Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 02.djvu/426

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BACKGAMMON.
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BACOLOR.

natc. If a player throws 'doublets.' or both dice of one number, double the numlier of dots is reckoned: thus, by a throw of 2 aces, the player does not count 2, but 4. Each player counts round from the right-hand or ace-point of the other. The object of the game is for each player to get all his 'men' played round into his own left-hand table, removing them from point to point according to the throws of the dice. In throwing, the number upon each die turned up may be reckoned by itself, or collectively with the number on the other side. Thus, if 4 be thrown by one side, and G by the other, one 'man' can be advanced 4 points, and another 6 points; or one man can be advanced 10 points, always providing that a point is open to suit this movement to it. No point can be moved to if covered by 2 'men' belonging to the adversary. If covered by only one 'man,' which is called a "blot,' then that 'man' can be 'hit' — i.e. removed from the point, and placed on the bar between the tables, its place being taken by the 'man' who has won it. The removal of a 'man' to the bars throws a player consider- ably behind in the game, because the 'man' must remain out of the play till the dice turn uj) a number corresponding to an open point on the adversary's table. There are two kinds of vic- tory — winning the 'hit' and winning the 'gam- mon.' The party who has played all his 'men' round into his own table, and by fortunate throws of the dice has borne or played the 'men' off the points first, wins the 'hit.' The 'gammon' may be explained as follows: When you have got all your 'men' round to your own table, covering every point, and your adversary has a 'man' out, then you are enabled to 'bear' or lift your men away. If you can bear all away, so as to clear your talile before the adversary gets his 'man' placed by a throw on your table, you will win the 'gammon.' If the adversary has been able to bear one before you have borne all your 'men,' it reduces the victory to a 'hit.' Two 'hits' are reckoned equal to one 'gammon' in playing matches.


BACKHUYSEN, biik'hoi-zcn, Ludolf (1031- 1709). A Dutch marine painter, born at Em- den. At the age of IS, he became the pupil of Aldert van Everdingen. His first sketches in India-ink and bistre, made among the ship- ping, were bought by collectors at good prices. He was a painter of stormy seas, and many times risked his life and those of seamen in the pursuit of studies for his pictures. His color- ing does not compare favorably with that of VVillem van der Velde: nevertheless, he portrays the spirit of the sea, particularly in its wild and boisterous aspects. Backhuysen seems to have been the popular marine painter of his time. He has left numerous examples of his work, and many of them are of considerable size. One, representing a coast scene of great beauty, dated 1675, is in the Amsterdam Museum. In tlie Lou- vre is his "Rough Sea at the Jlouth of the Maas." Two of his pictures are in the Museum at The Hague. Many arc in England in the National Gallery. Peter the Great was a pupil of Back- huysen, and the painter made for the Czar nu- merous drawings for the construction of vessels. After he was 71 years old, he began etching on copper. He also made attempts in poetry. He died in Amsterdam. The line of Dutch marine painters is said to have come to an end with the death of Backhuysen. Consult : Buxton, Ger- man, Flemish, and Dutch Painting (London, 1881) ; Radcliflfe, Schools and Masters of Paint- ing (New York, 1898).


BACKLUND, biik'lund, John Oskak (1846 — ). A Swedish astronomer, born at Lenghem, Sweden. He has been lecturer at the University of Upsala (1875); assistant at the Stockholm Observatory (1876); observator at the Dorpat Observatory (187ti) ; and adjunct-astronomer at the Observatory of Pulkowa, Russia. One of his principal publications is the treatise en- titled Ohseivations dc Pulkowa (1888).


BACKSTROM, bek'strem, Feb Joii. EdVARD (1841-46). A Swedish author, born at Stockholm and educated at Upsala. He published several volumes of verse, including Lyriska Dikter (1870). His dramas, of which the chief is the tragedy, Dugvurd Frey (1876), were long popular. He made translations from Ponsard, Victor Hugo,, and others.


BACK'US, Isaac (1724-1806). An American clergyman and author. He was born at Norvich, (_'onn. He left the regular Congregational body for the Separatists, or New Lights, and these sympathized warmly with the Baptists, whose leader he became, and by his own exertions largely increased the prosperity' of the denomina- tion. He was a strong advocate of the entire separation of Church and State, and went before the Continental Congress in 1774 to ask for the Baptists the same privileges that were granted to other sects. Among his numerous writings, A History of New England, with Particular Reference to the Denomination, of Christians Called Baptists (Boston, 1777-96, 3 vols.; re- printed Newton, Mass., 1871, 2 vols.) is the most important.


BACKUS, Truman Jay (1842—). An American educator. He was born at Milan, N. Y., graduated at Rochester University in 1864, and was professor of rhetoric and English litera- ture at Vassar College from 1867 to 1883. In 1883 he was appointed president of P.acker Col- legiate Institute ( Brooklyn, N. Y. ) . He was one of the incorporators of the Brooklyn Institute of Arts and Sciences.


BACLER D'ALBE, ba'klilr' diilb'. Louis Albert Ghislain, Baron ( 17621824) . A French painter, soldier, and ehartographer. He pub- lished a Carte du theatre de la guerre en Itnlie (54 parts, 1802), and rose to be general of brigade under Napoleon, in all of whose cam- paigns he served. His most noted paintings, "The Battle of Arcole" and "The Battle of Rivoli," are in the Versailles Gallery. He pub- lished Souvenirs pittoresques contcnant la cain- pagne d'Espagne (1824), a series of lithographic views, and other similar works.


BACOLOD, bii'k6-lod', or BACOLOT, ba'ka-lot'. The capital of the Province of Western Negros (area. 1929 square miles; population, 220,995) on the island of Negros (q.v.), Philippines. It is situated on the western coast and has a popu- lation of 6270 (Map: Philippine Islands, G 9).


BACOLOR, bli'ko-lor'. The chief town of the Province of Pampanga, on the island of Luzon, Philippines (Jlap: Luzon. D 7). The province is situated in the middle of the island, near the Bay of Manila, and covers an area of 2209 square miles, with a population in 1901 of 223,922. It is