Page:Collier's New Encyclopedia v. 06.djvu/173

MARSALA 13B MABSHALL MARSALA (-saHa), a fortified sea- port city of Sicily, on its W. coast; in- closed by walls, and has a cathedral, sev- eral convents and abbeys, a gymnasium, cavalry barracks, and a curious vibrating bell tower, a famous grotto and well. It is the ancient Libybaeum, which was long the capital of the Carthaginian posses- sions in Sicily. Pop. about 70,000. MARSEILLAISE (mar-se-yaz'), a song written by Rouget de Lisle, an officer of artillery in the garrison of Strasbourg in 1792. It received its title from having been sung by a party of the Marseillaise Club as they entered Paris on the invita- tion of Madame Roland; the song, though less sanguinary in sentiment than most of the songs of the Revolution, was em- ployed as accompaniment to many of the horrible deeds of that and of later peri- ods, and by association became dangerous enough to be included among the songs prohibited to be sung in France under the Bourbons and the Bonapartes. It has be- come the national air of France, and during the World War was sung and played universally in the Allied countries, and in the United States. MARSEILLES (mar-salz'), French MARSEILLE (mar-say'), a city, prin- cipal commercial seaport of France, on the Mediterranean, and capital of the de- partment of Bouches-du-Rhone; on the Gulf of Lyons. It lies in the form of an , amphitheater round a natural harbor of moderate size now known as the Old Har- bor. From the inner end of the harbor aruns inland one of the finest of the city thoroughfares, called the Cannebiere next the harbor, while at right angles to this another great thorougMare or broad av- enue runs through the city. Though a handsome city as a whole, Marseilles is not rich in public edifices. The most de- serving of notice are the large new ca- thedral in the Byzantine style; the Church of Notre Dame de la Garde, on a hill of the same name; the Church of St. Victor; the Hotel de Ville ; the Prefecture; the Palais des Arts de Longchamp, with picture gallery and natural history muse- um; the exchange; public library; and the triumphal arch through which the town is entered on the side of Aix. The harbor is strongly defended by various works. What is called the New Harbor consists of a series of extensive docks along the shore to the W., with a protect- ing breakwater in front. In recent times Marseilles has made great progress in its extent, street im- {>rovements, population, and commerce, argely owing to the conquest of Algeria, and the opening of the Suez Canal. The most important manufactures are soap. soda, and other chemical products; also olive and other oils, sugar, machinery, iron and brass work, candles, glass, earthenware, etc,_ The trade is chiefly in soap, olive oil, wine, brandy, com, flour, dried fruits, tobacco, wool, skinsj iron, cotton, etc. Marseilles was founded by a colony of Greeks from Asia Minor about 600 years before Christ, the orig- inal name being Massalia. It attained great prosperity as a Greek colonial cen- ter, and the Greek language is said to have been spoken here till several cen- turies after Christ. It was taken by Cassar in 49 B. c. On the decline of the Roman Empire it became a prey to the Goths, Burgundians, and Franks. In 735 it fell into the hands of the Saracens, and in the 10th century it came under the dominion of the counts of Provence, and for some centuries after followed the fortunes of that house. During the World War of 1914-1918 Marseilles be- came a great military and naval port. Pop. about 600,000. MARSEILLES-RHONE CANAL. This important waterway was authorized in 1903 and completed in 1916. The re- markable feature of the canal is a tun- nel made necessary by the Nerthe range. The canal opens waterways in France and central Europe starting from Mar- seilles. It is without locks and is main- tained at sea-level throughout its course of 50 miles. With its tributaries it forms a series of waterways navigable for the heaviest barges for 350 miles. MARSHAL, a civil officer appointed by the President in each judicial district, and answering to the sheriff of a county. His duty is to execute all precepts directed to him, issued under the authority of the United States. Sometimes police officers in American cities are known as mar- shals. In some European countries the title of marshal confers the highest mili- tary distinction, that of Marshal of France being especially prized. Earl Marshal of England, the eighth officer of state; the title is hereditary, being held by the Duke of Norfolk. MARSHALL, a county-seat of Saline CO., Mo., 85 miles E. of Kansas City, on Chicago and Alton and Missouri Pacific railroads. Its institutions include Mis- souri Valley College, Academy Notre Dame de Sion, opera house and a state institution for feeble-minded. Coal mines in the vicinity. Has lumber and brick mills. Pop. (1910) 4,869; (1920) 5,200. MARSHALL, a city and county-seat of Harrison co., Tex.; on the Marshall and East Texas and the Texas and Paci- fic railroads; 40 miles W. of Shreveport.