Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 12.djvu/492

* LONGAN. 434 LONGEVITY. LONGAN, lOij'gan (Xeo-Lat. longaiium, from Chin, luiiy yen, dragon's eye), Seijlulium lon- gana. An evergreen tree and its fruit, which is smaller than and inferior to its close relative the litchi (q.v. ). The tree which produces it is a native of Southeastern Asia and is generally cultivated in China and other Eastern countries. LONG BOAT. A term not now much used, but furnicrly a])|)lied to the largest boat carried by a merchant vessel and answered to the sailing launch or pinnace of a man-of-war. It was used in transporting heavy cargo when boats from shore were not to be had, and in making long trips over rough or open water unsuited to boats of less size. It was fitted with masts, sails, and oars, and ip the event of shipwreck was usually large enough to contain all or nearly all of the officers and crew. It was too large to be carried at ordinary davits, and was hoisted in amidships and stowed on deck. LONG BRANCH. A town in Mcinmouth County, X. J.. 30 miles in a direct line and 45 miles by rail south of New York City: on the Atlantic Ocean, on a branch of the "So.uth Shrewsbury River, and on the Pennsylvania, the Central of New .Jersey, and the New Jer- sey Southern railroads (Map: New Jersey, E 3 ) . During the summer months steamboats also plj' regularly to New York, and electric roads connect with places near by, running through a picturesque district. Before the Revo- lution the land in the vicinity of Long Branch, which was settled about !G70, was owned by a British officer, Colonel White, who passed his summers here. In 1788 several families from Philadelphia began coming for a part of each summer, and in 1700 the place was improved and exploited as a summer resort, soon becoming ex- ceedingly popular. The great hotels, large boarding-houses, picturesque cottages, and numer- ous bathing-houses afford accommodation for thousands of people during the heated season. The bluff overlooking the sea, along which ex- tends the grand Ocean Avenue, has suffered se- verely from the action of the ocean, notwith- standing the protection afforded by a system of massive bulkheads. There are a free read- ing-room and circulating library, and the Mon- mouth Jlemorial Hospital. The government is administered under a cliarter of 1875, by a board of seven commissioners, annually elected, four by wards and three at lai-ge, who choose the Mayor from among their number. The majority of subordinate officials are chosen bv the board. Population, in 1890, 7231; in 1900,"8872. LONG BRIDGE. A bridge over the Poto- mac River, connecting Washington with the Vir- ginia shore. During the Civil War it was the chief line of communication with the Army of the Potomac and was strongly fortified. LONGCHAMP, lox'shiix', William de ( ?- 1197 ) . Bislicip of Ely and Chancellor of England. He was a deformed Norman of low birth, who had won the confidence of Richard before he as- cended the throne, and was made bv him Chan- cellor and Bishop of Ely (1190).' When the King left England in 1190 he appointed Hugh of Durham and Longchamp joint justiciars and a year afterwards Longchamp was made Papal legate. He quarreled with Hugh and after- wards with .John Lackland, and made himself very unpopular in England by his taxatiom and haughty disregard of the wishes of the people. Many of the nobles supported John, and Long- champ was finally obliged to leave the country. He joined Richard, who was imprisoned in Ger- many, and by him was placed in charge of the collection of the ransom and hostages de- manded by the Emperor. When the King re- turned to England in 1194 Longchamj) was re- instated as Chancellor. He died at Poitiers on his way to Rome as envoy to the Pope. Despite the universal dislike of him in England. Long- champ was an able ruler and ahrays remained devoted to Richard's interests. Consult Boivin- Champeaux. Xotice stir Guillaume dc Longchamp (Evreux. 1SS.5). LONGCHAMPS, lox'shiiN'. A part of tlie Bois de Boulogne, the site of an abbey founded in 12G0 by Isabel, sister of Saint Louis, and in- creased and enriched by successive kings. By the sixteenth century the early rigor of the Franciscan nuns who occupied the convent had degenerated into disorder and license, and Longchamps became a home for nuns of high family who cherished a love for the world within tlie precincts of the cloister. The abl)ey became a favorite resort for the heau-monde of Paris, who went there during Holy Week to hear the Tenebrie sung by ladies from the opera. Arch- bishop Beaumont, just before the Revolution, caused the churches to be closed ; the abbe.y was suppressed in 1792. But people, nevertheless, continued to drive to Longchamps for pleasure, and at the present day it is the favorite prom- enade of the Parisians, and the site of their finest race-track. LONG-CRESTED JAY. See Jay. LONGE. A local name in New England for the lake-trout. See Namaycush. LONG-EARED O'WL. See Owl. LONG EATON. A town in Derljyshire. Eng- land, seven miles southwest of Nottingliam (ilap: England, E 4), noted for its lace manufactures. Population, in 1891, 9G00; in 1901, 13,000. LONGE'VITY (Lat. longwvitas, from longw- i-us, aged, from longns. long -|- ccrum, age). 'The lengtli or duration of life in the individual is an imcertain quantity, obviously dependent on mani- fold environmental circumstances. Each species of plant or animal, as in the case of each in- dividual, has its term of existence, its limit of growth, and the duration of life organisms is extremely variable. The natural life of an ephemera is often spanned by four or five hours; that of the baobab-tree of the Cape de Verde Islands by 5000 years. The duration of life has quite a different meaning from that of the pro- longation of life by artificial means or by special care and under peculiarly favorable surround- ings. In plants, annuals (more truly semi-annuals) live but a few months, growing up in spring and dying down, after seeding, in the autumn; bien- nials die at the end of the second year, while perennials may exist many years. Trees, even of the same order, vary greatly in duration of life: the fir, which is of rapid growth, may decay and die in about 20 years, while the spruce may grow for 150 years. Hufeland states that great age in plants depends (1) on slow growth;. (2) it must propagate slowly and late in life; ( 3 ) it must have a certain degree of solidity and