w

2032

WAGNER

W

W (diïb'liï), the twenty-third letter, is a consonant usually, but sometimes a semivowel. Being made at the lips, it is classed as a voiced or sonant labial, as in we, inward. W"s close relation to õõ, for it begins with this sound, makes it a semivowel, as in war, woe, woo. It is a consonant when beginning a word or syllable, a vowel when ending either. W, if not silent, is always followed by a vowel in the same syllable, as above. W, after a vowel in the same syllable and before r, is silent as a consonant, as in glow, wring. W first came into use in the 13th century. Before v was specialized as a consonantal sign, w was called "doubled v," and from this it takes its shape. Its name, however, comes from u doubled. Some uneducated Englishmen, especially in London, confuse v and w, saying weal for veal, vine for wine. Even well-educated Englishmen pronounce when as w'en.

Wabash (wa'bash), Ind., a city, the seat of Wabash County, on Wabash River, and on the Wabash and the Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago and St. Louis Railroad, 40 miles southwest of Fort Wayne. Settled in 1837, it was incorporated the same year, and had its charter as a city in 1865. Among its public institutions are the Memorial Hall, Masonic Temple, a Woman's Orphan Home, besides municipal and school buildings, churches, a library and a county hospital. Besides the railroad shops of the "Big Four" road, its industries include church and school furniture, cabinets, bridge and iron works, manufactures of hats, cash-registers, paper and paper boxes, shafting, harness, carts, sleds and wagons. Population 8,687.

Wabash, a river of Indiana. It rises in western Ohio, runs through Indiana, forming for 100 miles the boundary line between that state and Illinois, and flows into the Ohio. It is 600 miles long, and is navigable for 300 miles.

Wacht am Rhein, Die (wäkht ām rïne, de). A modern German folk-song which was adopted as a national song during the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-1. The poem is by Max Schneckenburger (1819-49); the music by Carl Wilhelm (1815-73). The music was composed in 1854 as a part-song for men's voices, and obtained for the composer an annual pension of $150 in 1871. Previous to his attempt the words had received musical treatment from F. Mendel,

Leopold Schröter and F. W. Sering, whose work never gained the hold upon the public accorded to Wilhelm's composition.

Wa'co, Tex., county-seat of McLenan County, is about 85 miles from Dallas. It is located in an agricultural region, the chief products of which are cotton and grain. It is quite important as a manufacturing city, and among its products are the saddlery and harness works, wagons and carriages, cotton-products, watches, foundry and machine-shop products, printing establishments etc. Waco has a number of medicinal wells, which attract tourists, the city's water-supply is excellent, and it enjoys all other modern improvements. Waco has excellent public schools, Baylor University (Baptist) ; Texas Christian University; St. Basil's College (R. C); and Paul Quinn College (African M. E.). It has the service of six railroads and a population of 26,425.

Wade, Benjamin Franklin, an American statesman, was born at Springfield, Mass., Oct. 27, 1800. He studied law in Ohio, and was three times elected state senator, becoming United States senator in 1851, 1857 and 1863. He was known as a strong antislavery man, being one of six senators who voted to repeal the fugitive-slave law (q. v.). He also opposed all the measures proposed as compromises between the north and the south, and was influential in getting the homestead bill through Congress. After the death of President Lincoln, Wade was acting vice-president of the United States. He died at Jefferson, O., March 2, 1878.

Wads'worth, James, a New York pioneer, was born at Durham, Conn., April 20, 1768. He with his brother in 1790 bought a large tract of land in what is now the town of Geneseo, N. Y., and became one of the great landowners of the state. He was very active in promoting the interests of religion and education in the new state, publishing pamphlets, paying for lectures on education, and giving a premium to any town that started a school-library. A library was founded by him at Geneseo, and in all his land-sales he insisted that 125 acres should be set apart for a church and 125 acres for a school. He died on June 8, 1844.

Wagner (v'dg'ner or wag'ner), Wilhelm Richard, a German musical composer, was born at Leipsic, May 22, 1813. He was educated at Dresden and Leipsic, and in 1836