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THOMAS 358 THOMAS native city. For two years after leaving school he studied law, then became page boy in the 41st United States Congress. Next he spent six years in practical rail- roading in the freight department, after which he became a writer and illustrator on St. Louis, Kansas City and New York newspapers, becoming editor and pro- prietor of the Kansas City Mirror. He also became interested in politics and was a Democratic candidate for the state legislature. Gradually he took up the writing of plays, the first of which were for publication only. Later his dramatic works were produced and immediately attained a wide popularity. Among his productions are: "The Burglar"; "Col- orado"; "The Man of the World"; "New Blood"; "The Earl of Pawtucket"; "The Witching Hour"; "The Harvest Moon"; and "Kentuck." THOMAS CHARLES LOUIS AM- BROISE (to-ma'), a French musical com- poser; bom in Metz, Germany (then in France), Aug. 5, 1811. He entered the Parish Conservatory in 1828, where he carried off the first prize for piano play- ing in 1829, for harmony in 1830, follow- ing up these two successes by gaining the Grand Prix for musical composition in 1832. Before he had reached the age of 26 Thomas had produced a cantata, a requiem mass for orchestra, and numer- ous pieces for pianoforte, violin, and orchestra. His first success in opera was with "The Double Ladder" in 1837; fol- lowed by "Mina" (1843); "Betty" (1846); "Midsummer Night's Dream" (1850) ; "The Carnival of Venice" (1853); "The Romance of Elvire" (1860); "Mignon" (1866); "Hamlet" (1868); "Francesca of Rimini" (1882); with innumerable other operas, cantatas, part songs, and choral scenas. Thomas was appointed a mem- ber of the Institute in 1851, Professor of Composition in 1852, and succeeded Auber as director of the Conservatory in 1871. He received the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honor in 1880. He died Feb. 12, 1896. THOMAS, CHARLES SPAULDING, a United States Senator, born in Darien, Ga., 1849. Early in his boyhood he went out to Michigan, then to Denver, where he practiced law from 1871 to 1879. Afterward he removed to Leadville, Colo., where he took up his law practice, but returned to Denver in 1885. From 1884 to 1896 he was a member of the Democratic National Committee. In 1899 he was elected governor of Colorado for a term of two years. In 1900 he was temporary chairman of the Democratic National Convention, held in Kansas City. In 1913 he was elected to the United States Senate for the unexpired term (1913-15) of Charles J. Hughes. In 1915 he was re-elected, but was defeated for renomination in 1920. THOMAS, CALVIN, an American ed- ucator; bom near Lapeer, Mich., Oct. 28, 1854; was graduated at the University of Michigan in 1874; taught Latin and Greek in the high school of Grand Rapids, Mich., in 1874-1877; was instmc- tor in the University of Michigan in 1878-1881; assistant professor there in 1881-1886, and full Professor of Ger- manic Languages and Literatures in 1886-1896, when he became professor of German at Columbia University. His publications include "A Practical German Grammar"; "Goethe and the Conduct of Life"; "Poetry and Science"; "What is Republicanism?"; "Have We Still Need of Poetry?"; and several editions of standard German works. He assisted in compiling the Standard Dictionary. He died in 1919. THOMAS, EARL DBNISON, an American soldier, bom in McHenry, 111., 1847, and graduate of the United States Military Academy. During the Civil War he served in the Eighth Illinois Cavalry, though still a boy less than twenty. In 1869 he was commissioned a first lientenant in the Fifth United States Cavalry. During the Spanish-American War he was appointed inspector general of volunteers. In 1907 he had attained the rank of brigadier-general. In 1890 he was brevetted first lieutenant "for gal- lant services in action against Indians near Fort McPherson. During 1906-7 he was in charge of the Province of Pinar del Rio, in Cuba, and in 1910 he was in charge of operations on the border of Arizona and New Mexico during the Mexican troubles. In 1911 he was re- tired. THOMAS, EDITH MATILDA, an American poet; born in Chatham, O., Aug. 12, 1854. She contributed to many periodicals, and published in book form; "A New Year's Masque," etc. (1885); "The Round Year" (1886); "Lyrics and Sonnets" (1887); "Children of the Sea- sons" Series (1888); "Babes of the Year" (1888) ; "Babes of the Nations" (1889); "Heaven and Earth" (1889); "The In- verted Torch" (1890); "Fair Shadow Land" (1893); "In Sunshine Land" (1895); "In the Young World" (1895); "A Winter Swallow With Other Verse" (1896); "The Guest at the Gate" (1909); "The White Messenger" (1915), etc. THOMAS, GEORGE HENRY, an American military officer; born in South- ampton CO., Va., July 31, 1816; was grad-