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STRACHAN

1835

STRASSBURG

The Mayflower. In 1850 her "husband became a professor in Bowdoin College, Brunswick, Me., and there the great American novel of Uncle Tom's Cabin was written. The characters were, many of them, taken from life, and many incidents were obtained tiom her brother's journal of his southern tour, and others from the lips of fugitives from slavery. The story appeared first as a serial in The National Era at Washington, D. C., and made a great sensation, bringing the author unexpected fame and undreamed-of financial returns. It was translated into many foreign languages, including Russian, Polish, Wendish, Armenian, Arabic, Chinese and Japanese, and has been brought out on the stage repeatedly. More than a million copies, probably, have been printed in the English language. Besides its power as a story the book had a strong influence in bringing about the Civil War, as it opened the eyes of the people to the evils of the system of slavery. Other works of Mrs. Stowe's are Dred, The Minister's Wooing, Agnes of Sorrento, Oldtown Folks and My Wife and I. She died at Hartford, Conn., on July i, 1896.

Strachan, J., was born in Aberdeen, Scotland, in 1778 and educated at its grammar school there. He graduated at Aberdeen University, studied theology at St. Andrews University and came to Canada in 1799 to assume the principalship of a university which Governor Simcoe hoped to establish in Toronto. The plan fell through temporarily, and Dr. Strachan opened a school in Kingston and continued it for three years. He afterwards opened a school in Cornwall. In 1812 he was appointed rector of York, in 1818 given a seat in the executive council, in 1825 appointed archdeacon of York, and in 1839 was created bishop of Toronto. In 1840 he resigned from the legislative council. The province owes him a great debt. Through his energy Trinity College was given to Toronto.

Stradivari (strdde-vafre) or Stradiva-rius, Antonio, a celebrated Italian violin-maker, was born at Cremona in 1644. Besides violins, he made viols, guitars and mandolins. His instruments are known for their finish and fine tone. He was the first to finish them neatly on the inside. The great care with which he selected and cut his wood, the study he gave to the shape and proportions and the luster of the varnish used combined to make an instrument without a rival. They are carefully preserved by those possessing them, and bring great prices, ranging from $1,000 to $3,000. Stradivari died at Cremona, Dec. 17, 1737.

Straf ford, Thomas Wentworth, Earl of, an English statesman, was born at London, April 13, 1593. He entered Parliament in 1614. In the struggle with Charles

I he sided with the opposition, against "not the king, but his evil ministers." In 1628 he was made president of the Council of the North by Charles I and in 1652 governor of Ireland. There is much difference of opinion as to his administration. His aim was to make the king absolute in Ireland, and his system, called "thorough" by himself and Laud, was severe. But he brought the country into a prosperity unknown before or since. He raised the revenue, improved the army, cleared the seas of pirates and introduced the cultivation of flax, which still is the most important industry of Ireland. In 1639 he became the king's principal adviser. When the Long Parliament met in November, 1640, he was charged with high treason and imprisoned. His guilt was not proved, the principal charge being his telling the king: "You have an army in Ireland that can reduce this kingdom," to which only one witness testified. But he was convicted as a man dangerous to the public liberties, and Charles gave his consent to the execution, not daring to refuse the popular clamor. He was executed on May 12, 1641. See Life by Foster in Eminent British Statesmen and Elizabeth Cooper.

Straits Settlements. See MALAKKA.

Strakosch (stra'kosh), Clara Louise (Kellogg), American operatic singer, was born at Sumterville, S. C., July 12, 1842, and received her musical education at New York, where she made her debut at the Academy of Music in 1861. Pursuing her studies, she appeared in the season of 1864-5 as Marguerite in Gounod's Faust, as well as in La Somnambula, Lucia di Lam-mermoor and other operas, achieving great success. In 1867 she appeared also in England, where the wide range and perfection of her soprano voice attracted attention. Later on she organized an English-opera company, and with it appeared in the chief cities of this country and of Europe. Of recent years, after her marriage to Mr. Strakosch, she has appeared chiefly at concerts. Her repertoire once embraced about 40 operas.

Strass'burg, a city of Germany and, since 1871, the capital of Alsace-Lorraine, is on 111 River, two miles from the Rhine. It has been strongly fortified by the Germans, who rebuilt the citadel, dating back to 1682, and placed 14 forts on the surrounding heights. The finest building in the city is the cathedral founded in the nth century but not finished until the 15th. It is one of the finest Gothic churches in the world, with a spire of open-stone work 466 feet high, a magnificent rose-window 42 feet across, and in the minster the wonderful astronomical clock. Other fine buildings are the Protestant Church of St. Thomas, the palace, the library, the arsenal and the new university. The uni-