Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume XV.djvu/784

 754 TILLANDSIA TILLOTSON cies of utricularia or bladderwort. The flow- ers of T. utriculata are pale blue, on much branched stems longer than the leaves. Oth- ers have very narrow leaves, and are only a few inches high. The most important species, unlike the rest, has slender, thread-like, pen- dent stems ; this is T. usneoidet, so called from its resemblance in manner of growth to unea, a genus of long pendulous lichens, and is pop- ularly known as long moss, and also as black or Spanish moss; its northern limit is the Dismal swamp in Virginia, and it is found all through the southern states to Texas, and in South America to Chili, as well as in the West Indies. Its much branching stems, 2 ft. or more long, bear recurved leaves 2 to 3 in. long, which are scarcely broader than the stems, and like those are greenish gray; each internode or space in the stem between two leaves is twisted to form a loose spiral of about two Long or SpanisQ Moss (Tillandsia usneoides). turns; the flowers, produced at the ends of short branches, are about a fourth of an inch across, and have three bright yellowish green petals ; the pod, about an inch long, contains numerous slender seeds, with a long hairy tuft. This epiphyte, draping the trees and swing- ing in the wind, frequently forms a character- istic feature of the southern landscape, though where very abundant its effect, on account of its sombre color, is not altogether pleasing; recently considerable quantities in the living state have been sold in northern cities for the decoration of rooms ; it will flourish in an ordinary greenhouse if hung up in any con- venient place. The central portion, or the woody part of the stem, is scarcely larger than a horse hair, which it much resembles also in toughness and elasticity ; it is dark brown or black even in the fresh plant. This material is used where it grows for various purposes, and is an article of commerce. The rude method of preparing the moss is to place it in shallow water until the. outer covering be- comes loosened ; after it is thoroughly dried, it is beaten until nothing is left but the horse- haic-like central portion ; of late years the pro- cess has been much facilitated by the use of steam ; the moss is placed in large tight vats, steamed, and dried, and afterward beaten by machinery, the product being superior to that prepared in the slow way. In the southern states it is twisted into ropes, and woven into horse collars, saddle blankets, and mats of va- rious kinds, and is a common filling for beds ; northern upholsterers use it by itself or with hair for stuffing chairs, sofas, and mattresses. II LLKMOM, Louis Sebastien le ftaiii de, a French historian, born in Paris, Nov. 30, 1637, died Jan. 10, 1698. He was educated at Port Royal, and at the episcopal seminary of Beauvais, be- came a subdeacon in 1672, and a priest in 1676. In 1677 he went to reside with the recluses at Port Royal; and in 1679 he retired to his estate of Tillemont, between Vincennes and Mont- reuil. His principal works are : Memoires pour servir d Vhistoire ecclesiastique des six pre- miers siecles (16 vols. 4to, 1693-1712), and Hi- toire des empereurs et des autres princes qui ont regne durant les six premiers siecles de Veglise (6 vols. 4to, 1690-1738). His Vie de St. Louis was first published by the French historical society (6 vols. 8vo, 1847-'51). TILLODONTI1, a new order of eocene mam- mals, described by Prof. O. C. Marsh in 1875, apparently combining characters of the planti- grade carnivora, ungulates, and rodents. The typical genus tillotherium in its skeleton comes nearest to the bears, but has a dentition partly ungulate and partly rodent. TILLOTSON, John, an English prelate, born at Sowerby, near Halifax, in 1630, died in Lon- don, Nov. 22, 1694. His father was a strict Calvinist. At an early age Tillotson became a student at Cambridge, where he was made a fellow in 1651, and remained till 1657, when he became tutor in the family of Prideaux, Cromwell's attorney general. Chillingworth's writings having converted him from Puritan- ism, at 30 years of age he took orders in the English church, and was successively curate of Cheshunt, rector of Keddington, and preacher at Lincoln's Inn in London. He opposed the proclamation of Charles II. for liberty of con- science, which made him unpopular at court, preached earnestly against popery, and advo- cated the exclusion of the duke of York. He was the leading member of the commission of 20 divines appointed in 1689 to examine and revise the liturgy. On the accession of Wil- liam III. he became dean of St. Paul's, and in 1691 archbishop of Canterbury. His marriage with a niece of Cromwell brought him into inti- mate connection with W T ilkins, bishop of Ches- ter, whose posthumous works he edited. His life was written by Dr. Thomas Birch (8vo, London, 1752). He published "The Rule of Faith " (1666) and several volumes of sermons. For the copyright of his manuscript sermons his widow received 2,500 guineas; and many collective editions afterward appeared in 14