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and later was postmaster-general in Gladstone's first government. In 1874 he was chosen leader of the Liberals in the Commons, and in 1880 was offered the premiership, but Declined it. In Gladstone's second administration he became secretary for India; and, when his chief formulated his home-rule policy, Hartington became recognized leader of the Liberr.l Unionist party. In 1891 he succeeded to the title of Duke of Devonshire, and in 1895 was made lord-president of the council in Salisbury's cabinet. In 1900 he became president of the Board of Education, but three years later he resigned office on the question of tariff-reform. He was chairman of the Unionists' Free-Trade Club. He died on March 26., 1908.

Dew. Everyone knows that a glass of cold water, or indeed almost any cold object, when brought into a room in summer soon becomes covered with moisture. Careful observation shows that this moisture comes from the air immediately round about the cold object. In the same way, on a clear and reasonably still night, bodies which radiate heat will become cooler than the surrounding atmosphere and will, therefore, condense upon their surfaces some moisture from the surrounding atmosphere. The minute globules of water thus formed are called dew. The only difference between the formation of dew and the deposit of water upon a tumbler is that in the former case it is those bodies which radiate heat rapidly that collect the dew most easily, while in the latter case, it is those bodies which conduct heat most readily that collect the moisture of the air most rapidly. Two very important facts in connection with the deposit of dew remain to be explained. The first is that dew does not form on cloudy nights; the second is that dew does not form during a windy night. The explanation is as follows: The clouds act as a warm blanket between the radiating body and free space. Compared with the temperature of free space, clouds are very warm, and Tadiate much heat back to the earth. In the case of winds, if they are at all strong, they will, in passing over any body, communicate so much heat to it that the temperature of the body cannot fall as far as the dew-point, i. e., the temperature at which condensation begins.

De Wet, Christian, a burgher-general in the Boer War of 1899-1902, noted for his great alertness and ability in conducting a guerrilla-warfare, was born in the Orange Free State about the year 1855. Though long a simple farmer and member of the volksraad, he took part in the burghers' war against the Basutos and fought against the British at Majuba Hill. In the recent war he showed himself a skillful strategist, though unfeeling and even brutal as a com-

mander. In 1902 he made his peace with Britain, and in that year he paid a visit with General Prother to England and the United States.

Dew'ey, George, American admiral, was born at Montpelier, Vt., Dec, 26, 1837, and graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1858. He served with distinction in the Civil War, both in the western Gulf-squadron and in the North Atlantic blockading-neet, taking part in the battle of New Orleans and in two attacks on Fort Fisher. He was made lieutenant-commander in 1865, commander in 1873 and captain in 1884. In 1897 he was placed in command of the Asiatic squadron as commodore. He became famous by his great naval victory in Manila Bay, May i, 1898, when he destroyed the entire Spanish fleet without the loss of a ship or a man. He was soon promoted to the rank of rear-admiral, and on March 4, 1899, was made admiral, being the third to hold this highest office in the American navy. In September, 1899, on his return from the Philippines, Admiral Dewey was accorded a great reception by the city of New York and given, with a loving-cup, the freedom of the city.

De Witt, Jan, a celebrated statesman of Holland, was born at Dort in 1625. He inherited from his father a hatred of the family of William, Prince of Orange, afterward William III of England. De Witt's influence was lost when Louis XIV of France attacked the Netherlands, as it was known that he had favored the French. William of Orange was made stadtholder or chief-magistrate of the state and appointed commander of the Dutch forces. iDe Witt went to visit his brother Cornelius, who had been imprisoned for conspiracy against the life of the stadtholder, when they were attacked by a mob and both were murdered at The Hague on Aug. 20, 1672.

Dextrin. See STARCH.

Dhawalaghiri (dd-wol'a-gerfe}, once supposed to be the highest peak of the Himalayas, but now known to be at most only the third in height. It is in Nepal, and is 26,826 feet above the sea.

Di'al. A sundial is an instrument for measuring time by means of the motion of the sun's shadow cast by a stile or pin set upon its surface. It is an instrument of great antiquity, and before clocks and watches became common it was in general use as a time-keeper. A dial consists of two parts: the stile, usually the edge of a plate of metal, so adjusted that this edge will be parallel to the earth's axis and point toward the north pole; and the dial-plane or plate, made of any hard substance, on which are marked the directions of the shadow for the several hours of the day. A night-dial is an instrument for showing the hours of the night by the