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RECIPROCATING ENGINE 451 RECONNAISSANCE to pronouns of this class. As a noun, that which is reciprocal to another thing. Specifically, in mathematics, the quo- tient resulting from the division of unity by the quantity; thus the reciprocal 1 1 of a is — , of 2 is ^2, oi a --h is , etc. a a + 6 The product of a quantity, and its reciprocal, is always equal to 1. The reciprocal of a vulgar fraction is the denominator divided by the numerator; thus the reciprocal of Yz is 2, of % is %, etc. RECIPROCATING ENGINE, the common form of engine, in which the piston and piston-rod move backward and forward in a straight line, abso- lutely or relatively to the cylinder, as in oscillating-cylinder engines. The term is used in contradistinction to rotary engines. RECIPROCITY, a policy under which there exist two sets of tariff duties; one to be put in force under ordinary cir- cumstances; the other a much lower one to be established in case another coun- try reduces its tariff schedules to a cor- responding scale. In the case of the United States reciprocity has been greatly talked of as existing between that nation and Canada. In 1854 a reci- procity treaty was negotiated between the two countries which provided for mutual free trade between the United States and Canada. While it was popu- lar at first in stimulating trade the busi- ness depression in the IJnited States in 1857 greatly influenced that nation to re- peal the act in 1865. The Republican party a few years la- ter, in order to please the agricultural and exporting classes who were in gen- eral opposed to the high tariff, cham- pioned the principle of reciprocity. In 1875 a reciprocity treaty was negotiated and signed between Hawaii and the United States, but it was not until the McKinley Administration that such trea- ties were made with any important na- tions. During that administration reci- procity was established with France, Portugal, Germany, and Italy. Treaties were negotiated with other countries which the Senate refused to ratify. President McKinley in his last public ad- dress, the Buffalo Exposition speech, strongly advocated reciprocity. In 1903 a reciprocity treaty with Cuba was nego- tiated and ratified by the Senate. In 1911 President Taft negotiated a reciprocity treaty with Canada and in spite of the opposition of many of the Western members of his party he suc- ceeded in securing its passage by Con- gress, only to have it rejected by Can- ada. The Democrats, believing as they do in low tariff duties, have never es- poused reciprocity, holding that the re- ciprocal action of another country is immaterial. RECITATIVE, in music, a species of musical declamation, not necessarily in rhythmical form, but so arranged or de- signed as to assimilate musical sounds as nearly as possible to ordinary speech. It is used in operas, oratorios, etc., to relate a story, to express some action or passion, or to reveal a secret or design, and is of two kinds, unaccompanied and accompanied, the latter being the more common in modern music. Also, a piece of music intended to be sung in recita- tive. RECLUS, JEAN JACQUES ELISEE, a French geographer; born in Sainte- Foix la Grande, France, March 15, 1830. In consequence of his extreme democratic views he left France after the coup d'etat of 1851, and spent the next seven years in England, Ireland, North and Central America, and Colombia. He re- turned to Paris in 1858, and published "Journey to the Sierra Nevada of Sainte Marthe" (1861), and an introduction to the "Dictionary of the Communes of France" (1864). For being concerned in the Communistic outbreak of 1871 he was banished from France, but returned under an amnesty in 1879. While liv- ing in exile in Switzerland he began his great masterpiece, "New General Ge- ography" (14 vols. 1876-1889). Reclus has also written another great work, a physical geography entitled "The Earth" (Eng. trans. 1871 and 1887); "History of a Brook" (1866) ; besides "Terrestrial Phenomena" (1873) and "History of a Mountain" (1880). Died 1905. RECOGNIZANCE, or RECOGNI- SANCE, in law an obligation of record, which a man enters into before some court of record or magistrate duly au- thorized, with condition to do some pai"- ticular act; as, to keep the peace, to pay a debt, or the like. Also the verdict of a jury impaneled upon assize. RECONNAISSANCE, the act or pro- cess of reconnoitering; a preliminary survey or examination; specifically ap- plied to: (1) The examination of a ter- ritory, district, etc., or of an enemy's position, for the purpose of directing militai-y operations. (2) The examina- tion or survey of a region in reference to its general geological character. (3) A preliminary examination of a county or district in reference to its general nat- ural character, preparatory to a more