first to eat food from the point of a sword. The most important of all classical authorities on Hibernia is Ptolemy, who describes the country, and gives the names of the principal rivers, promontories, seaports, and inland towns. The island was never conquered by the Romans. See IRE

LAND.

HIBERNIANS, ANCIENT Order of. A prominent Catholic Irish organization. The society was instituted originally for the protection of the Catholic priesthood and religion in Ireland, but it has now as its main object 'the advancement of the principles of Irish nationality.' According to some authorities the order was first instituted in 1642, following the great uprising in the north; according to others, in 1651, when Cromwell had proclaimed nearly the whole native population outlawed, and had put a price upon the head of every priest and made it death to attend a Catholic service. The founder was Rory Og O'Moo, and the society was at first known as The Defenders. On the establishment of Catholic emancipation, in 1829, the society was reorganized under its present name as a beneficial and nationalist organization. It was soon afterwards extended to England and Scotland and was introduced into the United States in 1836. Its membership is restricted to persons of Irish birth or descent and of Catholic faith. Military drill is a prominent feature in some of the branches. The order is an active supporter of the present Gaelic movement (see GAELIC LEAGUE), having endowed a Celtic chair at the Catholic University of America, and contributed generously toward the support of Gaelic organizers in Ireland. The latest report shows that, including the ladies' auxiliary, the American branch had a membership of 150,000, and disbursed annually nearly $1,000,000 in benefits. This branch is closely affiliated with the parent body in Ireland, as well as with those in England, Scotland, Australia, and other parts of the world.

and has proved hardy in Great Britain and parts of the United States. Some are favorite hothouse plants. The characteristic mucilaginous and fibrous properties of the Malvacea are very strongly developed in this genus. Hibiscus abelmoschus so abounds in mucilage that it is much used in the northwest of India for clarifying sugar. The unripe fruit of Hibiscus esculentus, an annual plant with a soft herbaceous steni three to five feet high, crenate leaves, axillary sulphur-colored flowers, and pyramidal, somewhat pod-like capsules, is in general use both in the East and West Indies for thickening soups, and otherwise as an article of food. It is called okra, gumbo, gombo, gobbo, and ochro in the West Indies and Southern United States; bandikai, ram-turai, and denroos in different parts of India; and bammia in the west of Africa. The bark of Hibiscus tiliaceus, a tree twenty feet high with a very thick bole, abounds

HIBISCUS SYRIACUS.

in mucilage and is chewed by natives of the South Sea Islands when food is scarce. This tree, the bola of Bengal, and the moho, majagua, or HIBER/NICISM. A term used to denote an mohaunt of the West Indies, is one of the most Irish bull, i.e. a sentence expressing ideas that a abundant trees of the South Sea Islands; and the moment's thought would show to be incompatible wood, which is light, tough, and durable, is much and absurd. A famous bull was made, it is said, used for many purposes. The very porous bark is by Sir Richard Steele when inviting a certain made into cordage and matting in various tropilord to visit him: "If, sir, you ever come within cal countries. Many other species yield fibres, a mile of my house, I trust you will stop." Cur- some of them coarse, others fine and beautiful, ran also use to relate a fine specimen: He which are used in different countries; but the started one day to attend a levee at the castle most important in this respect is Hibiscus canin Dublin. There was a long line of carriages, nabinus, the Ambaree hemp, and Deccan hemp of and he was suddenly startled by the pole of the Western India, called palungoo at Madras, and carriage behind crashing into the back of his mesta pat in Bengal; a plant very generally own carriage. He hastily called to his coach- cultivated in all parts of India, although noman to stop, saying, "he pole of the carriage where to a great extent. It is an annual herb in the rear is driven into ours." "And, sure, with a straight, unbranched stem, three to seven it's all right again, thin, your honor," cried feet high. The fibre is not so strong as hemp, Pat. "for I've just drove me pole into the and is useful only for ropes and coarse fabrics. carriage in front." Richard and Maria Edge. It has been suggested that many species of Hibisworth wrote a learned treatise entitle. An Essay cus might be found valuable for the manufacture on Irish Bulls (1802); and Maria Edgeworth's of paper. Hibiscus sabdariffa, Jamaica sorrel or Castle Rackrent (1800) is full of the most de- roselle, is very generally cultivated in warm lightful blunders in speech. countries, on account of its calyx, which, as the fruit ripens, becomes fleshy, and acquires a very pleasant acidity. It is much used for making tarts and jelly, and a decoction of it, sweetened and fermented. affords a refreshing beverage. Hibiscus abelmoschus, sometimes called muskmallow, another plant common in widely scattered tropical countries, is cultivated for its seeds, called ambrette, or graines d'ambrette,

HIBISCUS (Lat., from Gk. Blokos, hibiskos, mallow). A genus of plants of the natural order Malvaccæ, the numerous species of which are shrubs or trees, but mostly large herbaceous annuals and perennials, natives of warm climates. The flowers of many are very beautiful. Hibiscus syriacus, a native of Syria and Carniola. has long been in cultivation as an ornamental shrub

which have a fragrance intermediate between musk and amber, and which are much used by perfumers. In Egypt and Arabia, these seeds are mixed with coffee, and stimulant and stomachic qualities are ascribed to them. The petals of Hisbicus rosa-sinensis are astringent, and are used by the Chinese to blacken their eyebrows and their shoes. A number of species of Hibiscus are cultivated as ornamental plants in the United States. There are also several indigenous species.

science, short stories (1900); The Prophet of Berkeley Square (1901); and Felix (1902). He has also collaborated in successful plays, as The Medicine Man and Becky Sharp.

HICKES, GEORGE (1642-1715). An English non-juring clergyman, philologist, and author. He was born at Newsham, Yorkshire; studied at Northallerton Grammar School, then proceeded as sizar to Oxford, where he graduated B.A. In 1664 he received a fellowship of Lincoln College, and the following year received his HICCOUGH, hik'kup, or HICCUP. Sudden M.A. degree. He took holy orders in 1666, was short, convulsive inspirations, attended with a a tutor for several years, visited France in 1673, peculiar sound produced in the larynx by the was appointed rector of Saint Elbe, Oxford, in inrush of air. The movements concerned in the 1675, and in 1676 became chaplain to the Duke production of hiccough are a spasmodic con- of Lauderdale, whom he accompanied on his traction of the diaphragm, and a certain degree journey as High Commissioner to Scotland. Sevof constriction in the glottis, which occasions the eral rapid promotions culminated in a chaplainpeculiar sound, and limits the amount of air cy to James II. and the Deanship of Worcester inspired. These convulsive inspirations common- (1683). At Worcester his study of the Gerly succeed each other at intervals of a few manic languages resulted in the publication of the seconds. The paroxysm may last only a few Anglo-Saxon and Maso-Gothic Grammar (1689). minutes; or may extend to hours or days, in At the time of the Revolution he refused to take which case it may be dangerous to life, from the the oath of allegiance to William and Mary, and exhaustion which it causes. Over-distention of was deprived of his benefices. In 1693 he visited the stomach, the ingestion of cold water, exces- the exiled King at Saint Germains, with a missive acidity, etc., will provoke it. Certain dis- sion from the non-juring clergy for coördinate eases are frequently attended by hiccough. It action in regard to the continuance of their occurs occasionally after severe hemorrhage, in de- episcopal rights, and in 1694 he was consecrated bilitating diseases, pneumonia, peritonitis, appen- by their leaders as Suffragan Bishop of Thetford. dicitis, etc., in which cases it is a grave symptom. His subsequent publications in controversial and When the attack is slight it may often be practical divinity were numerous. His greatest stopped by making a very full inspiration, and work is Linguarum Veterum Septentrionalium then holding the breath as long as possible, the Thesaurum Grammatico-Criticum et Archæologidiaphragm being thus held in a state of voluntary cum (3 vols., 1703-05). Among his other writcontraction. A drink of water gives relief in ings are: Controversial Letters (1710); Sermons ordinary cases. In more obstinate cases, aro- (1711); and a volume of Posthumous Discourses, matic spirit of ammonia, camphor, musk, etc., published in 1726. may be resorted to. When hiccough continues for an hour or more and the exhaustion is great, an anæsthetic may be necessary.

HICH BORN, PHILIP (1839–). An American naval officer. He was born in Charlestown, Mass., studied in the Boston High School, was a shipwright apprentice in the Boston Navy-Yard, and, having gone to California in 1860, became master shipwright of the Mare Island NavyYard (1862). He entered the Navy in 1869, with rank of lieutenant, and served as assistant naval constructor until 1875, when he was commissioned full constructor. Four years afterwards Hichborn was sent to Europe to report on foreign dock-yards, and his book on this subject is a standard text-book. Having served on the Board of Inspection and Surgery, in 1881 he was appointed to the Naval Advisory Board. In that capacity and as chief constructor (appointed 1893 and 1897) he was prominently connected with the construction of the new navy. He was retired 1901, with the grade of rear-admiral.

HICH ENS, ROBERT SMYTHE (1864-). An English novelist, born at Speldhurst, in Kent. He was educated at Clifton College, the Royal College of Music, and the London School of Journalism, and became a member of the staff of the London World. He began early to write musical lyrics and stories. His Green Carnation (1894), published anonymously and attributed to Oscar Wilde, created a sensation. It is a satire on the decadents. Among succeeding novels are: An Imaginative Man (1895); Flames (1897); The Slave (1899); Tongues of Con

HICK'EY, EMILY HENRIETTA (1845-). An English poet, born at Macmine Castle, Wexford, Ireland. With F. J. Furnivall she founded the Browning Society (1881), and she became known as a lecturer. In 1902 she edited Havelok the Dane, a Middle-English romance. Among her volumes of poems are: A Sculptor and Other Poems (1881); Verse Tales (1889); Michael Villiers, Idealist, and Other Poems (1891); Poems (1895); Our Lady of May and Other Poems (1902).

HICK'OK, LAURENS PERSEUS (1798-1888). An American writer on philosophy. He was born in Bethel, Conn.; was pastor at Newtown, Kent, and Litchfield, Conn. (1822-36); professor of theology in Western Reserve College, Ohio (1836-44); professor in Auburn Theological Seminary (1844-52); professor of mental and moral science in Union College, and vice-president (1852-66) and president (1866-68). After his resignation of the last-named office, Dr. Hickok resided at Amherst, Mass. Among his published works are: Moral Science (1853); Mental Science (1854); Rational Cosmology (1858); Rational Psychology (1861); Humanity Immortal (1872); Creator and Creation (1872); Logic of Reason (1874). He died May 6, 1888.

HICK'ORY. A town in Catawba County, N. C., 50 miles northwest of Charlotte; on the Southern Railway (Map: North Carolina. A 2). It is the seat of Lenoir College (Lutheran), opened in 1891. and of the Claremont Female College, opened in 1880, and has Saint Paul's Lutheran Seminary and other educational insti