Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 14.djvu/57

* MOSCHELES. 45 MOSCOW. MOSCHELES, Ignaz (1794-1870). An Aus- triiiii iiiaim virtuoso and comijoser, born in Prague, of .lowisli parentage. Alter a course of study at the Prague Conservatory lie went to Vienna, where lie lieeanie a pupil of Alhreclits- liergcr and Salieri. He was a remarkable im- provisator, and won his greatest sueeesses as inueh by that gift as by the more important (liseovery of the 'singing tone' by whieh he se- cured niodilications of tone and variations in tone color by means of touch — an art subsequent- ly developed by Liszt and his school. Although he was very successful in his tours of Russia, Holland, (Jerniany. and Fiance, his greatest fame was won in London, in which city he took up his residence in 1821. He did not, however, sever his connection with the Continent, for in 1824 he was giving lessons in Berlin, where he mim- bered Jleiuhdssohn among his pupils, and formed a friendship with him that was of great mutual profit. He was of much assistance to Mendels- sohn when that master first visited England, and was in turn persuaded to join Mendelssohn in the manageniont of the newly formed Leipzig Conservatory (1824). With the exception of five concertos and a collection of studies which are still highly esteemed, his compositions are gradually being forgotten. His works include piano concertos, arrangements, instrumental chamber music, sonatas, and numerous etudes, about 140 opus numbers altogether. He died in Leipzig. Consult .1 h.s- Mosrheles' Lehen. Nach Brief en und Tiigrbiichrrn herausgegehen (Leip- zig, 1872) ; English translation by Coleridge. MOSCHEROSCH, mo'she-r6sh, Johann Michael (1001-6!t). A German satirist of the seventeenth century. He came of an old Spanish family, and was born at Willstett, near Strass- burg, and wrote under the name Philander von Sittewald. He studied in Strassburg, and held various diplomatic positions. He was admitted to the Fruchtbringende Gesellschaft in 164.5 with the name of ■nreanicr,' and about 1640 published his "Book of Visions," Wutirlerlirhe vnd irnhrhfif- tige Geschiehte. apparently patterned after Queve- do's Huefwii. Consult: Nickels, Moarheroneh nls Padagog (Leipzig, 1883), and Pariser, Beilriige zu einer Riographie von Moscherosch (Munich, 180!). MOSCHI, mos'ki (Lat., from Gk. M6<rx<". Moschoi). An ancient people of Asia, living south of the Caucasus. According to Pliny they dwelt around the sources of the Pliasis between the Eu.ine and Casjiian seas. Their name by early writers is often coupled with that of the Tibiireni, and the two people are generally identi- fied with the Meshech and Tubal of Scripture. I'luler the appellation of Muskai they appear in the cuneiform in.scriptions as carrying on war against Tiglathpileser, King of Assyria (e. 11.50 li.c), who defeated their forces and overthrew their i'we kings. Consult Rawlinson, Five Greut Miiiiiircliicn. AssgrUi (London, 1807). MOSCHUS, mos'kfis (Lat., from Gk. Moitxoj, MoKi'liiif;) . A Greek bucolic poet of the second century B.C., apparently a native of .Southern Italy. Besides some short poems we possess his "Lament for Bion" ('E7riTd0ios Biui-os), his teacher, which is an imitation of Bion's "Lament for Adonis;" also his "Rape of Europa" (Eipiiirrj) and his "Cu])id the Runaway" ( 'Eput Spair^TTjs). His poems were united in antiquily with those of Theocritus and Bion, and appear with them in modern editions also. He was translated by Lang (London, ISilO). MOSCOSO DE ALVARADO, mOs-ko'sA da iil'va-rii'uu, Luis ue (1505-01). A Spanish sol- dier and explorer in America. He was born in Badajoz, and was a kinsman of Alvarado. whom he followed to Peru. Four years afterwards, with De Soto, he started for Florida, and suc- ceeded him in coMnnand in 1542. After terrible privations and with decimated forces he reached Mexico in 1543. There Mendoza received him kindly. In 1551 Moscoso accompanied Mendoza to rem. where he died. MOSCOW, mos'ko (Russ. Moskva). A gov- ernment of Central Russia, bounded by the Gov- ernment of Tver on the northwest, Vladimir on the northeast, Ryazan on the east, Tula and Kaluga on the south, and Smolensk on the west (Map: Russia, E 3). Area, 12,875 square miles. It occupies a portion of the central plateau of Russia, and slopes eastward toward the Oka. It belongs to the basin of the Volg.a, and is watered by that river and the Oka on the boun- daries, and by the Klyama, Moskva, and other rivers in the interior. Cieologically the govern- ment belongs to the Moscow coal basin, the car- boniferous formation being covered up with various clays, .sandstone, and marble. The soil is loamy and not very fertile. About 40 per cent, of the area is clothed in forests, mostly belong- ing to private persons. Agriculture is highly developed, and the farm products are of great diversity. Rye, potatoes, and oats are the staples. Ciardening is carried on extensively, and vegetables are raised in quantities sufficient to be exported to .Saint Petersburg and Kronstadt. Stock-raising is also important. Moscow is the leading manufacturing govern- ment of Russia. In 1806 it had 1755 manufactur- ing establishments, employing over 207,000 hands. The value of the outjiut of that year was over .$130,000,000. The chief products are textiles (especially cotton and silk), which were manufac- tui'ed in that year to the value of over .$80,000,- 000. Other important products are machinery, brick, chemicals, knit goods, etc. An important item in the economic life of the government is the house industry, which has reached here a higher degree of development than in any other part of Russia. It exists all over the province, groups of villages being engaged in the manu- facturing of one product. The articles manufac- tured in this way are of a very wide range, in- cluding leather and leather products, hats, pins, brushes, cheap chromos, carriages and wagons, lace, gloves, etc. It is estimated that agricul- ture furnishes on the average only about 40 per cent, of the income of a peasant family in the government. The commerce in the products of the house industry is of great extent, and is centred chiefiy in the city of Moscow. The government is well supplied with transportation facilities, being traversed by six of the most important railway lines of the Empire. Education is nieagreh' pro- vided for. The proportion of illiterates is esti- mated at 80 per cent. Population, in 1897, 2,433,350, chiefly Great Russians. Capital. Mos- cow.