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* WIMBLE. 552 WINCHENDON. Jack of all trades, who can do nothing to better his own condition in life.' and hence good- naturedly drifts into bettering that of others in triilino- ways. He mends whip laslies, makes gifts of fresh fish to housewives, and is a great favorite with small children. WIM'BLEDON. A town in Surrey, England, 8 miles southwest of Saint Paul's, London (Map: London, F 6). It is a favorite suburban residence of Londoners, and was formerly the meeting-place of the British Rifle Association. It has remains of an early British earthwork, and is regarded as the scene of the defeat of King Ethelbert of Kent by King Ceawlin of Wessex in 586. Population, in 1891, 25,777 ; in 1901, 4I,e04. WIMMER, virn'mer, Ludwig Fkakos AnAt- BERT (1839 — ). A Danish philologist, born at RingkjiJbing, in Jutland. He was educated at the University of Copenhagen, where he took his degree in 1868. In 1876 he became professor of Norse philology in the same institution. His contributions to the study of Scandinavian lan- guages, and particularly to the study of runic writing, place him among the foremost scholars in Norse philology. His writings include Old nordisk Formlaere (1870), The Origin and De- velopment of Runic ^Vriting in the North (1874), The Baptismal Font in Aakirkehy Church ( 1887) , and his great collection of Danish runes, De historiske runcmindcsmaerker (1895). WIMPFFEN, vim'fen', Emmanuel YtXAX de, Baron (1811-84). A French general. He was born at Laon, Department of Aisne. His first military service was in Algeria. In the Crimean War he displayed great bravery. He became brigadier-general of the Imperial Guard in 1855, and a general of division four years later. Later he held the posts of commandant at Lyons, and of governor of the provinces of Algiers and of Oran. In t'le Franco-German War he was at the head of the Twelfth and Fifth army corps, took the chief command at Sedan after Mac- ilahon was wounded, and signed the capitu- lation September 2d. After the war he re- sided in Algiers. He published two papers relating to the disaster in which he had so prominent a part: Sedan (1871) and Ri^ponse au General Duerot (1871). He was engaged in a bitter controversy with Cassagnac's journal, Le Paya. and lost a libel suit against its editor. He also jHiblished ha situulion de la France ct les riformefs nicessaires (1873) and La nation armie (1876). WnrCH (.vs. n-ince. winch). A kind of hoisting machine in which an axle carrying a spool or drum is rotated by means of a crank handle so as to wind and unwind a rope or cable to the free end of which is attached the article to be hoisted. Generally it is smaller than a windlass (q.v.), and frequently it is operated by steam or electricity. WIN'CHELL, Alexander (1824-01), An American geologist. lie was born at Northea.st, Dutchess County, N. Y., and was graduated at Wesleyan University in 1847. After teaching natural science in several schools and acting aa principal of schools in .Alabama, he was elected professor of physics and civil engineering in the University of Michigan in 1853. Two years later he was transferred to the chair of geology, zo- ology, and botany. He was State Geologist and Naturalist of Michigan, 1859-02, and again, 1869-71. In 1873 he was chosen chancellor of Syracuse University, but resigned the following year and was nuule professor of geology, zoology, and botany. In 1875 he received a like appoint- ment in Vanderbilt University and filled both positions till 1878, dividing his time between the two institutions. In 1879 he was recalled to the University of Michigan as professor of geolog}' and paleontolog;(-. He was one of the founders of the Geological Society of America and aided in the establishment of the American Geologist. He was best known as an enter- taining lecturer and author of numerous books aiming to popularize science, esjjeeially geology. His advocacy of eolution met with the disapproval of the authorities of the "Methodist Church and led to his dismissal from Vanderbilt University. Among his works were: The First Biennial Report of the Geo- logical Surrey of Michigan (1861); Geological Map of Michigan (1865); The Grand Traverse Region (1866) ; Genealogy of the Family of ^yinchell in America (1869); Geological Chart (1870) ; Sketches of Creation (1870) : Geology of the Stars (1872); The Doctrine of Evolution (1874); Reconciliation of Science and Religion (1877); Preadamites (1880); Sparks from a Geologist's Uammer (1S81) : M'orld-Life, or Com- parative Gcoloqy (1883); Geological Excursions (1884) ; and Geological Studies "(1886). WINCHELL, Newton Horace (1839—). An American geologist, born in Northeast. Dutchess County, N. Y. He graduated at the University of Michigan in 1866, was superintendent of pub- lic schools at Adrian, Mich., from 1860 to 1809, and was Assistant State Geologist of Jlichigan in 1869-70. In 1870-72 he was an assistant on the Ohio Geological Survey; from 1872 until 1900 was State Geologist of Minnesota; and in 1887 was a member of the L^nited States Assay Commission. In 1903 he was president of the American Geological Society. He published a Catalogue of the Plants of the State of Michigan ~ Geologtj of Ohio and Minnesota : and. with Horace V. Winchcll, The Iron Ores of Minnesota (1891). He was also editor of the American Geologist. WINCHELSEA, win'chd-se. A small Eng- lish town, one of the Cinque Ports, seven miles from Hastings, in Sussex. It was formerly an important walled town. In the Roman and Sa.xon periods Old Winchelsea stood at the mouth of the Rother, two miles from the present town.. It was frequently inundated by the sea and was submerged in 1250 and iinally destroyed in 1287. New Winchelsea. built on a regular quadrangular ])lan, was founded by Edward I. This town was practically ruined i)y the gradual recession of the sea, amounting to a mile and a half since the sixteenth century. The salt marshes thus formed are now drained. WIN'CHENDON. . town, including several villages, in Worcester County. IMass.. 68 miles northwest of lioston. on the Boston and Maine and tlic Boston and Albany railroads (Alap: Massachusetts. C 2). It has a pu1)lic library with about 7000 volumes, a line high school building, the gift of Captain Ephraim IMurdock, and Monument Park. Winchcndon is cliielly an industrial town, the most important manufac-