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VILLIERS 222 VINCENNES agitate the question year after year till the repeal act was finally passed in 1846. He was elected chairman of the Com- mittee on Public Houses in 1853; op- posed vested rights in licenses; brought forward in Parliament the question of postal reform; and was president of the Poor Law Board in 1859-1866. While holding the last office he was instrumen- tal in the passage of the bill making unions chargeable for all the poor within their districts. He died in London, Eng- land, Jan. 16, 1898. VILLIERS, FREDERIC, an English war correspondent and artist, born in London, in 1852. He was educated in France and studied art at the British Museum, the South Kensington schools, and the Royal Academy. His work as a war artist and correspondent began in 1876 in Serbia, and since then he has acted in a similar capacity for various publications in practically every war of any importance. He has also at vari- ous times represented publications as an artist and correspondent at important political events, such as the coronations of Czar Alexander III., Nicholas II., etc. He has also traveled and lectured ex- tensively in many countries. Some of his paintings at various times have been exhibited at the Royal Academy and in other places, and he was the recipient of many war medals and other decorations. His publications include "Pictures of Many Wars" (1902) ; "Port Arthur" (1905) ; "Peaceful Personalities and Warriors Bold" (1907) ; etc. VILLON, FRANCOIS, true name probably Francois Mantcorbier, a French poet; born 5n Paris in 1431. He led a wild roving life, being imprisoned, pardoned, and finally banished from France. His poetry marks a new epoch in the introduction of a personal ele- ment. He vn-ote: "The Greater Testa- ment" (1456), and the "Smaller Testa- ment: Its Codicil" (1461), both in eight- line stanzas, with ballads and rondeaus interposed; a volume of "Ballades"; and a collection of poems in a jargon to-day unintelligible, "Jargon." He died about 1484. VILMAR, AUGUST FRIEDRICH CHRISTIAN, a German theological writer ; born in Solz in Lower Hesse. He was Professor of Lutheran Theology at Marburg, and a resolute opponent of ra- tionalism in the theology. He wrote: "The Theology of Facts versus the Theology of Rhetoric" (1856) ; "History of German Civilization in Most Recent Times" (1858-1867); "A Little Hand- book for the Friends of the German Folk-Song" (1867) ; "Exposition of the Augsburg Confession" (1870) ; "Moral Theology" (1871); "Dogmatic Theology" (1874); "History of German National Literature" (1845; 24th ed. 1894). He died in Marburg, Germany, July 30, 1868. VILNA, or WILNA, a town of Lithuania ; capital of the former province of the same name; on the Vilia. It is picturesquely situated, and contains nu- merous churches and convents. It has a governor's palace, a town hall, Greek and Roman Catholic cathedrals, and numer- ous educational establishments. There is a considerable trade in agricultural produce sent to Baltic ports. Pop. about 200,000. The city was captured by the Germans in 1915, and was the scene of military operations during the entire course. It was captured by the Poles in the campaign of 1920 against the Bol- shevists, and its government was deter- mined by a plebiscite. FRANCOIS VILLON VINCENNES, a city and county-seat of Knox CO., Ind.; on the Wabash river and on the Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chi- cago, and St. Louis, the Baltimore and Ohio South Western, and other rail- roads; 110 miles S. W. of Indianapolis. It is the entrepot of a large agricultural region. Here are a court house, city hall, Vincennes University, the Harrison House, built by Governor Harrison in 1804; St. Francis Xavier Cathedral, an Orphan's Home, St. Vincent's Orphan Asylum for Boys (R. C), several Na- tional banks, a number of daily, weekly, and monthly periodicals, street railroad and electric light plants, and waterworks. The city has machine shops, saw and grist mills, sewer pipe works, foundries, and manufactories of wagons, cement, stoves, tile, brick, plaster, wrapping paper, and various articles in tin, iron,