Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 20.djvu/34

* VAENHAGEN VON ENSE. 18 VAREO. historical value. He died in Berlin, October 10, 1858, and left fourteen volumes of Taijcbiichcr (18G1-70), two volumes of Denlcwiirdiykeiten (1859), a volume of studies in Prussian liistorj-. Blatter aits der prciissischcn GescMchte (18G8), and a volume of Biographischc Portriite (1871). Letters to him from A. von Humboldt were pub- lished (Leipzig, 1860). There is an edition of selected ITor/t's (19 vols., Leipzig, 1871-77). VARNISH (OF., Fr. vernis, varnish, p.p. of OF. vernir, to varnish, probably from ilL. vitri- nns, glassy, from Lat. vitrum, glass). A term applied to solutions of gums or resins in such solvents as alcohol or linseed oil, and used to pro- duce a hard, shiny, protective surface on various articles. The solution must be of such con- sistency as to enable it to be very thinly and smoothly spread over the surface coated, so that when it dries it will leave a thin resinous cover- ing which is either naturally glossy or can be made so by mechanical polishing. The solvent frequently gives the name to the varnish; thus 'spirit varnishes' are those that consist of a resin dissolved in ordinary ethyl alcohol, in methyl (wood) alcohol, in naphtha, turpentine, chloro- form, or ether. The 'oil varnishes' are those in which linseed, poppy, or walnut oil is used as the solvent. The resins or gimis which are used in the manufacture of varnishes are chiefly amber, animC', colophony, and copal, while asphaltum or pitch is used for dark-colored varieties. Coloring matters, such as aloes, dragon's blood, saffron, etc., are frequently added to give color to the varnish, and are used especially in those that are employed for coating metals. The various uses to which varnishes are put frequently suggest their names ; thus there are 'balloon,' 'carriage,' 'paper,' 'patent leather,' 'photographic' varnishes, etc., the composition of such products depending on the uses for which they are intended. Black varnishes, made with asphaltum, are commonly called japans. Consult: Brannt, 'firni.ilics, Lac- quers. Priniing Inks, and Sealiiif/ W(i.tcs (Phila- delphia. 1893); Cameron, Oils and Varnishes (London, 189G). VARNISH TREE. A name given to several trees of the family Anaeardiaceae because the resinous juice is used for varnishing or for lac- quering. The black- varnish tree {Mclanorrhoea usitaia) is described in the article on Melanob- RHCEA, and the Japan varnish tree (Rhus verni- cifera) in the article on Sumach. Other trees valuable for the varnish they yield are Gluia henghas and Uelanorrhoca WaUichii, natives of .Java, Sumatra, Borneo, Celebes, and other Fast India islands. The juice is extremely acrid, and soon liardens into a black resin. To obtain it, pieces of bandjoo are inserted into the bark, and allowed to remain all night, as the juice flows more freely by night than by day. It is prepared for use by boiling with equal parts of oil ob- tained from the fruit of Mimusops Elrngi. VAR'NUM, Jamks Mitchell (1 7-48-89 ). An American soldier, born at Dracut, Mass. He graduated at Brown (then Rhode Island) Univer- sitv in 1709, was admitted to the bar in 1771. and practiced at Fast Greenwich, R. I. In 1774 he became commander of the celebrated Kentish Guards, and in May, 1775, was jnadc colonel iif the First Rhode Island Infantry. For efficient services at the siege of Boston, at Harlem Heights, and at Wliite Plains, he was appointed brigadier-general of Rhode Island troops in De- cember, 1776, soon afterwards, in February, 1777, taking the same rank in the Continental .rmy. On his recommendation, Rhode Island passed a law, in 1778, liberating all negro slaves who should enlist in the army. After participating in the battle of Monmouth and in Sullivan's Rhode Island campaign, he resigned on March 5, 1779, and resumed the practice of law. He was major-general of the State militia from 1779 to 1788, was a member of the Continental Congress in 1780-82 and again in 1780-87, and in 1787 was appointed one of the Supreme Court judges of the Northwest Territory, removing to Mari- etta, Ohio, in June, 1788. He was especially notable as an eloquent speaker and an able debater. VAROLI, va-ro'le, Costanzo (c.1543-75). An Italian surgeon and anatomist, born at Bologna. He was a student and professor at the University of Bologna, and afterwards went to Rome as physician to Pope Gregory XIII. His studies of the human brain are still remembered by the anatomical designation of Pons Varolii. He wrote De eriis Opticis (1573). VAROTARI, va'r6-ta'r?, Alessandro (1590- 1650). A 'cnetian ])ainter. born at Padua, and usually called II Padovanino. He imitated the style of Veronese and Titian — whose works ho studied in Venice — and afterward went to Rome. He was especially happy in porti-aying children, though he was also successful in landscape. The frescoes in the Church of Saint An<lrea, at Ber- gamo, are also known to be his work_. and there are two of his pictures in the National Gallery, London. His best work. "The Marriage at Cana," is in the Academy at Venice. He passed the greater part of his life in Venice and Padua, and his paintings are preserved chiefly in those cities. Consult, Ridolfl, La ilaraviglie dell' Arte (Venice, 1648), VAE'RO, Marcus Terentius (b.c. 116-27). A Latin author, known as the 'most learned of the Romans.' He was born at Reate, and edu- cated first under L. ,-Elius Stilo PriPconinus. and then under Antiochus, a philosopher of the .cad- eniy. Varro served with distinction in the wars against the Cilician pirates and Mithri- dates; afterwai'ds, as legatus of Pomi)ey in Spain, he was compelled to surrender his forces to Caesar. He continued to share the fortunes of the Pompcian party till its defeat at Pharsalia. after which he obtained his pardon from Ca-sar. by whom he was employed to collect and arrange the great library designed for the public. Tlic next period in Varro's life was spent in literary retirement, ehielly at his villas near Cumio and Tuscuhnn. When the second triumvirate was formed, his name was enrolled in the list of the proscribed; but he succeeded in esca])ing, and, after some time spent in concealment, he was re- ceived under the protection of Octaviaiuis. The rest of his life was spent in the prosecution of his studies. Varro was not only the most learned. but also the most prolillc of Roman authors. He himself confesses to having composed no fewer than 490 books ; but only two of these have sur- vived, and one of them in a fragmentary state. The most considerable of his writings, whether hist or extant, are as follows: (1) De Ro Rus-