Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 01.djvu/367

ALDEHYDES. red coloration indicates the presence of an aldehyde.

5. When treated with nascent hydrogen, the aldehydes are reconverted into the alcohols from which they are derived; while, as has been stated above, oxidizing agents transform aldehydes into the corresponding acids. The aldehydes may, therefore, be said to be intermediate between the alcohols and the acids of organic chemistry.

ALDEN, .al'dcn, (1800-70). An American soldier. He was born at Meadville, Pa., and in 1831 graduated at West Point, where he was an instructor from 1833 to 1840. He subsequently served for two years as aide to General Scott, and from 1845 to 1852 was commandant of cadets at West Point. In 1853 he organized and led an expedition against the Rogue River Indians, and in a fierce battle, fought near Jacksonville, Oregon, was so severely wounded that he was soon afterward forced to retire permanently from the army.

ALDEN, ( 1836—). An American editor and author, born at Mount Tabor (near Danby), Vermont. He graduated in 1857 at Williams College, where James A. Garfield and Horace E. Seudder were among his fellow-students, and in 1860 at the Andover Theological Seminary. Subsequently he was licensed to preach, but never took orders. From 1863 to 1869 he was managing editor of Harper's Weekly, and in the latter year became editor of Harper's Monthly. In 1863-64 he lectured before the Lowell Institute, Boston, on "The Structure of Paganism." He is known as a classical student of large acquirements, particularly in connection with Greek literature and thought; and his first literary ventures were two articles contributed to the Atlantic on the Eleusinian Mysteries. His long editorial service has been unobtrusive but distinctive. His personality has pervaded Harper's Magazine, in which he has aimed, among other things, to recognize the novice, and to encourage the best type of Americanism. He collaborated with A. H. Guernsey in the preparation of Harper's Pictorial History of the Great Rebellion (1862-65); and has published The Ancient Lay of Sorrow, a poem (1872), and two profound metaphysical essays, God in His World (1890, published anonymously), and A Study of Death (1805), both extensively read and enthusiastically received by critics and thinkers. He received the degree of L.H.D. from Williams in 1890.

ALDEN, (1841 — ). An American author, who writes under the pseudonym of "Pansy." She was born at Rochester, N. Y., and in 1866 was married to the Rev. Dr. G. R. Alden. In addition to much fiction for older readers, her works include the Pansy Books, a series of about sixty juvenile works. She edited the young folks' journal Pansy from 1873 until 1896, and has been on the editorial staff of the Christian Endeavor World, of Boston, and various other religious magazines of Boston, Philadelphia, and New York. Her works have been translated into many foreign languages.

ALDEN, (1810-1877). An American naval officer, born in Portland, Me. He entered the navy as midshipman in 1828, was in the Wilkes exploring expedition to the Antarctic (1838-42), in several naval operations of the Mexican War (1848), and from 1848 to 1860 in the coast survey. In the Civil War he commanded the sloop-of-war Richmond at the capture of New Orleans and the attack on Port Hudson. He was promoted to be captain in 1863, and commanded the sloop Brooklyn in Mobile Bay and at Fort Fisher. He became a commodore in 1866, was placed in command of the Mare Island (Cal.) navy yard in 1868, and in 1869 was appointed chief of the bureau of navigation. He was promoted to the rank of rear admiral in 1871 and took command of the European squadron; he was retired in 1873.

ALDEN, (1599-1687). One of the Pilgrim Fathers. He was born in England. As a cooper, he was engaged in making repairs on the Mayflower at Southampton, and sailed in her, signing the compact. He settled at Duxbury, Mass., and married Priscilla Mullens. Their courtship formed the theme of Longfellow's poem, The Courtship of Miles Standish. He was a magistrate for more than fifty years, and greatly assisted in the government of the infant colony. He outlived all of the other signers of the compact.

ALDEN, (1819-1858). An American inventor of a machine for setting and distributing type. He was born at Barnstable, Mass., and was sixth in descent from John Alden, the Mayflower Pilgrim. In early life he was a compositor in his brother's printing office, and while thus engaged is said to have declared: "If I live long enough I will invent a machine to do this tiresome work." After the inventor's death the machine was improved by Henry W. Alden.

ALDEN, (1837 — ). An American author. He was born in Williamstown, Mass., and was educated at Lafayette and Jefferson colleges. In 1865 he joined the editorial staff of the New York Times and at once attracted attention by his humorous writings. During President Cleveland's first administration (1885-89) he was consul-general of the United States at Rome, and at the expiration of his term was made chevalier of the Order of the Crown of Italy by King Humbert. In 1893 he settled in London, and became literary correspondent of the New York Times. Among his publications are: Domestic Explosions (1878); Shooting Stars (1879); Moral Pirates (1881); Life of Christopher Columbus (1882); Cruise of the Canoe Club (1883); A Lost Soul (1802); The Mystery of Elias G. Roebuck (1896), and His Daughter (1897).

ALDER, .Tl'der (Lat. alnus). A genus of plants of the natural order Betulaceæ. (See .) The genus consists of trees and shrubs, natives of cold and temperate climates; the flowers in terminal, imbricated catkins, which appear before the leaves in some species, though in other species leaves and flowers appear simultaneously. In Alnus maritima the flowers appear in the autumn and the fruits ripen in the following season. The common or black alder (Alnus glutinosa) is a native of Great Britain and of the northern parts of Asia and America. It has roundish, wedge-shaped, obtuse leaves, lobed at the margin and serrated. The bark, except in very young trees, is nearly black. It succeeds best in moist soils, and helps to secure swampy river-banks against the effects of floods. It attains a height of 30 to 60 feet. The wood is of an orange-yellow color. It is