Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 02.djvu/718

BEACON. color is the best means, as applying to all sys- tems of whatever kind, while the shape admits of numerous exceptions. The color is also appli- cable in all countries and with little expense, whereas the immediate adoption of sliape would involve changes of several existing systems. In consequence, it was recommended to adopt a uni- formity in color, whereas the shape could remain optional. From an immense amount of data it was clearly shown that in the matter of beacons there has been a far greater lack of uniformity than in the matter of buoys, and even the differ- ent countries have not in tliemselves rigidly ad- hered to a ii.xed rule in relation to the construc- tion of beacons. About the most extensive sys- tem of day-marks and beacons at use along the coast of the United States is found along the Florida reefs. Here the beacons are in some cases lettered, and in others numbered. The cage, shaft, vane, letter, or figaire is of different color in adjacent stations, so that there may be no confusion. Combinations of red. white, and black are used; and as a full description of each is to be had in the sailing directions of that sec- tion, the navigator is always able to determine his position. See Lighthouse.

BEACONSFIELD, bek'onz-feld. A market- town of Buckinghamshire. England. IV2 miles northwest of Windsor. It is noted as the birth- place and residence of Waller, the poet, and Ed- mund Burke, and as giving its name to the title of Benjamin Disraeli, Earl of Beaconsfield. Population, in 1S91, 1773; in I90I, 1570. BEACONSFIELD, A municipality of Cape Colony, South Africa. 2 miles southwest of Kim- berley (Map: Cape Colony, A 7). It owes its growth and importance to its diamond-mining industries. Population, in 1881, 4259; in 1891, 10.478. BEACONSFIELD, Lord. See Disraeli, Ben- J.MIX.

BEACON HILL. The hill north of Boston Common, so called from the fact that in the early history- of Boston a beacon was set on it to give notice of threatened attacks by the Indians. The summit is occupied by the State House. Beacon Street, a noted residence street of Boston, ex- tends along the slope of the hill skirting the Common and Public Gardens westward through the Back Bay District.

BEAD. In architecture, a small, convex, round molding, sometimes called an astragal. It is of frequent occurrence in architecture, particu- larly in the classical styles, and is used besides in picture-frames and other objects carved in wood.

SEAD. a variety of personal ornament, made of various materials, as glass, pottery, metal, bone, ivory, wood, jet, amber, coral, etc., and per- forated so that it can be strung on tlireads and made into necklaces, bracelets, rosaries, etc., or worked on cloth as a kind of embroidery. The use of beads is of great antiquity, for they are found in the most ancient of the Egyptian tombs as decorations of the dead, and beads .supposed to have been used as barter by the Phoenicians in trading with various nations in Africa are still found in considerable numbers, and are highly valued by the natives under the name •of 'Aggry' beads. Ever since the Fourteenth Centurv the manufacture of glass beads has been chiefly engrossed by the Venetians. (See Glass. ) The manufacture is curious; the melted glass, colored or uncolored, is taken from the pot by two workmen, who slightly expand the collected mass by blowing down their blowpipes; they then open up the ex- panded glass, and join the two together, while still very soft. This done, thej' walk rapidly away from each other in opposite directions, in a long shed like a small rope-walk, and draw the glass, which retains its tubular character given by the blowing, etc., into rods of great length, and often extremely small diameter. On cooling, which takes place very quickly, these long rods are broken up into short lengths of about a foot, and a small number of these shorter rods are placed on a sharp cutting edge, after being an- nealed, and are chopped into lengths. The rough- ly cut beads are next mixed very thoroughly with line sand and ashes, then put into a metal cylin- der over a brisk fire, and turned round rapidly as they begin to soften with the heat. They are then agitated in water, which cleans away the sand and ashes, and leaves the holes free, after which they are strung.

BEAD, Beade, or Bede (allied to bid). A word which in Anglo-Saxon and Old English sig- nified a prayer, and hence came to mean the small perforated balls of gold, silver, glass, ivory, hard wood, etc., used for keeping account of the number of pra}ers repeated, A certain number strung on a thread makes a rosary (q.v. ). A hedesman or bedesiroman is one who prays for another. Persons of station and wealth in old times, "had regularly appointed bedesmen, who were paid to weary Heaven with their supplica- tions." Bedesmen appointed to pray for the King and State sometimes lived together, and hence bedehoxse is s.'imonymous with an alms- house. A common form of signature at one time was: 'Your bounden bedesman,' meaning 'Your obedient servant.'

BEADLE, be'd'l (OF. hedel, of Teutonic ori- gin, akin to AS. hydel, jiroclaimer, from bid). Formerly an important parish officer, appointed by the vestiy. He attended the vestry-meetings, executed its orders, and assisted the constable in minor matters. He has been largely supplanted by the verger, the visitor of the poor, and various petty town clerks.

BEADS, Saint Cuthbebt's. A title popularly given to the single joints of the articulated stems of encrinites. The central perforation permitted them to be strung as beads; and from the fancied resemblance, in some species, of this perforation to a cross, they were formerly used as rosaries, and associated with the name of Saint Cuthhert. They are also known as entrochites, or wheel- stones.

BEAGLE, be'g'l (origin obscure). A breed of diminutive foxhounds, formerly much used in hare-hunting; very similar to the harrier. For illustration, see Dogs. See Hound.

BEAGLE, Sir Harry. A character in Col- man's comedy. The Jealous Wife. He is a typi- cal country squire of the more vulgar class, with a great enthusiasm for dogs and horses. He ofl'ers to give one of the latter to Lord Frinket in exchange for Harriet,

BEAGLE, The. A small brig of war, of 235 tons, engaged in surveying the southern coasts of