Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 12.djvu/816

* MAJOB. 724 MAJOR DOMtrS. colonel. In the United States the command ap- propriate to the grade is: Infantry, a battalion; cavalry, a squadron; artillerj', two or more bat- teries. See Field Officer; Rank and Com- mand. MAJOR. A term in music, applied to inter- vals and modes. (1) All intervals which are not perfect are distinguished as major or minor. The former contains always one semistep more than the latter: c — e (5 semisteps) is a major third, „c — eb (4 semisteps) a minor third. (2) The inajor mode is the one which is founded upon the niajor scale. This scale contains the major tliird and two semisteps between the 3 and 4 and 7 and 8. Thus: e, d, e. f, g, a, b. c. Modern music conceives a mode as a system of three fundamental chords which contain all the tones properly belonging to the scale of that mode. These chords are the tonic, dominant, and sub- dominant. In the major mode all these chords are major, i.e. they have the major third. The major scale, as represented by its fundamental chords, presents itself then in this form: tonic f~a- sub-dom. ■tj — b — d dom. See Minor. MAJOR, Ch.bles (1856—). A lawyer and popular novelist, born at Indianapolis, Ind. He was educated in the common schools of Shelby- ville and Indianapolis, studied law and practiced il at Shclbyville, his home. He first became known by a novel When Knighthood n-as in Flower (1898), which was followed by sympa- thetic sketches of bey life in Indiana, The Bears of Bine Birer (1901) and by a very romantic novel, Dorothy Vernon of Fla'ddon Hall (1902). MAJOR, ma'ydr, Georg (1502-74). A Lu- theran theologian. He was born at Nuremberg, April 25, 1502, and studied theology- at Witten- berg under Luther and Melanchthoii; was rector at Magdeburg and Eisleben ; professor of theol- ogj- and Court-preacher at Wittenberg in 1536; represented the Protestants in colloquy at Ratis- bon in 1546. When the Schmalkald War broke out he left Wittenberg, and was appointed super- intendent and Court-preacher at Merseburg (1547), but at the close of the war he returned to Wittenberg. In 1551 he actively supported the doctrine of the Leipzig Interini, that good works were necessary to salvation, in opposition to the strict Lutherans, who denied that propo- sition. Amsdorf assailed him. declaring that good ■n-orks were or might lie detrimental to salvation. In consequence of the controversy Major removed to Wittenberg, and he died there. November 28, 1574. Toward the close of his life he became involved in the Crypto-Calvinistic controversy. (See CRYPTO-C.I,^^•ISTS. » A portion of h'is works, comprising homilies and commentaries on the Gospels and Pauline Epistles, was published in 1.569. MA'JOR, or MAIR, mflr. .John (1459-1550). A Scotch historian and scholar. He was born at Gleghornie, East Lothian: studied at Cam- bridge and Paris, and spent his life teaching al- ternately at Paris and in bis native countrv, and preparing books for the press. While liberal in his tendencies, he held fast to scholasticism and was oppo.sed to ecclesiastical or theological changes. He published many books, all in Latin, upon varied subjects, and is best known to day by his Bistort/ of (irentrr Britain, both EnqUaid and Scotland (1521), which was the firs't :it tenipt to write Scottish, history in a critical spirit. Consult the translation'prepared by llie Scottish History Society (Edinl)urgh, 1892). which contains a life and" bibliography. MAJOR, RicH.RD IlE.NRY (I8I8-9I). An Eng- lish geographer, born in London, Octoljcr 3, 1818. In 1844 he was appointed assistant in charge of the maps and charts of the British Museum, and in 1867 he became keeper of the maps and plans. From 1849 to 1858 he was honorary .secretary of the Hakluyt Society, for which he edited, with translation, Seleet Letters of Christopher Cohnn- bus (1847), Early Voyages to Australia (1859i, and several other valuable works. He was also honored as vice-president of the Royal Geograi)h- ical Society. For his Life of Prince Henry of Portugal (1868), the Bibliography of the First Letter of Columbus, and other publications on the early Portuguese and Italian discoveries, he was decorated by the rulers of Portugal, Brazil, and Italy. He died at Kensington, June 25, 1891. MAJORANO, mii'yi'i-ra'nd, Gaetano. .See Caffarelli. MAJOR'CA (.Sp. MALLORCA, m4-lvor'ka). The largest of the Balearic Isles (q.v. )." It lies 105 miles southeast of the mouth of the Ebro. the nearest point of the Spanish coast, and in the middle of the Balearic group, with Minorca on the northeast and the Pityu.sic on the southwest (Map: Spain, G 3). Area, 1332 square mil.-. The coa.sts are nearly all rocky, rising on the northwestern side into steep, rough, and arid ' mountains, reaching a height of 4768 feet in Mount Torella. The southern coast is lower and indented with bays, that of Palma affording a good harbor. The whole southern half of the island is finely diversified with hills and plains, which are fertile. There are extensive vine- yards. The climate is healthful. The in- habitants, who resemble the Catalans in their appearance and manners, are hospitable and industrious, and mostly engaged in agricul- tural pursuits. The chief products of the island are marble, slate, plaster, the common cereals, oranges, silk, lemons, oil, w-ine of excellent qual- ity, olives, and aromatic herbs. The population of the island in 1887 was 249,008; and in 1900, 251,920. The capital is Palma (q.v.). situated on the southern coast and connected by a rail- way with La Puebla and Manacor in the in- terior. MA'JOR DCMUS, or Mayor of the Palace. Originally the title of a royal steward under the Merovingian line of Frankish kings. His proper function was the care of the royal house- hold; but by 650 the entire administration of the government had passed into the hands of the mayors of the palace. Grimoald of Austrasia and Ebroin of Burgundy exercised an absolute authoritj' in their oflice as mayors. Under King Dagobert II. of Austrasia and his immediate suc- cessors the office of the mayor of the palace was held by Pepin of Herstal. who after the battle of Testry, in 687. became ruler of Neustria also. Pepin was the founder of the Carolingian