Page:Collier's New Encyclopedia v. 09.djvu/145

This page needs to be proofread.
LEFT
111
RIGHT

STOWE 111 STRAFFORD riet Beecher Stowe — Story of Her Life" (1912) ; "Citizens Made and Remade" (1912) ; "Booker T. Washington" (1916) ; "The Inside Story of Austro-German Intrigue" (1919). STRABISMUS, squinting arising from the optic axes of the eyes in certain in- dividuals not being as in normal cases, POSITION OF THE EYES IN STRABISMUS parallel. Strabismus may affect one or both eyes, and may be upward, down- ward, inward, outward, or in the inter- mediate direction. STRABO, a noted geographer; born in Amasea, Pontus, about 63 B. C. On the mother's side he was descended from a Greek family closely connected with the kings of Pontus. Of his father we know nothing. The dates of his visits to most of the countries through which he traveled are very doubtful. The name Strabo, "squint-eyed," is originally Greek, and its origin is ob- vious, but whether any of his ancestors bore it is uncertain. His preceptors were Tyrannic of Amisus, Aristodemus of Nysa, and Xenarchus of Seleucia. He seems to have been possessed of ample means which he expended on travel, thua results of which, after a lifetime's toil, he has bequeathed to us in his "Geog- raphy," But he also devoted himself to philosophy, and is cited by Plutarch (Lucullus 28, Sulla 26) as Strabo, the philosopher. His work entitled "Histo- rica Hypomnemata" in 43 books is sup- posed to have contained a narrative of the events from the close of the "His- tory" of Polybius to the battle of Actium. The facts recorded in the "Geography" of Strabo are in great measure the re- sult of his own observation. The range of his travels is a wide one, embracing the territories from Armenia to Tyrrhe- nia W., and from the Euxine to Ethiopa S. In his work he is largely indebted to the geographers who preceded him — Eratosthenes, Artemidorus, Polybius, Posidonius, Aristotle, Theopompus, Thu- cydides, Aristobulus, and others. Of Greece he seems to have seen less than of almost any country. He appears. however, to have obtained in Rome much information regarding the Transalpine regions. Strangely, he disparages the discoveries of Herodotus, and under- values the works of Roman writers, quoting almost none save Fabius Pictor, Asinius Pollio, and Julius Csesar. The principal value of his works lies in his method. The number of histor- ical facts recorded by him is enormous. The date of his death is unknown, but it must be placed between A. D. 21 and 25. As a writer, Strabo is always clear, sim- ple, and unaffected. His "Geography" comprises 17 books; 2 introductory, 8 devoted to Europe, 6 to Asia, and 1 to Africa. The editio prineeps is the "Al- dine" (1516). In 1875 a MS. of the "Geography" was discovered in the ab- bey of Grotta Ferrata near Frascati, older than any of the 28 previously known MSS., and supplying many lucu- nae. The best translations are those in German by C. J. Grosskurd (3 vols. 8 vo. 1831-1834). A fair English version with copious notes and a complete in- dex was published in Bohn's "Classical Library" (1854, 3 vols. post. 8vo.). An excellent edition of the text is that of Aug. Meineke (1852-1853, 3 vols. 8vo., 2d ed. 1866). STRADIVARI, ANTONIO (STRADI- VARIUS), an Italian violin maker; born in Cremona, Italy, about 1649. He was a pupil of Nicolo Amati, in whose em- ployment he remained till 1700, when he began making on his own account. It was he who settled the typical pattern of the Cremona violin, and his instru- ments, for tone and finish, have never yet been excelled. He died in Cremona Dec. 17, 1737. STRAFFORD, THOMAS WENT- WORTH, EARL OF, an English states- man, the eldest son of Sir William Wentworth; born in London, April 13, 1593; educated at Cambridge. After leaving the university he received the honor of knighthood. He sat in Parlia- ment for Yorkshire for a number of years, and when Charles I. asserted that the Commons enjoyed no rights but by royal permission, he was strongly op- posed by Sir Thomas Wentworth. In this struggle his abilities were recog- nized and high terms offered him by the court, which he accepted, and in 1628 was successively created Baron Went- worth, privy-councillor, and President of the North. Archbishop Laud selected him to proceed to Ireland as lord deputy in 1632. Here he greatly improved the state of the country, both as regarded law, revenue, and trade; but to accom- plish his ends he did not scruple to use