rule with increasing years and during the troubled days of the World War carried on the affairs of the state as efficiently as possible under the circumstances. In 1920 he visited France and other European countries. See Persia.
AHRIMAN, a Persian deity, the demon or principle of evil, the principle of good being Oromasdes, or Ormuzd.
AI, a species of sloth, the bradypus tridactylus of Linnæus. As its name implies it has three toes, or rather nails, on each foot, in this respect differing from the unau (bradypus didactylus of Linnæus), which has but two. It is of the order edentata, or toothless mammals. It is the only known species of its class which has as many as nine cervical vertebræ, seven being the normal number. It is about the size of a cat. The tail is very short. The limbs also are short, but exceedingly muscular. It clings with extraordinary tenacity to the branches of trees. It inhabits America, from Brazil to Mexico.
AID-DE-CAMP, AIDE-DE-CAMP, or sometimes simply AID or AIDE, an officer who receives the orders of a general and communicates them.
AÏDÉ, HAMILTON (ä-ē-dā´), an English novelist and poet; born in Paris, France, in 1830. He was educated at Bonn, and became an officer in the British army. His poems include "Eleanore and Other Poems" (1856); "The Romance of the Scarlet Leaf, and Other Chronicles and Reminiscences" (1856), a masterly description of Russian family life; "The Childhood of Bragoff, the Grandson" (1858). He died in 1906.
AIKEN, town and county-seat of Aiken co., S. C, on the Southern railway; 17 miles E. of Augusta, Ga. It is a noted winter health resort, especially for consumptives; contains Aiken Institute, the Schofield Normal School, and the Immanuel Training and High School; and has banks, newspapers, manufactories, and large cotton trade. Pop. (1910) 3,911; (1920) 4,103.
AILANTHUS, or AILANTUS, a genus of plants belonging to the order of simarubaceæ. The glandulosa, called tree of heaven or Chinese sumach, a native of Mongolia and Japan, has very large, unequally pinnate leaves and unpleasant-smelling flowers. In Japan it affords nourishment to a fine silkworm. The silk produced is coarser, but more durable than mulberry silk. It was first brought to the United States in 1784. During the first half-dozen years it outstrips almost any other deciduous tree in vigor of growth, and leading stems grow 12 to 15 feet in a single season. In four or five years, therefore, it forms a bulky head, but after that period it advances more slowly. In the United States it is planted purely for ornament; but in Europe its wood has been applied to cabinet work.
AINSWORTH, FREDERICK CRAYTON, an American soldier, born in Woodstock, Vt., in 1852. He studied medicine at the Medical College of New York and was appointed assistant surgeon in the army in 1874. He was promoted to various grades until in 1892 he became a colonel and Chief of the Record and Pension Office. He was appointed Brigadier-General in 1899 and Major-General and Military Secretary in 1904, and Major-General and Adjutant-General of the United States in 1907. He was retired at his own request in 1912. He was an efficient administrator of the Adjutant-General's office, and introduced many improved methods of carrying on the business of the War Department.
AINSWORTH, WILLIAM HARRISON, an English novelist; born in Manchester, Feb. 4, 1905. Educated in Manchester, he went to London, edited "Bentley's Magazine" in 1840, "Ainsworth's Magazine" (1842-1853), and the "New Monthly Magazine." He wrote 250 novels and enjoyed enormous popularity. His books are still read for their vivacious narratives and powerful descriptions. The most widely known among them is probably "Jack Sheppard" (1839). He died in Ryegate, Jan. 3, 1882.
AINTAB, a town in Syria in the vilayet of Aleppo. Prior to the treaty of peace with Turkey in 1920, the town belonged to Turkey. It has military importance and is provided with strong fortifications. Before the war it had an important trade in leather and cotton. Pop. about 45,000, which is made up for the most part of Armenian and Greek Christians. In April and May, 1920, the city was attacked by Turkish forces and many of its inhabitants were killed and most of the others were driven from the city. The French force which was defending the town withdrew, leaving it defenseless. There were present at the time several American missionaries who, however, escaped from the city without injury.
AIR, the gaseous substance which fills the atmosphere surrounding our planet. It is elastic, and is destitute of taste, color, and smell. It contains by weight, oxygen, 23.10 parts, and of nitrogen, 76.90; and by volume, of oxygen, 20.90,
