Page:Collier's New Encyclopedia v. 09.djvu/444

THURMAN 382 THURSTON took part in framing the bill providing for the Electoral Commission; and was a member of the commission and a warm defender of its constitutional authority. He served also on the International Monetary Commission in Paris in 1881; was an unsuccessful candidate for the nomination for the vice-presidency in 1876, 1880, and 1884; and in 1888 when again presented for that office was nom- inated by acclamation, but not elected. He died in Columbus, 0., Dec. 12, 1895. THURN AND TAXIS, PRINCES OF, formerly a princely house with high rank, hereditary dignities, and vast possessions in Austria, Bavaria, Wiirttemberg, Prus- sia, and Belgium, the heads of the two main lines being resident at Ratisbon and at Laucin in Bohemia. Descended from the Delia Torre of Milan (whence the first part of their name), with a castle of Tasso or De Tassis (whence the second), members of this house have been distinguished in connection with posts. One established posts in Tyrol in 1460; another, ennobled in 1512, established the first post between Vienna and Brussels in 1576. His descendant became in 1595 grand-master of the posts of the Holy Roman empire, and secured the right of carrying on the posts of the empire which extended from Hamburg to Rome, and from Paris to Vienna, for himself and his heirs as a hereditary privilege. In 1681 the principality of Thurn and Taxis in the Netherlands was conferred on the head of the house; and in 1698 the princely rank and title were made hereditary, and passed to all members of the house. The postal privileges were gradually limited by the governments of the various countries; but it was not till 1867 that Prussia secured by treaty with the family the abolition of the monopoly. THURSDAY, the fifth day of the week. The word was originally Thor's day, i. e., the day of Thor, the god of thunder. The Romans similarly called the day dies Jovis-=tiQ day of Jove or Jupiter, the god corresponding to the Scandinavian Thor. THURSDAY ISLAND, a small island of Queensland, Australia, in Normanby Sound, Torres Straits. It is a govern- ment station, and the harbor — Port Ken- nedy — is one of the finest in this quarter. It is in the direct track of all vessels reaching! Australia by Torres Straits; is the centi r of a large and important pearl and trepang fishery; and is a depot of trade with New Guinea. THURSTON, E. TEMPLE, an Eng- lish novelist; born in 1879. He published two books of poems in 1895, and wrote "The Apple of Eden" in 1897, ultimately published in re-written form in 1905. He had a first four-act play, "Red and White Earth," produced in 1902, and drama- tized "John Chilcote, M. P.," by his first wife, K. C. Thurston, in 1905, His works include: "Traffic"; "The Evolution of Katherine"; "The Realist"; "Sally Bish- op"; "Mirage"; "The City of Beautiful Nonsense"; "The Greatest Wish in the World"; "The Patchwork Papers"; "Tares"; "Driven"; "The Cost." THURSTON, KATHERINE CECIL, a British novelist; born in Cork, Ireland, in 1864. In 1901 she was married to E. Temple Thurston, an English novelist, from whom she is separated. Her first book was "The Circle," published in 1903, but her name was established mainly by her second novel, "John Chilcote, M. P.," which achieved great popularity, and was republished in the United States under the name of "The Masquerader." Her other works include: "The Gambler"; "Mystics"; "The Fly on the Wheel"; and "Max." THURSTON, JOHN MELLEN, an American lawyer; born in Montpelier, Vt., Aug. 21, 1847; was admitted to the bar in 1869; was a delegate to the Na- tional Republican Conventions in 1884, 1888, 1892, and 1896; was United States senator from Nebraska in 1895-1901, and in 1897 rose to special prominence be- cause of his speeches in the Senate advo- cating prompt intervention on behalf of Cuba. He was also a United States com- missioner at the St. Louis Exposition in 1901. He died in 1916. THURSTON, ROBERT HENRY, an American educator; born in Providence, R. I., Oct. 25, 1839; was graduated at Brown University in 1859 ; worked in his father's shops in 1859-1861; was an as- sistant engineer in the navy in 1861- 1865; assistant professor of natural philosophy at the United States Naval Academy in 1865-1871; professor of me- chanical engineering at Stevens Institute of Technology in 1875-1885; and in 1885 was made director of Sibley College at Corn-^11 University. He was also presi- dent of the American Society of Mechani- cal Engineers; vice-pi-esident of the American Institute of Mining Engineers, and of the American Association for the Advancement of Science; United States commissioner to the Vienna Exposition in 1873; a member of numerous United States and State commissions; and the in- ventor of several testing machines, en- gine governors and other devices. His publications include "Friction and Lubri- cation," "Materials of Engineering," "History of the Steam Engine," "Manual