a native of southern Europe, and got its name from being common in the neighborhood of Taranto, Italy. The bite was considered very dangerous, and was fabled to produce an epilepsy which could be cured only by dancing, until exhausted, to lively music of a particular kind. The tarantulas, using the name in its wide meaning, are dark-colored, hairy spiders, with mandibles that work up and down, instead of sideways, as is the direction in most other spiders. They live under rocks and in holes which they make in the ground and line with silk. They do not spin webs, but rush upon passing insects and other prey.
Tar′bell, Ida Minerva. A noted American writer upon historical and economic subjects. Born in Erie County, Pennsylvania, on Nov. 5, 1857, she grew up in the oil-region. She graduated with honors from Titusville High School and Allegheny College, and studied in Paris, 1891-4, at the Sorbonne and the College of France where she began to make her mark as an historical writer. She for eight years was associate-editor of The Chautauquan, later was on the editorial staff of McClure's Magazine, and finally was an associate-editor of it. Among her writings are Short Life of Napoleon Bonaparte; Life of Madam Roland; Life of Abraham Lincoln; and History of the Standard Oil Company. She has written extensively for magazines.
Tarifa (tȧ-rē′fȧ), a famous Spanish city, is 25 miles southeast of Cape Trafalgar. It has old walls, towers, a fortress and a Moorish castle. Tarifa was founded by the Moors, who forced all vessels passing through the Strait of Gibraltar to pay tribute at this town. From this fact comes our word “tariff.” The Castilians captured Tarifa in 1292 and held it in the face of several sieges by the Moors. The French besieged it in vain in 1811, but captured it in 1823. Population 11,725.
Tar′iff. A tax on imports. The following summary of United States tariff legislation gives the date, purpose and character of each measure and the name by which it is known:
1789. Hamilton (q. v.). Object, to put money into country's empty treasury. Articles listed 51; duties 5 to 15%; amended six times (1789-1804).
1812. Lowndes-Calhoun. First to protect as well as raise revenue. Many manufactures had sprung up during the war. Duties 7½ to 33% ad valorem.
1824. Clay (q. v.) and “Tariff of Abominations” (1828), both of which further raised duties. Average of latter 37%.
1832. The “Modifying” tariff. Endeavored to readjust duties more equally.
1833. “Compromise” tariff. Reduced duties ⅓ yearly down to uniform rate of 20%.
1842: Polk-Walker. For revenue only. Duties reduced by 1857 to average of 15.66%.
1861. Morrill, Protective. Doubled existing duties.
1890. McKinley. Increased duties 60% but enlarged free list and empowered president to remove from free list certain products of any country charging unreasonable duties on U. S. products. (Reciprocity clause.)
1894. Wilson. Removed duties on raw materials, lowered duties generally and provided for income tax (q. v.). Latter declared unconstitutional.
1896. Dingley. Rates somewhat lower than McKinley.
1910. Payne-Aldrich. Made some reductions but Democrats won on platform condemning the act as failing to fulfill Republican promise of reduction. (See Taft.)
The Tariff of 1913.
The tariff of 1913 made 938 reductions of duty, 86 increases and left 307 rates unchanged. Reductions and removals of duty affect raw material, machinery and manufactured goods including cotton, woolen, linen and silk, sugar and other food stuffs. The average rate on cotton goods was cut from over 45% to about 30%. The duty on wool was removed and on woolen cloth fixed at the uniform rate of 35% ad valorem as against 90 to 152%; on clothing at 35% as compared with 75%. Comparative rates (ad valorem) on woolen products are as follows: 35-90 to 152; clothing 35-75; flannels 25 to 30-75 to 110; blankets, 25-68 to 200%. Agricultural products 15-29, and all food animals are admitted free. Free admission of sugar after May 1, 1916; immediate free admission from the Philippine Islands and reduction of about one-fourth after March, 1914. Leather and tanning extracts are admitted free; also agricultural machinery and implements of every kind. Wood and woodenware and furniture reductions, all the way from 25 to 60%. Original works of art on free list. The increase affects mostly articles of luxury.
Tark′ington, Newton Booth, American novelist, was born at Indianapolis, Ind., on July 29, 1869, and graduated at Princeton in 1893. When, later, pursuing a business career, he discovered gifts in himself as a writer, especially of realistic and romantic stories. His first notable work, The Gentleman from Indiana, met with instant success, and was followed in 1900 by Monsieur Beaucaire, a novelette subsequently dramatized and produced on the stage by Richard Mansfield. In 1902 appeared The Two Vanrevels, in 1903 Cherry, in 1905 The Conquest of Canaan and The Beautiful Lady, besides In the Arena: Tales of Political Life. In 1902 he entered practical politics as a member of the Indiana legislature.
Tarpeian Rock (tär-pē′yan), at first the name given to the whole Capitoline Hill in Rome, but afterwards only to the southern part of it. Tarpeia, daughter of the governor
