Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 03.djvu/666

* BRUSSELS. 590 BBtTTTII. TOurderous struggle between the soldiers and populace in the streets of the town, the inde- pendence of Belgium was declared, and Brussels was made the capital of the kingdom. BKUSSELS, University of. A Belgian uni- versity which derives its chief interest from the fact that it wa.s founded without cooperation «f State or Chiirch. and is in that respect unique in Europe. The Hcvolution of IS.SO destroyed the old University of Louvain, already shattered by the French wars. The Liberal Party, under the lead of Theodore Verhaeghen, in 1834 establislied in its place the Free University of Brussels, largely by private subscription. This and the number of students at first proving insufficient to maintain the new foundation, as a result of further efTorts more money was secured from private sources. The city of Brussels and the Province of Brabant subsidized the institution, and the city further gave it a building. In 11102 the university had over 1000 students, divided among the faculties of philosophy, law, mathe- matics and science, medicine, pharmacy, and a polytechnic school. It comprises also a school of political and social science. BRUSSELS CARPET. See Carpet. BRUSSELS CONFERENCE. An impoi-tant international conference of the Powers of Europe held in Brussels, Belgium. July 27, 1874. It was called on the suggestion of the Russian Emperor, with a view to ameliorate and render more humane the rules and usages of war. The United States did not send a representative, and Great Britain sent but one, after notifying the Powers that she opposed any consideration of the rules of naval warfare by the Conference. All of the leading nations of Europe were represented. A draft code, or project, was prepared by Russia and submitted to the other governments before the meeting, with the understanding that it should be freely discussed, and that, in case a unanimous conclusion was reached, a new decla- ration, embodying the opinion of Euiope thus manifested, slumhl be publislied by the Powers. Uptm many topics the representatives were agreed, but upon others the differences of opin- ion were found to be irreconcilable. There was geneial unanimity as to the definition of com- batants, non-combatants, and sjiies; as to the legitimate means of injuring an enemy ; con- cerning the conduct of sieges and bombardments, the treatment of prisoners of war, as well as of the sick and wounded, flags of truce, capitula- tions, and armistices. The representatives could not agree, however, as to what constitutes hostile occupation of in- vaded territory. The view taken by England and some other States was that a territory was not to be deemed occupied by an invader, unless he had force enough to repress any insurrection; while Germany and other States held that the rule applying to naval blockades did not apply to occupation of invaded territory. It need not he, at every moment, eli'ective. It was enough that the invading army had broken down organized opposition, and had assumed comjilete control for a time, even though it had advanced to other sections. Another point of ditVerence related to the right of a people to rise en masse and oppose invaders, even tlimigh not organized as a part of a regular military force. Here, again, England sided with the small States, and refused to concur in a policy which, in her opin- ion, would tend to paralyze patriotic resistance by the masses of an invaded nation. Although the Conference fell far short of ac- complishing the purpose for which it was called, it marks an important advance in international law. See Ii.ouE Peace Confeke.nce; Belliger- ent; Spy, etc., and Interxatioxal Law, and the authorities there referred to, BRUSSELS LACE (so named as it is chiefly made in Brussels). A pillow-lace (see Lace) made with a hexagonal net having four twisted and two plaited sides. iluch of the modern Brussels lace is simply a pillow-lace pattern ap- jdiqued in a machine net. (See Bobbinet.) The l)est Brussels lace is of a very fine linen thread, which has to be spun in damp cellars, for if handled in the dr_v air it is likely to break; the sjiinncr depends chiefly on her sense of touch for making the thread even. The diHieulty and unhealthfulness of the work naturally make the product rare and costly. The rarest qualities liave a needlework ground called point a I'ai- niiille. It is said that a ciioice piece of Brussels la(^e passes through the hands of seven ditferent workers, each of whom has her special depart- ment and does not know what the final pattern will be. BRUSSELS SPROUT. A cultivated variety of lirassicti ijlirana. distinguished by produc- ing in the axils of the leaves buds or cabt)age- like heads an inch or more in diameter. These heads or 'sprouts' are prepared like cabbage or cauliflower for the table. The plant is grown as a fall crop and is cultivated in much the same manner as cabbage. Some varieties attain a height of 4 feet and produce sprouts on nearly the whole length of the stem. The plant takes its name from Brussels, Belgium. See Cabbage. BRUT, broot. A work by Layamon (c.l200), chronicling in 32,000 verses the wanderings of Brutus the Trojan, and the early legends of British history after his advent. The work is an amplified ersion of the French Brut of Wace, which in turn is taken from Geofl'rey of ilon- moutli. The British Jluseum contains the two manuscripts of the work. BRUTA. See Edentata. BRUTE, Sir .ToiiN. One of the leading char- acters in Vanbrugh's comedy The Proroked Wife. He is a brutal <k''bauelu', who goads his wife to rebellion, and then lacks courage to resent her self-assertion. BRtJTT, bryt, Ferdinand (1849—). A Ger- man |)aiiiter, born in Hamburg. He studied at the eimar art school. In 1876 he went to Diisseldorf, and became a professor in the art academy there in 1803. In 1000 he removed to Cronlierg. His genre pictures are marked by cleverness of characterization. A list of his works includes "Disturbed Peasant." '"Peasant Delegation." "The Prince on the Promenade," and "The Petitioner." BRUT'TIL The name of an ancient tribe and a territory of Italy, comprising the southern extremity, or toe, of the peninsula, now called Calabria. The people known as Bnittians be- came rulers in this part of the peninsula about ii.c. 3.50. Before that the inhabitants seem to have been of some Pelasgian race, but at an early date Greek adventurers started settlements on