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LEONIDAS I

1056

LEPROSY

Our Lord. His greatest picture was The Last Supper, which, even in its present dilapidated condition, remains a monument of his genius and one of the masterpieces of the world. This picture was completed in 1498, but its execution, it is supposed, extended over several previous years. In addition to the great fame won by Leonardo as a painter and sculptor, he highly distinguished himself as musician, scientist and engineer. He died in France on May 2, 1519. See Richter's Leonardo in the Great Artists Series.

Leonidas I (le-on'i-dds), king of Sparta about 480 B. C., when Xerxes approached the narrow pass of Thermopylae with his immense army, opposed him with 300 Spartans and about 5,000 auxiliaries. Finding it impossible to bar the progress of the foe, Leonidas and his 300, having sent their auxiliaries home, threw themselves upon the invaders and perished. Their sublime heroism has ever since been celebrated in prose and song, and was an inspiration to all Hellenes in driving back the invading hosts

Leop'ard, a spotted animal of the cat tribe inhabiting Africa, Asia and the large islands of the Malay Archipelago. It is smaller than the jaguar, being about four feet long, with a tail three feet in length. There is considerable variation among leopards as to size and color. They usually are pale fawn color with dark spots, except on the under surface. The more robust forms of southern Asia are called panthers, but it is impossible to separate the species absolutely. The leopard lives in the forests, and is a tree climber. It is agile and a remarkable jumper. It attacks the antelope, young cattle, pigs and (occasionally) man. It mav be tamed. The cheetah or hunting leopard of India is a slim species of a related genus, and is trained to aid in hunting.

Leopard! (Wd-par'de), Giac'omo, one of the most famous poets of modern Italy, was born at Recanati, near Ancona, June 29, 1798. His parents were of noble rank but poor. At 16 he had devoured the Latin and Greek classics, and could write French, Spanish, English and Hebrew. At an early age he wrote a commentary on Plotinus, of which Sainte-Beuve said that "one who had studied Plotinus all his life could find something useful in this work of a boy." Leopardi visited Rome in 1822, returned to Recanati in 1823, and for the next ten years devoted himself to literature. His physical constitution had always been feeble, and as he grew older his ill-health and mental despondency constantly increased. In ^1833 he accompanied his friend Ranieri to Naples, and remained there until his death, which occurred on June 14, 1837. Leopardi certainly is entitled to high rank as poet, scholar and thinker, and it has even been said that

Dante is the only Italian equal to him in genius; but his extreme pessimism and the limited range of his sympathy were bars to the highest creative effort. This pessimism was the burden of both his prose and poetry; and the first and last word of his philosophy is the "void and nothingness of all human life and effort." See Gladstone's Gleanings, Vol. III.

Le'opold I, king of the Belgians, was born at Coburg, Dec. 16, 1790. In 1831 he was chosen king of the Belgians. As a monarch Leopold displayed marked ability, conducting himself with prudence, moderation and constant regard to the principles of the Belgian constitution and the interests of his people. He died on Dec. 10, 1865.

Leopold II, son and successor of the preceding king of Belgium, was born at Brussels on April 9, 1835. He ascended the throne on Dec. 10, 1865, and has ruled the country in accordance with the principles and the policy of his father. In 1882 he founded the Kongo International Association, and in 1885 he became sovereign of the Kongo Independent State. In 1908 he relinquished his sovereignty to Belgium. Died Dec. 17, 09

Lepan'to, a, town of Greece situated on the north coast of the Gulf of Lepanto or Corinth. On the gulf and near the town, Oct. 7, 1571, was fought one of the greatest naval battles of the world, between the forces of the Turkish sultan and those of Pope Pius V, Philip II of Spain and the Venetian Republic. The action lasted four hours, and resulted in the defeat of the Turks and the almost complete destruction of their fleet. The Turks had hitherto been thought invincible on the sea; but in this battle they received a blow from which they never fully recovered. It is said that the pope, on hearing of the victory, burst into tears and exclaimed, "There was a man sent from God, whose name was John." A masterly description of this great battle can be found in Prescott's History of Philip II.

Lep'idop'tera. See BUTTERFLY, MOTH and INSECTS.

Lep'idus, Marcus /Cmilius, a Roman triumvir, sided with Caesar against Pompey. He was at the head of the only armed force at Rome when Caesar was assassinated, and used the opportunity to have himself made pontifex maximus. In 43 B. C. he united with Antony and Octavianus to form the triumvirate, obtaining Spain and Gallia Narbonensis. After the battle of Philippi (42 B. C.) a redivision was made in which Lepidus received Africa, where he remained until 36 B. C., when he was called by Augustus to aid him against Sextus Fompey. He there tried to seize Sicily, but was overcome by Augustus, who banished him to Circeii, where he died 13 B. C.

Lep'rosy, a name applied at one time to several different skin-diseases characterized