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GENEVA, LAKE OF

743

GENGHIS KHAN

sallies in 1765, and died at Schodack, New York in 1834. At an early age he showed considerable talent as a linguist. After serving for three years in diplomatic service in St. Petersburg, in 1792 he became minister plenipotentiary to the United States. His mission was to have them declare war against England. He was well-received on his arrival and soon began to seek recruits through ,agents. As Washington, however, had assumed a position of neutrality, Genet was soon notified by Jefferson, then secretary of state, that he must cease to arm and equip privateers in Ameri-'can ports. As he did not obey Jefferson's command, he was recalled by the French government upon the request of Washington. He afterwards became a naturalized American citizen, and married a daughter of Governor George Clinton of New York.

Geneva, Lake of, or Lac Leman, lies between Switzerland (to which the greater part of it belongs) and France. It is 1,218 feet above the sea, and stretches 45 miles from east to west in the form of a crescent. Its greatest breadth is 9 miles, its area 223 square miles, and its greatest depth 1,092 feet. The northern shore is a classic spot, celebrated by Rousseau; and by Byron in Childe Harold and The Prisoner of Chilian. The southern shore has as a background the mountains of Savoy. From the lake Mount Blanc is visible, and, although 60 miles distant, is often reflected in its waters.

Geneva, N. Y., a town in Ontario County, on Seneca Lake, 50 miles southeast of Rochester. It is advantageously situated on high ground, and is the seat of Hobart College, the State Agricultural Experimental Station and of the Delancey Divinity School and school for girls. It is noted for its extensive nurseries. It has a good high-school and well-equipped grammar and kindergarten schools, fine churches and an hygienic institute. It has numerous factories, including stove-foundries, steam-heating boilers, optical works and a fruit-preserving establishment. Population 12,446.

Geneva, capital ^ of the Swiss canton of the same name, is situated at the point where the Rhone leaves Lake Geneva. A Gallic town originally, it fell successively into the hands of Romans, Burgundians and Franks, and, having become the seat of a bishop, a continual feud was carried on from the i2th century between the bishop and the counts and dukes of Savoy. In the meantime the citizens gained considerable liberty, and, in the 16th century, by allying itself with Freiburg and Bern, the republic of Geneva won complete independence. A few years later the republic became Protestant, and Calvin came to Geneva and made it one of

the chief strongholds of Protestantism in Europe. During the i8th century it was torn by party strife, and during the French revolution the government was overthrown, and a reign of terror followed. Annexed to France, it again became independent, and in 1815 the city, with its adjoining territory, joined the Swiss confederation as the 22d canton with a representation of seven members in the Swiss National Council. There have since been several conflicts between the popular and aristocratic parties.

Formerly surrounded by walls and in other respects an ancient town, Geneva within the last half-century has become a beautiful and convenient modern city. The Rhone, passing through, forms two islands, on one of which still exists an antique and picturesque cluster of buildings; on the other, laid out as a pleasure-ground, is the statue of Rousseau. Among the fine buildings are a cathedral, which .dates back to the 12th century; the university (with 1,158 students and a teaching-staff of 133 members), founded as an academy by Calvin; one of the finest theaters in Europe; and a number of valuable museums. Geneva is famous as a theological, scientific and literary center, and has given birth to many great men, among them being Rousseau, Necker (the famous French minister of finance and father of Madame de Stael), Sismondi, Casaubon, De Candolle and Cherbuliez. Watches, musical boxes and jewelry are the staple manufactures. Geneva is also a canton of Switzerland, with an area of 108 square miles and a population of 150,173. Population of the city 125,520^

Genghis Khan ( jen'gis kdn'), meaning Very Mighty Ruler, a celebrated Mon-

S:>] conqueror, was born in 1162, at eyluii Yeldak, on the River Onon. The son of a Mongol chief, he was called upon to rule his father's people when only 13 years old, and he had to struggle hard for several years against revolts and factions. He was ambitious for conquest, and, starting with a dominion comprising most of the region between the Amur and the Great Wall of China, he conquered empires stretching from the Black Sea to the Pacific, and organized them into states which endured far beyond the short span that usually measures the life of Asiatic kingdoms. He subdued, one after the other, the Keraits; the Naimans, a powerful Turkish, confederacy; Tangut, a Chinese empire near the desert of Gobi; and the erri-pire of North China. He then turned westward and conquered as far as India, the Persian Gulf and the Black Sea. Two of his generals even passed through southern Russia, and entered the Crimea, everywhere routing and slaying, and returned by way of Great Bulgaria and the Volga,