Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 14.djvu/821

NYDIA. 699 NYREN. ized by her blindness, which the author handles uith much art. NYE, Edgar Wii.sox (1S50-9G), better known as iiiil Xye. An American humorist, born in Shirley, ilaine, August 25, 1850. Xye's childhood was passed in Wisconsin. He went as a young man I" Wyoming, studied law, was admitted to the bar there in 1870, was elected to the Legisla- ture, and afterwards served as Postmaster and newspaper correspondent. His health failing, he returned to Wisconsin in 1SS3 ami settled in New York in 188G, having already achieved wide popularity as a humorist, lecturer and writer. His humor consists very largely in punning and in making free with the English tongue. The more noteworthy of his books are: Bill Xi/e and the BooincrdMfi (1881); Forty Liars (1883); Baled Hay (1884): Bill Nye's Blossom Rock (1885); Jicmiirks (188U); ChestiuHs (1887); Sailrudd (Itiide, with James Whitcomb Riley (1888); and. with the same, Fun, TT'iV, and Humor (188:)) ; a play. The Cadi (1891) : Comic Hisiorii of the Uniled Slates (1894) ; and Comic Historii of Enalnnd (189(i). Nye died in Ashe- ville. N. f.. February 27, 1896. NYIBEGYHAZA, nye'red-y'h-l'zo. A town and railway junction in the District of Szaboles, Hungaiy. on the Nyir, 1(J7 miles by rail north- east of Budapest (Map: Austria-Hungary, G 3). Situated near the Tokay wine region, the in- habitants are largely engaged in viticulture; other branches of agriculture are also profitably developed, and there are manufactures of soda, saltpetre, and matches : important annual fairs are held. Population, in 1900, 33,088. IfYKOPING, nti'che-ping. A seaport of Sweden, situated on an inlet of the Baltic Sea, 50 miles southwest of Stockholm (Map: Sweden, <J 7 ) . It possesses regular steamship connections ■vitli the capital city and Xorrkijping. and has cotton and wool spinning establishments, and an active trade in grain. Population, in 1001. 7375. In the Jliddle Ages Nyk;)])ing was one of the most important townis of Sweden. NYLANDER, m.i'lan-der, Wilu.ji (1822- "'.M. A Finnish botanist, born at Uleaborg. I'rom 1857 to 1803 he was professor of botany ill Helsingfors. and then settled in Paris. He lift his valualile collections and his library to tlie 1 niversity of Helsingfors. Nylander wrote ill the lichens of Europe and of the tropics, I'-i'.ai d'une nourellc classification des lichens (1854): Prodromus Lirhcnofiraphiw (lalliw et Alflericp (1856) ; and Lichcnographiw 'Sovo-Gra- ■natniKin Prodromus (1803). NYLGHATJ. See Nilgai. NYM CRIN'KLE. A pseudonym of the Amerii-an newspaper writer Andrew C. Wheeler ( q.v. I . NYMPH (Gk. Ni'^^a, ■'Xi/mphn) . In Greek mythology, a lesser divinity or spirit of the woods and streams. The nymphs are mortal, thopgli gifted with long life and free from old age. their homes are the groves and fountains, for- ests, meadows, and the sea. There were many classes of nymphs, such as the Nereids (q.v.) in the sea, the Is'aiads (q.v.) at the springs, and the Dryads (q.v.) and Hamadryads in the trees. The Naiads especially, as goddesses of the waters, were regarded as divinities of fruitfulness and increase. The cult of the nymphs was very Vol. X1V.-^5. widespread, but never attained special splendor. They were worshiped with Pan in caves, (jr at the springs where they dwelt. In art they are found as si)eetators or participants in many mythological scenes, and are also re])resented on nian.v reliefs dedicated by votaries at their shrines. In Greek art they are usually repre- sented as fully dra|)ed maidens, often holding hands and dancing; the number is usually tliree, and sometimes Hermes appears as their leader. In later times they are commonly in the form of maidens, nude above the waist and holding be- fore them a large nnissel-shell or basin as a syniliiil of tlieir control over fountains. NYMPH (from Lat. nympha, from Gk. vi^ji^r), nymphe, nymiih, bride). The third stage of any insect which undergoes an incomplete metamor- phosis. It is an active stage, and in it the insect as a rule closely resembles the adult, except in not possessing wings. See Metaiiorphosis. NYM'PHJEA'CE.ffi (Neo-Lat. nom. p!., from Lat. nymphwa, Gk. vvpKpaia, nymphaia, water- lily, from vvij.pl, nymphe, n.ymph, bride). The Water- LiL^' Family. A natural order of more than 00 species of dicotyledonous plants growing in the ihud of lakes, ponds, ditches, and slow rivers, in warm and temperate regions. Their large, long-stalked, heart-sliaped or peltate leaves float on the surface of the water, and the large, often beautiful and fragrant flowers either float or are raised slightly above the water. There are usually four sepals, and numerous petals and stamens, often grading into one another. The many-celled ovary with radiating stigmas and numerous ovules in some of the genera is more or less surrounded by a large fleshy disk. The seeds have a farinaceous albumen and those of many species are used as food, as are also the I'oot- stocks of some. See W.ter-Lily; Lotu.s; Ne- LCMBO: EfRYALE. NYORO, nycVr.%. or BA NYORO. One of a group of piowcrful Bantu tribes, living on the east side of Lake Albert Edward. Africa. They are the northernmost of the Bantu. They are as a rule good-looking, tall and well propor- tioned, but their countenances are disfigured by tlieir custom of extracting the four lower in- cisors. The huts are conical frames, covered with thatch. Their weapons are spears, assegais or throwing sjiears, wooden shields, and bows and arrows. They make dugout canoes and rafts of bundles of ]iapyrus for navigating the streams and lakes. Game and fish are caught with in- genious traps and nets. Their staple food is the sweet potato and grain, from which beer is brewed. The elan system prevails, and it is forbidden for a Nvoro to kill or eat the totem of his clan. The best defined religious practice is the worship of ancestors, which grows out of the clan system. As iron-workers, weavers, and pot- ters they show deeiiled skill. They number aI)out llO.OnO.' Consult .Johnston. The I'yanda Pro- tertorafe (New York and London, 1902). NYREN, nu-riin'. ^Magnus (1837—). A Swed- isli-Rn<sian astronomer, born in the Province of Werniland. Sweden. lie studied at Upsala. and in lS(i8 was first engaged in the Observatory at Pulkova, of which he became vice-director in 1 890. Nyren made valuable researches for the determination of the constants of precession, nutation, and aberration, and wrote: Dctermina-