Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 20.djvu/677

* WINTER. 579 WINTEE, John Stuamcje. An English nov- elist. See Stannahu, He.nkietta Eliza Vauciian. WINTER,, vin'ter, I'eter von ( 1754- 182.'')) . A Geiiimii dramatic composer, born at Mann- heim. He atudied with AhbC Vogler, was ap- pointed musical director at llie Court theatre of Mannheim in 1770, and two years later went with the Court to Munich. He became Court ka- pellmeister in 1788 and held the position until ills death. He wrote a nuniber of operas, ora- torios, sacred cantatas, masses, several secu- lar cantatas, and (piantities of church nnisic. His most celebrated ojicra, Dnfi tinterbrochene Opfer- fcst, was produced at Vienna in 1790, and givea in Italy as II sacrifizio interrotto. WIN'TER, William ( 1836 — ). An American poet and critic, born in Gloucester, !Mass. He graduated from the Harvard Law School in IS.")?, and for some time practiced law in the office of Rufus Choate. In 1859 he removed to New York City, where he became literary critic of the Saturdaij Press, then (18fil-05> of the New York Albion, and finally (1805) dramatic critic of the New York Tribune. He became widely known both for his criticism and for liis sketches of English scenery and historic locali- ties. He was also favorably known for his poetry, his biographies of actors, and his me- morial and other addresses. In 1891 he became president of tlie Staten Island (N. Y.) Acad- emy. His works include: Poems (1855); The Queen's Domain, and Other Poems (1858) : Mi/ Witness (1871), poems; Thistle-Down (1878)', poems; Henri/ Irrinii (188.5) ; The Htafle Life of Mar;/ Anderson (1886) ; Hhakespeare's EnriJand (1886); Wanderers (1888), poems; Gray Days and (Sold (1891) ; Old Shrines and In/ ('l892) ; Shadows of the Stage (1892, 1893, aiid 1895); The Life and Art of Edwin Booth (1893) ; The Life and Art of Joseph Jefferson ( 1894) ; Broicn Heath and Blue Bells (1895). He also edited the works of Cieorge Arnold (1871). .Tohn Brougham (1881), Fitz.James O'Brien (1881), and The Shakespearean and Miscellaneous' Plays of Edwin Booth (1899). WINTERBERRY. A popular name for two species of Ilex, of the natural order Ilicincc. The common winterberry {Ilex vertieillata), or black alder, grows from 6 to 12 feet high, on moist, preferably rich ground, bearing in November great quantities of brilliant crimson or scarlet- crimson berries, which are often gathered and used as vase ornaments or wreaths. If carefully dried they retain much of their brightness for several months. The smooth winterlierry {Ilex Icerigata) grows in wet grounds from !Maine to the mountains of Virginia. See Inkberry; Holly. WINTERGREEN (so called because the plant remains green throughout the winter). The popular name of plants of the genera Pyrola and Chimaphila, of the natural order Pyrolaceae, which, according to some botanists, is a suborder of Ericaceae, distinguished chiefly by difference of habit. Only aliout 30 species of Pyrola are known. They are native herbs or half-shrubby plants in woods throughout the Northern Hemi- sphere. Several species of Pyrola, natives of America, are perennial herbs with flowers of some beauty. Two species of Chimaphila. half- shrubby plants, with beautiful evergreen leaves, WINTER PALACE. natives of North America, Chimaphila umhellata, known also as Prince's pine and pi|)siscwa, and Chimafihila, mneulata. spotted wiiitergrccn, have been used to some extent medicinally. (Jaultheria w1nteiigbet:m (Gaulthi-riu /jrocumbens), procumbens, a perennial half-shru1)by plant with bright red berries and spicy aromatic evergreen leaves, is known as wintergreen in parts of the United States. See Gadltheria. WINTERGREEN,. Oil of. An essential oil jaelded by the flowers of the Gaultheria pro- cumbens. ahumlant in New .lersey. and consisting chiefly of methyl salicylate, CHjCHjOj, mi-xed with a small quantity of a hydrocarbon, termed gaultherilcne, which is isomeric with oil of tur- lientine, and which, being more volatile than the salicylate of methyl, is easily separated from it. The salicylate of methyl is much the more abun- dant constituent of the oil. (See Salicylic Acid.) Tliis oil is not only yielded by the dis- tillation of other plants, but may be artificially formed by distilling a mixture of salicylic acid, wood alcohol, and strong sulphuric acid. In whatever mode it is obtained, it presents the ap- pearance of a colorless or yellow oil. of a pow- erful, agreeable, and persistent odor; and hence it is largely used in perfumery. Both the natural and the artificial oil are used in medicine for the same purposes as salicylic acid. The artificial oil, however, is likely to contain harmful im- purities. WINTERHALTER. vin'terhalter. Franz Xa'ER (1805-73). A German jiortrait painter, born near Sankt Blasien, in the Black Forest. He was a pupil of Stieler in Munich, and first at- tracted attention by a. portrait of Grand Duke Leopold of Baden and his wife. His best known portraits are those of King Louis Philippe of France and of his Queen, of the royal family of England, the Empress Eugenie among her Court ladies. William I. of Prussia and his Queen, Emperor ^Maximilian of Mexico, and others. His works are elegant and idealized representations, but lack character and truth to nature. WINTER KING. The. The popular title of Frederick V., Elector Palatine, who was King of Bohemi.a for a little more than a vear, 1619- 1020. WINTER PALACE. A great building on the Neva in Saint Petersburg, now used only for ceremonial purposes. It was the residence of