Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 07.djvu/582

* FENIAN SOCIETY. 530 FENNEL. where he was joyfully received by the American branch and made head centre. But his repeated failures to send a military expedition to Ireland displeased the society, and he was deposed. All the military efforts* of the Fenians were un- successful. A proposed expedition of 10,000 men into Canada resulted in 500 men crossing the border in 1S60. They defeated the Canadian militia, but had to return to the United States on account of the failure of the organization to provide them with reinforcements and supplies. Their leaders were arrested by the American authorities. A daring attempt to seize the arms and ammunition stored in Chester Castle, and convey them by ship to Ireland, was thwarted in 18*67. The general uprising in Ireland which was to follow the seizure was suppressed at every point. The rescue of two leaders by a band of Manchester Fenians resulted in the death of a police officer, for which three of t lie rescuers were hanged. The demolition of the wall of Clerkenwell prison and various Fenian threats threw the British authorities into a state of great alarm. Another attempt to raid Canada was suppressed by the United States Government in 1871. This was the last effort of the Fenians. The cause of the repeated failures of the Fe- nians is to be found in the fact that they had no real leaders. Stephens was a model organizer, but not a man of action. O'Mahoney was loyal to the order, but not a man of ability. There were endless dissensions among the leaders in both countries, besides much corruption, espe- cially in the American branch. The dual organi- zation in Ireland and America prevented har- mony of action. But although they failed in their immediate object, their attempted uprising tended to convince English statesmen that it would be better to grant proposed reforms in Ireland than to be constantly engaged in suppressing revolts. The name has been the subject of much discus- sion. O'Mahoney, who was a student of Old Irish hue. gave the name Fenian to the society. This name he derived from Fionna Eirinn, an ancient military organization which existed in •Ireland, taking its name from Finn, the cele- brated hero of Irish legend. Officially the name Fenian applied to the American branch only, lmt in the mind of the public it became con- nected with the entire movement. At first the Irish branch was popularly known as the Phcenix Society, owing to the aid Stephens received from the Phoenix Club, especially in counties Kerry and Cork. This club was suppressed by the Gov- eminent in 1858. The real name of the Irish branch was. as before stated, the Irish Revolu tionary Brothcrhmul. Consult: Gibbons,, J.. I'm ceedings of the First National Fenian Convention Held at Chimin,. t86S t Philadelphia, 1863) ; The Government Proceedings Against Fenianism (London, 1865). The mosi detailed account of the movement is .1. Rutherford, Secret History of Hi, Fenian Conspiracy (2 vols., London, 1877). partisan English; V M. Sullivan. Wett Ireland (Philadelphia, L878),chs. 17 25, is partisan Irish, a^ i I Savage, Fenian Martyrs and Heroes (Bos- 1 64), the author of which was himself i Fenian. A good brief account of the movement, Irish in sympathy, is to be found in Justin Mc- Carthy, I id the Union (London, 1877), ohs. ii -17. FENIN, fe-naN', Piebbe de (?-1506). A French chronicler, born in Artois. His chronicle was for a long time attributed to his lather, an- other Pierre, who died in 1433. It consists of an account of the rivalry between the Armagm and the Bourguignons. from the murder of the Duke of Orleans (1407) to 1427. The second part is not in the old editions, it describes the first five years of the reign of Charles VII. The best modern edition of the Chronique de Fenin is that by Mile. Dupont ( 1837 ) . FENN, George Maxvillf. ( 1831— ) . An Eng- lish journalist and author, born at Westminster. He was early a contributor to Chambers' Journal, the Star, and Once a Week; became editor of Cassell's Magazine in 1870, and proprietor of Once a Week in 1873. He made himself known as the writer of a very extensive list of boys' stories, which have been circulated in many countries, and have proved quite as popular in the United States as in England. His publica- tions include also several novels, such as A Crim- son Crime (1899), and The Cankerworm (1901). FENN, Harry (1838—). An American paint- er and illustrator, born in Richmond (Surrey), England. He removed to the United States in 1857, and was one of the founders of the Ameri- can Water Color Society. He has exhibited work in oil and water-color, and is a well-known illus- trator. He made the sketches for Picturesque America, Picturesque Europe, and Picturesque Palestine. FEN'NEC (from Ar. fanalca, to remain in a place), or Zerda. The smallest of the canine tribe — a pretty little fox-like animal {Canis, or penmen s, :< / da) ot the Sahara. It is about fif- teen inches long, besides the tail, which is nearly, seven inches in length, and bushy like that of a fox. The general color is pale rufous cream, harmonizing with the desert sands; the breast, in- side of the ears, and eyelids are white, and the tail is tipped with black. The erect ears are of enormous size — each as large as the face, giving a quaint air of intense alertness to the graceful little creature. It digs, with remarkable speed, a burrow in the sand, often escaping pursuit by fairly diving into the ground; and in its bur- row, which is furnished with soft bedding, and is remarkably clean, it sleep-, mosi of the day. going abroad at dusk to steal cautiously to some drink- ing-place, and then to seek it~ prey, which con- sists of mice, small birds, lizards, insects, etc. The name is sometimes extended to related Afrf- can species, such as Riippell's fennec [Canis famelicus), the pale fox {Canis pallidus), and the asse {Canis ill, mini of the Transvaal. Sec Plate of Foxes ami Jackals. FENNEL (AS. (en,, I. from Lat. faun fennel, diminutive of foenum, foenum, hay). / eiilnni. A mams of umbelliferous plants allied to dill (q.v.). The flowers are yellow. All the species are aromatic, and have much-divided leaves with thread-like segments. The lust known is common fennel [Fosniculwn officinale), a na- tive of the south of Europe. M is a biennial, three or four feet tall, cultivated in man gal dens in both Europe and America, chiefly for the sake of it~ [eaves, which are used for flavoring, hut also for its aromatic seeds. Florence fennel, sweel fennel, Italian fennel, or Cretan fennel I I',, ni, iilum dulce) is an annual of humbler