Page:LA2-NSRW-4-0311.jpg



SOLDIER'S HOMES

1779

SOLWAY FIRTH

Assembly divines who took oath "to labor for the preservation of reformed religion in the church of Scotland and the reformation of religion in the kingdoms of England and Ireland." It formed a bond of union between England and Scotland during the war, but was abjured in both countries by act of Parliament in 1662.

Soldier's Homes in the U. S. These comprise the National Soldier's Home in Washington, D. C., for the maintenance of discharged soldiers and pensioners of the regular army, where they are lodged, fed and clothed without personal cost, and. also if sick, medical attendance. The inmates who to-day number about 1,250, are subject, as army soldiers, to the rules and articles of war. Another institution, similarly conducted and with like object, is the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers (including sailors), with headquarters at New York City and branches at ten other cities and towns, whose aggregate members cared for number about 30,000. Besides these there are state homes for the same class in about 30 states of the Union, the state and town location of each institution being found in current issues of The World A Imanac and other year-books.

Solferino (solffer-efno}, a village of northern Italy, 19 miles from Mantua. It stands on a hill with a high tower, called The Spy of Italy, from which can be seen the whole plain of Lombardy. It is noted as the scene of the defeat of the Austrian forces by the French and Sardinians, June 24, 1859. The battle lasted 16 hours, the Sardinians being commanded by Victor Emmanuel, the French by Napoleon III and the Austrian forces by Emperor Francis Joseph. The Austrian loss was 20,000, and that of the allied troops 18,000. On June 24, 1870, the bones of the dead were collected in the presence of representatives of France, Italy and Austria, and buried in three great sepulchers. Population 1,350.

Sol'omon, the third king of Israel, the son and successor of David. He reigned 40 years, 993—953 B. C., and was famous for wisdom as well as for his splendid court. His father left a large army and a full treasury, which he used in keeping peace with the neighboring nations and in building fine palaces and the temple, the chief glory of his reign. He extended trade, sending out fleets and caravans which brought back gold, gems and precious woods from Ophir and horses for his chariots from Egypt. His great wealth, however, came from heavy taxation, and he built altars for the idols worshiped by nis heatnen wives, which caused the nation after his death to revolt against his son and ended in the division of the kingdom. The writings that bear his name are the Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and the Song of Songs, though Ecclesiastes probably belongs to a much later period.

Solomon's Seal, a species of plants of the lily-family and related to the asparagus. The plant grows from one to four feet high, with broad green leaves, without stems, and drooping, greenish flowers, followed by small black or blue berries. It is found wild in many parts of North America and in Europe.

So'lon, the ancient Greek lawgiver and one of The Seven Wise Men, was born about 638 B. C. Though tracing his descent from the royal family of Attica, he had to resort to trade to restore the wealth his father had squandered. He was known as a writer of verses, one of his finest elegies having been quoted by Demosthenes and several quotations being found in a work of Aristotle's. The beginning of his political career was the Megarian War. The Athenians had several times failed in their efforts to capture Salamis, and had, on pain of death, forbidden any citizen to renew the attempt. Solon, by feigning madness, aroused the people by his poem, and war was declared, with Solon in command, who succeeded in winning Salamis for Athens. He was made archon or chief ruler in 504, when the country was in danger of a conflict between the nobility and the peasants. The constitution of Athens, such as had never existed before, was the great work of Solon, and made property and not birth the title to citizenship, the aim being to give the lower classes some control of the law. The laws of Draco were repealed except those against murder; no man could be imprisoned for debt; a limit was placed on the ownership of land; and laws against luxury in food and dress were made. These laws, written on pieces of wood, were pre-' served in the Acropolis and the people bound themselves by oath to observe them for ten years. Solon traveled then in Cyprus, Asia Minor and Egypt, meeting Croesus, king of Lydia, whom he offended by his answer to his question "Who was the happiest man in the world?" Solon replied that it was Tellos, an Athenian who had died for his country. Croesus asked the question again, thinking to hear his own name in answer as the possessor of great wealth, but Solon gave the place to two Argive youths whom the gods permitted to die in their sleep as a reward for an act of kindness. (See CROSSUS). His last years were passed at Athens, where he unsuccessfully opposed the usurpation of Pisistratus, his kinsman. He died about 558 B. C., leaving a command that his ashes be scattered over the "lovely isle" of Salamis. Consult Histories of Greece by Grote, C^irtius and Cox.

Sol'way Firth is an inlet of the Irish Sea, lying between England and Scotland. It is 36 miles long and receives the waters of the Derwent and Eden on the English side and of the Esk, Dee and Annan on