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LIQUORICE

1079

LISZT

becomes a solid; and gives a turbid appearance to the liquid air, although, when strained through a filter of paper, it becomes quite clear and practically colorless. Liquid air boils at a temperature of —191° C. or -312° F. Nitrogen boils at a slightly lower temperature than oxygen, —194° instead of -183° C., so that, if liquid air be poured upon water, it at first floats, but gradually sinks, as the nitrogen evaporates first and leaves only the heavier oxygen behind. The liquid oxygen has a blue color. This property of liquid air, that it becomes more and more purely liquid oxygen, enables many beautiful experiments to be made with it. A steel watchspring burns beautifully in it for this reason, sending forth showers of sparks. Liquid air may also be used as an explosive, as it can exert a pressure during evaporation of something like 10,000 pounds to the square inch. At the present time the process of manufacturing liquid air can hardly be said to be upon a commercial basis; yet many uses of the substance may be conceived, as power, as an explosive, as «, means of extracting oxygen from the atmosphere and as a refrigerating agent. It, therefore, is not fair to regard liquid air as no more than a scientific plaything.

Liq'uorice, a class of plants having long, pliant, sweet roots. It has stems about four feet high, feather-shaped leaves and clusters of light-violet flowers. The Greek name means sweet root, and the name liquorice is a corruption of it. The plant is propagated by slips; and after a plantation has been made almost three years must elapse before the roots can be dug up for use. Liquorice requires a deep, rich, loose soil. The roots grow downward more than a yard, and the straight taproots are most valuable. It is a native of the south of Europe and some parts of Asia. Stick-liquorice is made by crushing and grinding the roots to a pulp, which is boiled over an open fire. After straining, it is evaporated in copper pans until it is thick enough to be rolled out into sticks when cooled. Liquorice has been a well-known medicine since ancient times. It is useful in catarrh and in throat troubles.

Lis'bon, the capital of Portugal, stands on the Tagus, nine miles from its mouth, on a site surpassed for imposing beauty in Europe only by Naples and Constantinople. The city consists of an old and a new part. The old part is the one that escaped the earthquake of 1755, and is still known by its old Moorish name of Alfama. Water is brought by a magnificent aqueduct, built in 1738, which, though it crosses a valley on 35 arches, stood the shock of the great earthquake. Lisbon has one of the finest harbors in the world, which is protected by a series of forts. The manufactures are gold and silver ware, jewelry, cotton and silk goods, hemp, hats, boots and tobacco; and it exports wine, cork, fish, cattle, oil, salt and

fruit. Lisbon passed through the hands of Romans, Goths and Moors, the last holding it 400 years (716-1147), until Alphonso I of Portugal, with the help of crusaders, conquered it. In 1422 it was made the capital.

LISBON

ENGLISI

In 1580 the "invincible" Armada set sail from its harbor. The city was retaken by Portugal in 1640. It suffered from an earthquake in 1755, which in less than ten minutes laid the greater part of the city in ruins and killed nearly 40,000 persons, it being one of the greatest earthquakes on record. At Lisbon the government maintains a higher technical school, a polytechnic school, a school of agriculture and a military school; there also are conservatories for music and dramatic art. The University of Coimbra has its seat here. Population 356,009.

Liszt (list), Franz, pianist and composer, was born at Raiding in Hungary, Oct. 22,

1811. At nine he appeared to such advantage when playing in public that several Hungarian nobles offered the means to obtain a musical education, and the boy was sent to Vienna. At the close of a memorable concert, April 3, 1823, Liszt being not yet 12, Beethoven ascended the platform and kissed him. After the death of his father, in 1827, great mental depression fell upon him. He was repelled by the low estate of music and musicians, and with strong religious feelings he was drawn to the church; but in 1831 he heard Paganini the violinist, and was fired with the resolve to equal him on the piano. At the height of his popularity as a performer, he retired to Weimar to direct the opera and devote his time to composition and teaching. In 1865 he received minor orders in the Church of Rome, and was afterwards known as Abbe. He was the

FRANZ LISZT