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 718 MOLENBEEK-ST.-JEAN MOLIERE Substances so related are said to be isomeric, and these structural formulas, as they are called, so far from being vagaries of the ima- gination, are sober deductions from experi- mental evidence. It is impossible however, in a brief article, to render this evidence intel- ligible. The investigation of molecular struc- ture is at present the chief aim of chemistry, and to works on this subject the reader is referred for further information. MOLEOEEK-ST.-JEAN, a town of Belgium, adjoining Brussels and forming one of its sub- urbs; pop. in 1871, 30,974 (in 1846, 12,065). It has a celebrated geographical institution and a museum of natural science belonging to Messrs. Van der Maalen. MOLESCHOTT, Jacob, a German physiologist, born in Bois-le-Duc, Holland, Aug. 9, 1822. He took his degree at Heidelberg in 1845, practised medicine at Utrecht till 1847, and afterward lectured at the university of Heidel- berg till 1854, when, having been accused of pantheism and of propounding precepts dan- gerous to religion and morals, he resigned. He accepted in 1856 a professorship in Zurich, and in 1861 the chair of physiology in Turin. His doctrine has been popularly described as based upon the German saying that Der Mensch ist was er isst (man is what he eats), or upon his own formula, Ohne Phosphorus Icein Ge- danke (no thought without phosphorus) ; and though he does not deny the existence of a spiritual life, he connects the origin of all spe- cies of animals with physical laws alone. His influence has greatly promoted the study of physiology and anthropology, and he has given especial attention to food and diet, the liver, the blood, milk, the origin of bile, and the struc- ture of the muscles. His principal works are : Lehre der Nahrungsmittel (Erlangen, 1850 ; 3d ed., 1858; English translation, "The Chemis- try of Food and Diet," by Dr. E. Bonner, Lon- don, 1856) ; Physiologie der Nahrungsmittel (Darmstadt, 1850 ; 2d ed., Giessen, 1859) ; Der Kreislauf des Lebens (Mentz, 1852 ; 4th ed., 1863) ; OeorgForster (Frankfort, 1854; 2d ed., 1862); Ursache und Wirlcung in der Lehre vom Leben (Giessen, 1867) ; and Von der Selbst- bestimmung im Leben der Menschheit (1871). MOLESWORTH, William Nassau, an English author, born at Millbrook, near Southampton, Nov.^8, 1816. He graduated at Cambridge, and in 1841 became incumbent of a church at Manchester, and in 1844 vicar at Rochdale. His works include " A History of the Reform Bill of 1832" (London, 1864); "A New Sys- tem of Moral Philosophy," and a "Prize Es- say on Education " (1867) ; and " The History of England, from the Year 1830" (3 vols.. London 1871-'4). MOLFETTA (anc. Respd), a fortified seaport town of S. Italy, on the Adriatic, in the prov- ince and 16 m. W. N. W. of the city of Bari ; pop. in 1871, 26,829. It is the see of a bishop, and has a cathedral, several other churches, a college, a museum, and a castle. Linen and saltpetre are manufactured, and small coasting vessels are built. In the vicinity are numerous oval caverns arranged in tiers, one of which, called the Pulo di Molfetta, is upward of 1,000 ft. in circumference and 100 ft. deep. Nitre abounds in all the caverns, and is largely ex- tracted. MOLIERE, the assumed name of JEAN BAP- TISTE POQUELIN, a French dramatist, born in Paris, Jan. 15, 1622, died there, Feb. 17, 1673. He was both the son and grandson of valets de chambre tapissiers to the king, and was himself destined for this trade. His grandfather occa- sionally took him to the h6tel de Bourgogne, where Bellerose then acted in genteel comedy, and Gauthier-Garguille and Turlupin in farce. Obtaining permission to engage in study, he went in 1637 to the Jesuit college of Clermont in Paris, where he remained five years. He enjoyed the private lessons of Gassendi, and was associated with the prince of Conti, after- ward his patron and friend, Bernier, Hesnault, and Chapelle. He studied law at Orleans, and was admitted an advocate in 1645; but his taste for the stage caused his return to Paris. The attractions of the actress Madeleine Bejart were reported also to have influenced his judg- ment. The example of Richelieu had created a general interest in the drama, and Poquelin became the head of a troupe of amateur come- dians, which was soon transformed into a reg- ular professional travelling company, known as Villustre theatre. He then assumed the name of Molidre. Little is known of his life in the provinces from 1646 to 1658, when he returned to Paris. He composed numerous imitations of Italian farces, some of which were the first sketches of his future comedies. At Bordeaux he was welcomed by the duke d'Epernon ; at Lyons he obtained the accession of Mme. Duparc and Mme. de Brie to his company, which already included the brothers and sister Bejart ; and at Pezenas he was ac- customed to sit every Saturday in a barber's shop to study the faces and conversation of the visitors. His first regular comedy was L 1 Ultourdi, represented at Lyons in 1653, which by its success induced the principal members of a rival company to join his troupe. After visiting the chief cities of the south, he en- tered the capital under the protection of Mon- sieur, duke of Orleans. His performance of his own Docteur amoureux before the court and the comedians of the hotel de Bourgogne was so satisfactory that his company was per- mitted to establish itself in Paris under the name of the troupe de Monsieur. It became the troupe du roi in 1665, and subsequently was united with that of the hotel de Bourgogne to form the Theatre Francais. During the last 15 years of his life he produced more than 30 plays, half of which are masterpieces. He opened a new path in 1659 by his Precieuaes ridicules, abandoning the traditions of the Italian and Spanish stage, and assailing the affectations encouraged in literature and soci-