Page:Collier's New Encyclopedia v. 09.djvu/436

THREAD 374 THREE RIVERS the manufacture of cotton thread was be- gun in Paisley, and its progress has been on the whole rapid. This has been espe- cially the case since 1860 through the constantly increasing use of sewing ma- chines for both domestic and factory pur- poses. The mills of Messrs. J. & P. Coats, Limited, are spread over 40 acres of ground, and give employment to fully 5,000 persons; and this firm has also es- tablished works at Pawtucket, R. I., and at Petrograd. Next in importance are the works of the Messrs. Clark. In the United States thread is made in several States. The Clarks have large thread mills in Newark and Harrison, N. J. Linen thread is made at Johnstone, near Paisley^ Belfast, Nottingham, and other places. Although a much less quantity of it is manufactured, it is per- haps used for a greater variety of pur- poses than cotton thread. Silk thread, the stronger kinds of which are called twist, is now used to a very large ex- tent for sewing dyed articles of dress. Cotton was first used in the manufac- ture of sewing thread at Pawtucket, R. I., by Samuel Salter in 1794. THREAD CELLS, the name given to certain, peculiar cells or cysts, found chiefly in the tissues of Coelenterate ani- mals. They contain fluid, and are pro- vided with an internal thread-like fila- ment. Under pressure the cell ruptures, the thread is everted, and the fluid es- capes. These cells form a poison appa- ratus for paralyzing prey. THREAD WORMS, the name for thread-like intestinal worms of the order Nenmtoda. The Oxyuris vermicularis oc- curs in great numbers in the rectum of children particularly. THREATENING, menacing, especial- ly with ulterior designs. By the common law of England to threaten bodily hurt is a civil injury against the person, and pecuniary damages can be recovered for interruption of a man's business through fear of such threats. Any person ac- cusing or threatening to accuse any other person of infamous or other crimes, with the view to extort gain, is guilty of felony. Similar provisions are made against sending or delivering any letter threatening any house, ship, etc., or to wound or maim cattle; sending or delivering any threatening letter de- manding any property or valuable. Any person who maliciously sends or delivers, knowing the contents, any letter threat- ening to kill or murder any person, or to bum or destroy any coal breaker, house, barn, or other building, or any rick or stack of grain or other agricultural prod- uce, in most States is considered guilty of a misdemeanor, and on conviction is liable to fine and imprisonment. The English statutes on this subject have been adopted in the United States gen- erally. THREE-HORN CHAMELEON, the Chamoeleon oweni from Fernando Po. The male has a long horn over each eye, and another at the end of the muzzle, whence the popular name. THREE HOURS' AGONY, or THREE HOURS' SERVICE, a devotion practised on Good Friday, from noon till three o'clock, in commemoration of the Pas- sion. It was introduced by Father Mes- sia, S. J., of Lima, about 1730, and reached Rome in 1738. It was intro- duced into the English Church about 1865, and was rendered legal by the Act of Uniformity Amendment Act (1872), which permits additional services, con- sisting of any prayers from the Liturgy or Bible, with address or sermon, and hymns. The service consists, in all cases, of hymns, collects, or litanies, and addresses, generally on "the seven words from the cross," though this last feature is sometimes varied by meditations on other details of the Passion. The editor of the "Dictionary of Religion" notes that the name of the devotion may pos- sibly occasion a mistake as to the length of our Lord's sufferings. (Mark xv: 25, 34.) THREE KINGS, the name given in the Roman Church to the Magi, who camo from the East to adore the Infant Jesus (Matt, ii: 1-12). They are probably call- ed kings from Psalm Ixxii: 10, which verse is used as an antiphon in the office for Epiphany. According to tradition, their names were Caspar, Melchior, and Balthazar, and on their return to the East they received baptism. The Em- press Helena is said to have brought their bones to Constantinople, whence they were removed to Milan, and after- ward to Cologne. The Chapel of the Three Kings, built by the Emperor Max- imilian (1459-1519), in Cologne Cathe- dral, is supposed to contain their relics. THREE RIVERS, a city of Michigan, in St. Joseph co. It is on the Michigan Central and the New York Central rail- roads, and is at the junction of the St. Joseph, Portage, and Rocky rivers. Its industries include the manufacture of cars, railroad supplies, marine engines, leather, knit goods, paper, brass goods, and machine-shop products. It has a pub- lic library. Pop. (1910) 5,072; (1920) 5,209. THREE RIVERS, a city and port of entry in St. Maurice co., Quebec, Canada;