Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 13.djvu/656

UIBZA. 584 MISDEMEANOR. MIBZA, mCr'zi'i (Purs, mirzu. contracted from Amir /.iUhih, sou of the prince). A Persian title. As a prcli.x preceding the snrname of the individ- ual it is a common Persian title of honor; but when annexed to the surname it designates a priiite or a male of the blood royal. MIRZAPTJR, mOr'zapoor'. The capital of a district of Benares, in the United Provinces, British India, on the right bank of the Ganges, .'iO miles southwest of Benares, ami .')n!l miles northwest of Calcutta on the East Indian Railway. ( Map: India. D.3) . It is a well-built city ; the river front is lined with a series of elegant ghats, and there are several interesting temples and hand- some European residences. It is noted for its manufactures of carpets and rugs, and has numer- ous lac factories. Prior to the railway period it was the largest cotton and grain trading centre on the Ganges, and the converging market of North and Central India. Population, in 1891, 84.I.3U: in IHOI, 711.787. MIRZA SCHAFTY. See Bodenstedt. MISANTHROPE, me'za.'tr(ip'. Le. A com- edy by ibiliOre (1(J6G) dealing with refined so- ciety and based on a study of character ratUer tlian (in incidents. It depends for its comedy element chiefly on the constant discord in the elevated character of Alccste and the more com- monplace characters of the other jiersons of the play. The comedy is considered MolifTe's mas- terpiece, and shows his style at its highest dc- vcldiniicnt. MISCARRIAGE. In its broadest sense, a breach of legal duty. This is the signification in the fourth section of the English Statute of Frauds, and in similar statutory provisions in this country, which in order to make a person liable to answer for the debt, default, or miscar- riage of another jierson. require special promises in writing. The term bears quite a different meaning in criminal law. being substantially synonynious with abortion (q.v.). MISCEGENATION (from Lat. miscere, to mix + tinnis. race). .Mixing of races; usually restricted to amalgamation of Caucasian and African races in -Xmerlca. The expression came into common use in discussions of negro slavery in the United States toward and after the middle of the nineteenth century, when certain publicists advocated the gradual absorption of the blacks by intermarriage with whites. The expression is seldom employed in scientific discussion of racial problems, such collocations as 'mixing of races.' 'blood-blending,' etc.. taking Its place. The proc- ess .so denoted is of nuich Importance; Indeed, one of the primary factors of human develop- ment, as is shown by the fact that the most advanced peoples are those whose blood is most mixed. The elTect of blood-blending seems to vary with the degree of diversity between the uniting races, the benefit being greatest when the races are least diverse, and the effect less beneficial or even Injurious when the races are widely dis- tinct ; thus the blcnils of white and red (meztizo) and of red and black (zambo) are apparently better, measured by the vitality and fecimdity of the progeny, than that of white and black (mulatto). The process of racial assimilation Is going on in every part of the world, and with progressively increasing rapidity. Even in the United State.s, despite the most strenuous opposi- tion on both national and M'litimcntal grounds, the admixture of whites and blacks has gone so far that among the nine millions enumerated as colored in the census of 1900, the population of pure-blooded Africans is comparatively small, while the admixture of red and white races has ali'ected a proportion of our population which may be estimated at .SO per cent, to (iO per cent, of the element reckoned as Indian. The data are too meagre to Indicate the vital value of the meztizo type in the United States, though the experience of Mexico suggests that the value Is high. The more general aspects of racial blend- ing arc discussed in the article Mixed Races. MISCHIANZA, mis'ke-Un'tsa, The. An elab- oiatc fete or entertainment given at Philadeli)hia, .May 18, 1778, during the Revolutionary War, by otheers of the British Army, in honor of Sir William Howe, who having been superseded in the command of the British Army in .merica by Sir Henry Clinton, was about to sail for England. The entertainment, which was given at Walnut Grove, the country-seat of Thomas Wharton, lasted twelve hours, and comprised a regatta, a mock tournament between the 'Knights of the Blended Rose" and the 'Knights of the Burning Mountain.' a dance and a dinner. Captain (later .Major) Andre was prominent in planning and directing the entertainment, and wrote a detailed description, which may be found in Sargent, Life uf Major Andre (last ed.. New York, 1902). MISDEMEANOR (from mis- + demeanor, from il'imnii. from OF. demener, deminer. to manage, from Lat. dr. down + minare. to lead, drive). The name given by English common law to ever}' crime below the grade of felony (q.v.). By the common law, the offense of greatest enormity is lrc:ison. and the least is mis- demeanor. The original distinction between felony and ml.sdemeanor consisted in the conse- quences of a conviction. A party convicted of felony, if capital, forfeited both his real and jiersonal estate; if not capital, his personal estate only. A party convicted of misdemeanor forfeited none of his property. The distinction is not kept up between the two classes of crimes by any greater severity of punishment in felony, for many misdemeanors arc jiunlshed as severely its some felonies But it has been the practice of the legislature, when creating new offenses, to say whether they are to be classed with felony or misdemeanor; and when this Is done, the above Incidents attach to the conviction accord- ingly, in the absence of legislation to the con- trary. Misdemeanor, in the Ignited States, does not Include. In its legal application, offenses against police regulations, city by-laws, and the like, though In conunon language and in some statutes It may extend to any misbehavior. It Is evident that what is a statite felony in ono State may lio a misdemeanor In another, and it is therefore impossible to give a complete classification of such offenses. They may be crimes against pub- lic justice. ]>eace. health, or trade; against per- sonal or property rights of indlvhiuals ; or may be mere attempts and solicitations. In some States it Is provided that upon ac- knowledgment of satisfaction by the injured partv. In such cases as assault and battery- or malicious mischief, the criminal proceeding shall, with the consent of the magistrate, be dropped;