Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume XVI.djvu/638

 614r WHYDAH BIRD WICKLOW bloom, very sweet, and so tender as hardly to bear transportation. The low or pale blue- berry ( V. vacillans) is erect, with pale leaves and branches, and bears a fruit similar to the Swamp Huckleberry (Vacclnlum corymbosnm). preceding. The swamp blueberry or huckle- berry ( V. corymbosum) ia one of the most common and variable species, and is found over a large portion of the country; it is from 5 to 10 ft. high, and often forms large clumps ; its large white dowers are conspicu- ous ; the fruit ripens the latest of all, and is either blue with a bloom or shining black, there being several marked varieties, which formerly ranked as species. The picking of whortleberries for market is in some locali- ties an important industry, and the business is aa well systematized as that of marketing cultivated fruits. Whortleberries grow in such abundance spontaneously that no at- tempts have been made to improve them by cultivation. Several species are found only on the high mountains or along our northern bor- der, which with others, including some ever- greens, found only in the southern states, and often in restricted localities, being of no eco- nomical or commercial importance, need not be enumerated. WHYDAH BIRD. See WEAVEB BIRD. WHYMPER, Edward, an English traveller, born in London, April 27, 1840. He early became known by his ascent of Mt. Pelvoux, one of the highest of the French Alps, and in 1861 he scaled the "chimney" of the Matterhorn. He attempted to reach the summit in 1863 and 1864, and accomplished the ascent July 14-15, 1865 ; three of his companions, Lord F. Doug- las, the Rev. Charles Hudson, and W. Hadow, and a guide, perished in descending. In 1867 and 1872 he made adventurous expeditions to Greenland, collecting curious specimens. He has published "Scrambles amongst the Alps, 1860-'69, including the first Ascent of the Mat- terhorn and the Attempts which preceded it," illustrated by himself (London, 1871). His relative, FHKDERICK WHYMPEB, has published "Travel and Adventure in the Territory of Alaska" (1868), and "The Heroes of the Arc- tic and their Adventures" (1875). WICIIERN, Jolianu llciiu icli. a German philan- thropist, born in Hamburg, April 21, 1808. He studied theology at Gottingen and Berlin. In 1833 he founded at Horn, near Hamburg, a reformatory for vagrant children, called Rauhes Hau&) and opened it with 12 inmates. At pres- ent the institution has several hundred inmates and 20 buildings. Among its departments or separate institutions are that for redeeming neglected children, grouped together in fami- lies of 12, occupied in agricultural and other labors, and educated in classes of 24 ; that of " brothers," or assistants engaged as teachers and superintendents, selected from respectable mechanics and other avocations, whom a pro- bation of three years qualifies for " inner mis- sions " in Germany and foreign countries, and as officers of prisons ; and the publishing de- partment, agency, and bookbinding establish- ment. The inner missions, originally formed among the pietists of the Evangelical church, were organized in 1843, and Wichern became the. leader. In 1848 a central committee was organized at his suggestion, which sends mis- sionaries all over the world. The Rauhes Ifau* became the principal institution of the mission, and since 1844 has appeared a monthly pe- riodical, Fliegende Blatter del Rauhen Hawes, founded and edited by Wichern. The annual expenses for each child are estimated at $50. The reform of the whole system of prisons and reformatories in Germany and other countries was due to his influence, and his Rauhes llaut became the model of the colony of Mettray and of other agricultural colonies and kindred in- stitutions. In 1858 he was placed at the head of all the Prussian penal and correctional in- stitutions, with the title of chief consistorial councillor in connection with the ministry of religion. He has published Die Innere Mission der deutsch-evangeluchen Kirehe (Hamburg, 1849; 2d ed., 1850), Festbuehlein des Rauhen Haute* (3 vols., 1856), Unsere Lieder (4th ed., 1870), &c. WICHITA. I. An unorganized N". W. coun- ty of Texas, bounded N. by Red river and drained by the Wichita and other streams; area, 655 sq. m. ; returned as having no popu- lation in 1870. It has a diversified surface, and is partly covered by dense forests. II. An unorganized W. county of Kansas ; area, 720 sq. m. It is watered by affluents of the Ar- kansas and Smoky Hill rivers, and has a level or slightly rolling surface. ICKLIFFE. See WTCLIFFE. WICKLOW. I. A 8. E. county of Ireland, in the province of Leinster, bordering on Dublin, St. George's channel, Wexford, Carlow, and Kildare; area, 782 sq. m. ; pop. in 1871, 78,509. The coast is generally rocky and precipitous. The chief rivers are the Slaney, Vartrey, and