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TARPON

1872

TARTARS

of the Roman citadel on the Capitoline, covetous of ^the golden bracelets worn by the Sabine soldiers and tempted by their offer to give her what they wore on their left arms, opened the gate of the fortress to the Sabine king. Keeping their promise to the letter, the soldiers crushed Tarpeia to death beneath their shields, which were carried on the left arm, and she was buried on the part of the hill which bears her name. Afterwards traitors were often hurled from the Tar-peian rock.

Tar'pon orTar'pum, a prized fish-food, akin to the herring, found off the Florida coast and in the Gulf of Mexico, This marine fish usually is six or more feet in length, and catching it furnishes exciting sport for fishermen with rod and reel. It has large, silvery scales, used in fancy-work. Another variety of the fish is found in Indian waters.

Tar'quin, the name of two kmgs of Rome. According to the storys Lucumo, the son of a Corinthian nobleman who had settled in Etruria, resolved to improve his fortune by going to Rome. On the way an eagle swooped down and snatching off his cap carried it high into the air, and then, descending, placed it on his head again. His wife, who was skilled in augury, prophesied from this omen the highest honors for her husband, who took the name of Tarquin. He became the guardian of the children of King Ancus Marcius, and was chosen to succeed him on the throne. His reign (B. C. 616-578) was a glorious one. He waged successful war against the Latins, Sabines and Etruscans, built Roman sewers which remain to this day, laid out Circus Maximus and the Forum, began the building of the Capitol, and instituted the great Roman games. He was, however, murdered after a reign ol 38 years, through the influence of the sons of Ancus Marcius. His son, Tarquin the Proud, in 534 B. C. murdered King Servius Tullius, his father-in-law, and usurped the crown. He ruled ably though tyrannically, and made Rome the acknowledged head of Latium. But his heavy taxes and, especially? his persecution of the popular party, which had supported Servius Tullius, caused wide-spread discontent. At the same time a fearful omen encouraged his enemies; from the altar in the royal palace a serpent crept forth and devoured the entrails of the victim. At last came the rape of Lucretia by Sextus, the king's son. The senate deposed the tyrant, the army revolte4 against him, and he was forced to flee. Three attempts to reinstate him failed, and Tarquin's reign was followed by a republic at Rome. He died in B. C. 510 or 495. See ROMAN EMPIRE.

Tar'rytown, N. Y., an attractive and historic village in Westchester County, on the eastern bank of the Hudson, opposite

Nyack, and on the New York Central and Hudson River Railroad, 25 miles north of New York City. It is situated on Tappan Bay, above Irvington and below Sing Sing, and has many fine residences, besides schools and churches, including a Dutch church which dates from the close of the 17th century. Near by (at Irvington) is Sunnyside, the home of Washington Irving, where he sleeps in Tarrytown churchyard, rendered famous as the site of Irving's iLegend of Sleepy Hollow. The village is also historically known as the place where Major Andre* (q. v.) was captured. Tarry-town had an early settlement, though incorporated as late as 1870. Here are Irving Institute, Tarrytown Lyceum, the Catholic Institution of Mercy, a public library and industrial establishments and drill-works. Population 5,600.

Tar'sus, a city of Asiatic Turkey, on the Cydnus, about ten miles from the Mediterranean. It is built of stone, and is surrounded by a rich country. There are mosques, caravansaries and public baths. Wheat, barley, cotton and gall-nuts are exported. Tarsus is said to have been founded by Sardanapalus. Alexander captured it and it became a large and important city under the Romans. Tarsus is noted as the birthplace of St. Paul (q. v.). Population about 20,000, former population 100,000.

Tartar'ic Ac'id is found in grapes, tamarinds, pineapples and several other fruits, usually in combination with potassium. It is generally got from argol, which is produced during the fermentation of grapes. The acid is usually seen as colorless, transparent crystals, soluble in water and alcohol. The crystals, when gently^ warmed, become strongly electric. Tartaric acid is largely used in calico-printing and dyeing, for making lemonade and in drinks and lozenges as a medicine. The acid potassium tart rate, called cream of tartar, is extensively employed as an ingredient of baking-powders.

Tar'tars, in the widest sense include all the tribes living in the tablelands of central and northern Asia who are not of Aryan blood, that is, the Tartars proper, the Kirghiz, the Kalmucks, the Manchu Tartars, the Mongols proper and the Tun-gusians. In a narrower sense they comprise the Mongolian or Turanian people of Turkestan (q. v.). These tribes are the wander-ing Kirghiz, the Uzbegs, who are the ruling class, the Kiptchaks, the Buddhist Kalmucks of eastern Turkestan and many other tribes. In central Asia the words Turk and Tartar are used interchangeably to mean Mongolian. Tartar tribes, as distinct from Turks, formed the bulk of the great Mongolian migrations from the 4th to the roth century, which planted the Tartar in south* ern Russia. Tartars and Turks (g, v^