by stories. The series of works for which he is best known began in 1859 with The Ordeal of Richard Feverel. Others of his best known works are Rhoda Fleming, The Egoist, Adventures of Harry Richmond, Beauchamp's Career, Vittoria, The Tragic Comedians and Diana of the Crossways, the latter being deemed the most charming of his novels. His later poetry is in three small volumes, Poems and Lyrics, Ballads and Poems and A Reading of Earth. Among his later novels are The Amazing Marriage and Lord Ormont and His Aminta. While not a popular writer, Meredith ranks among the foremost novelists of the day. In 1905 he received the Order of Merit. See George Meredith by Le Gallienne and Some Characteristics by John Lane. He died May 18, 09.
Merida (mĕr′ĭ-dȧ′), a city of Mexico, the capital of Yucatan, is situated on the Gulf of Mexico. It was founded by the Spaniards in 1542 on the site of an ancient city. It has a cathedral, finished in 1598, a university, conservatory of music, museum and public library. Its manufactures are largely molasses, sugar, cigars and cigarettes, rum, leather and soap. Population 61,999. Merida is also a state in Venezuela, with a population of 121,593.
Mer′iden, a city of Connecticut, 19 miles north of New Haven. It was made a town in 1806 and a city in 1867. It is a manufacturing place, principally of metal wares, cutlery, cut glass, lamps, chandeliers, novelties, firearms and woolen goods. The Britannia Company, founded in 1852, covers ten acres of floor space with its factories. It manufactures silver-plated ware, and is the largest establishment of the kind in the world. Its well-known trade mark, “1847, Rogers Bros. — Ai,” is a guarantee of good material and honest work. The International Silver Company, incorporated in 1898, has numerous factories, and because of Meriden's silverwork it is known as Silver City. The Connecticut State Reformatory for boys is here. Population 27,265.
Merid′ian, from meridies, midday, noon, is the great circle passing through the earth's surface and the celestial sphere, which passes through both poles of the heavens and the zenith and nadir of any place on the earth's surface. Every place, therefore, on the earth's surface has its own meridian. When the center of the sun comes upon the meridian of any place it is midday or noon there. But, as it is midday at all places directly under that meridian, it is midnight at all places directly opposite upon the other side of the globe. All places under the same meridian therefore have the same longitude. Stars are measured as to their distance from the celestial meridian. In making a map some place is arbitrarily chosen, as Greenwich or Washington, from which longitude is computed by measuring the distances in degrees of their meridians from each other. Since the vast development of railways in the United States it has become more and more important to have all watches mark the same time within certain geographical limits. In consequence, certain meridians have been chosen by the railway authorities as standards of time; and all watches between such meridians, one hour of the sun's journey apart, are set alike. When the distance between two such standard meridians has been traversed, timepieces are so reset as take up or strike off an hour.
Meridian, Miss., a town in the cotton-belt, capital of Lauderdale County in east-central Mississippi, is 85 miles east of Jackson and 135 northwest of Mobile, Ala. It has a number of educational institutions, including Meridian Academy (Methodist); Lincoln School (Congregational), both for colored students; Meridian Normal College; and East Mississippi Female College (Southern Methodist). Its commerce is chiefly in corn and cotton, and it has steam corn-mills and establishments for the manufacture of cotton-yarn, cottonseed-oil, plows, doors, sashes, blinds and furniture, besides cotton-compresses, cottongins and railroad-shops. Population 23,285.
Meristem (mĕr′ĭ-stĕm) (in plants), young tissue whose cells are capable of division, which results in a multiplication of cells. The growing points of stems and roots consist of meristem or meristematic tissue, which produces all the tissues which appear in the mature stems and roots. The cambium (which see) in stems is a kind of meristem, which has the power of forming new wood on one side and new bast on the other. All growing organs are meristematic throughout or in some special part until they are fully grown. An appropriate phrase describing meristem is formative tissue.
Mer′ivale, Charles, an English divine and historian, was born in Devonshire in 1808; and died on Dec. 27, 1893. He was educated at Cambridge, where he became both fellow and tutor. He was the preacher for the university from 1838 to 1850, and delivered lectures there in 1861 and in 1864. In 1869 he was appointed dean of Ely. His chief works are Fall of the Roman Republic and History of the Romans under the Empire. He has also written a General History of Rome, Early Church History and Contrast between Pagan and Christian Society, and translated Homer's Iliad. See his Autobiography.
Mer′lin, an ancient British bard, prophet and magician, lived in the 6th century. He was the son of a Welsh princess, and is said to have had miraculous powers from his birth. There are many allusions to him in early English poetry and history; in Spenser's Faerie Queene; and in Tennyson's Idyls of the King. A collection of his prophecies
