Odin became the wisest of the gods by the aid of a draught from Mimir's fountain, though in doing so he lost the sight of one eye. Like Zeus, he added to his queen, Frigga, various other wives and favorites, and had a numerous progeny of sons and daughters. According to Rhys, Odin, or Woden, the sky god of the Teutons, may have had a Celtic origin, and been synonymous with the Celtic Gwydion.

WODROW, ROBERT, a Scotch clergy- man; born in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1679; was educated at Glasgow Uni- versity, and became minister of the parish of Eastwood, Renfrewshire, in 1703, where he remained all his life. He published "The History of the Sufferings of the Church of Scotland from the Re- storation to the Revolution" (1721) ; and wrote a series of Scotch ecclesiastical biographies, the MSS. of which are pre- served in Glasgow University. From these there has been edited for the Mait- land Club, by Rev. Dr. Leishman, "Lives of the Reformers and most Eminent Ministers of the Church of Scotland" (1834-1845). He has also edited Wod- row's "Analecta, or Materials for a History of Remarkable Providences" (1842-1843) ; and the Wodrow Society (formed in Edinburgh in 1841 for the publication of works of the early writers of the Reformed Church of Scotland) has published "Wodrow's Correspond- ence" (1842-1843), under the editorship of the Rev. Thomas McCrie. Wodrow died in Eastwood, March 26, 1734. WOFFINGTON, MARGARET, a Brit- ish actress; born in Dublin, Ireland, Oct. 18, 1720. She grew up a girl of re- markable grace and beauty, and, still a child, became a pupil of Madame Vio- lante, mistress of the rope-dancing booth. From 17 to 20 she played on the Dublin stage all manner of parts, from Ophelia to Sir Harry Wildair, and on Nov. 6, 1740, made her first appearance at Co- vent Garden as Sylvia in the "Recruiting Officer." Her beauty and grace, her pretty singing and vivacious coquetry and the exquisite art especially of her male characters carried all hearts by storm. Her one drawback was the harsh- ness of her voice, yet this in no degree hindered the completeness of her triumph. Peg Woffington was always singularly independent and something whimsical in her moods, but she kept the affection of the public till the tragic close of her career. On May 3, 1757, she broke down in playing Rosalind, and left the stage forever. She died in Tedding- ton, March 28, 1760. WOFFORD COLLEGE, a coeducational institution in Spartanburg, S. C; founded in 1854 under the auspices of the Methodist Episcopal Church; re- ported at the close of 1919: Professors and instructors, 12 ; students, 294. Presi- dent, H. N. Snyder, M. A. WOLCOT, or WOLCOTT, JOHN (Peter Pindar), an English poet; born in Dodbrooke, England, in May 1738. His satires involved him in many quarrels. So effective were his attacks on the king, that the ministry silenced him with a pension of $1,500 per annum. He was an art critic of taste and pene- tration far beyond his time; his yearly reviews in verse of the Academy Exhibi- tions are much the best of his work, and still instructive. Some of his satires are: "Lyric Odes"; "An Epistle to the Re- viewers"; "Peeps at St. James"; "Royal Visits"; and "The Lousiad." He died in London, England, Jan. 14, 1819. WOLF, the vernacular name of certain species of the genus Canis; for a general account of which see DoG. The principal forms included in this section are as follows:

(1) The common wolf (C lupus) has very much the appearance of a large, long-legged, bareboned dog, with a long tail, which hangs over its haunches instead of being curled up- wards. Distinguishing characters are to be found in the lank body, length of the snout in proportion to the head, sloping