OBELISK. 711 OBERLIN. a .sli{,'lit loseiiiblance to those of Egypt, being iiK'iely steUf in the shape of truncated, shmting prisms, with step-shaped apices. The most re- inarl<able is the 'black obelislc' of Shalmaneser 11., covered with long inscriptions recording the victories of this King and representations of the trilmtes brought to liim, among them the tributc- licarcrs of King .lelni of Israel (n.c. 842). A broken 'obelisk' of Assurnazir-pal (B.C. 88.5-8G0) is the ne.t in importance; then one of Shamsi- raninian (B.C. 825-812). Consult: Loega, De Origitte et Vsu ObcUscoruin (Konie, 1797) ; Cipriani, Sui dodici obelisclii di Iloma (ib., 182.S) ; L'llote, Sotice liistorique sur Irs obclisi/ues ((juptiens (Paris, 1830) ; Birch, Xotes iinder "Obelisks" in the Museum of Classieal Anluiiiilics (London, 1853) ; above all, Jlarucchi, <lli ohrlisrlii cyiziani di Roma (Rome, 1808). See K(;ypti.
Art.
OBEB, 6'ber, Fredekick Albiox (1849—). An American traveler and autlior, born in Bev- erley, ^lass. He was educated at the 5Iassachi- setts Agricultural College, and in 1872 he began his tropical explorations. He traveled in the West Indies (1870-80), making a valuable col- lection of birds^; and visited Mexico, Spain, Xorth Africa, and South America. He wrote travels, historical sketches, and novels, including Camps ill. the Caribbees (1879): Travels in Mexico (1883) ; Porto Rico and Its Resources (1892) ; Josephine. Empress of the French. (1895) ; His- tory of the IVf.sf Indies (1900); and The Ca- cirjiie's: Trc<isiirr ('are (1901). OBERAMMERGATT, o'ber-iim'mer-gou. A village in Ui)i)cr Bavaria, Germany, noted for the celebration of the Passion Play (q.v.). OBERDIECK, oOjer-dek, Joiianjt Geokg Kon- liAii I 1794-1880). A German pomologist, born at W'ilkenburg. He had studied theology at Giittin- gen, but after a year in pastoral work devoted himself to the improvement of German orchards. He held various clerical charges, made a great collection of fruit trees, and in 1855 became editor of the Pomolor/ische Moiwtshefte. Among his publications, the more important are: Die Probe- Oder Horleiibiiume (1844; 2d ed. 1871); lUustrirrles Handbueh der Obntkiinde (9 vols., with Bucas and .Jahn. 1858-79) : and Deiitsch- hinds beste Obstsortcii (1881). Consult his Kii7'- zcr Aliriss iiieines Lcbens (Stuttgart, 1870). OBERGE, 6-ber'ge, Eilhard von. A German ])oct of the close of the twelfth century. Eilhard wrote, from French sources, the first Cierman version of Tristan and Isolde. Of his original work there now exist a few fragments, a complete revision dating a century later, another version in prose (1484). and a Bohemian translation. I.ichtenstein edited the remains of the work in German verse (Hamlmrg. 1877), and Pfafi' the jirnse romance of the fifteenth centurv (Stnttsart. ISSl). OBERHAUSEN, r/ber-hou'zrn. An impor- tant manufacturing town in the Rhine Province, Prussia, situated near the Rhine. 40 miles north of Colouue (Jlap: Prussia. B 3 ) . It has exten- sive iron foundries, rolling mills, railway shops, chemical works, and niaiuifactnres of various iron and tin Avares. sf>;ip. porcelain, wire, class, flour, etc. In the vicinity are important eoal mines and coke ovens. Population, in 1890 25.249; in 1900. 42,148. OBERLANDER, O'ber-lAn'dOr, Adolf (1845 — ). A iHTiiian caricaturist and painter, born at Kegensburg. He studied p:iinting in Munich at the Academy and under Pili>ty willi fair pros- pect of success, as may be judged b}' his "Siesta" (Dresden Galli'ry), and "Resignation" ( Xcw I'inakothek, JIunich), yet fonntl his true field in those humorous productions (if his pencil which he began in 18U3 t<; contril)ute to the Flirijcnde mutter. These soon made his name familiar in every part of the world whither that publication has made its way, and i)laced him anumg the fore- most of the humorists in art. Some of the l)est of his work is collected in the Oberliinder- Album (Jlunich, 1879-98). Consult, also: Whiblcy, in Art Journal (London, 1889) ; and Pratt, in The Cosmopolitan (New York, 1890). OBERLETJTENSDORE, n'ber-loi'tens-dorf. A town in the ('rownhind of Bohemia, Austria. 32 miles south of Dn'sden, It has a church built in 1090 bv the Archbishop of Prague, and a castle dating from 1732. Its principal manu- factures are furniture, toys, hats, and woolens; some coal is mined in the region. Population, in 1900. 12,928. O'BERLIN. A village in Lorain County. Ohio, 33 miles west by south of Cleveland ; on the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railroad (Map: Ohio, F 3). There are no imiwrtant in- dustries: the village is noted chieflv as the scat of Oberlin College (q.v.). Settled in 1833, upmi the establishment of the college, Oberlin was first incorporated in 1840. The government is vested in a mayor, elected every two years, and a imi- cameral council, chosen on a general ticket. The village owns and operates the water-works. Pop- ulation, in 1890, 4370; in 1900, 4082. OBERLIN, o'bar'hlx'. Jean FhIjdISric (1740- 1S20), An Alsatian Lutheran clergyman and philanthropist. He was born at Strassburg. and studied at the g^'innasium and university of his native place. After finishing his theological stud- ies iie was ordained to the niinistrv. but for sev- eral years before entering ujion its work he gave private instruction in the family of a physician, from whom he acquired considerable medical knowledge. In 1700 he was appointed chaplain in the French Army, but was deterred fnuu entering upon his duties by an appointment in the following year as j)astor of Ban-de-la- Roehe (Steintlial) , a barren district on the Ihu'- ders of Alsace and Lorraine. Oberlin undertook the mission as the call of duty, and during the sixty years of his ministry wrought great changes in the character and condition of the people. His intelligence was superior, his will inflexible, his figure eomiuandin.2, and in spite of opposition his courage as well as kindness finally won flip day. He gave special attention to im|)roving the material condition of the peo|ile. himself leading in the work of building roads and bridges. He introduced improved a.nricul- tural methods, sent some of the more intelligent young men to Str:issburg to learn trades, and opened schools. Three Sabbaths he preached in French, the fourth in German. He created a patriar<'hal government in its purest form, put to practical use his knowled,2e of medicine, and founded a bank for lending mone.v without in- terest or security. .
eneinv of the- aristocracy
and clcrg', he looked with favor on the French Revolution. The Steintlial became an asvlum
