VASE. 24 VASSAR. sels. For the history of the language and of the alphabet, the inscriptions are of the utmost value. Consult Kretschraer, Die griechischen Vaseninschriften Hirer Sprache nach untcrsucht (Giitersloh, 1894). It is, however, in the field of the personal life of the Greeks that the impor- tance of tlie vases becomes most clearly manifest. The scenes represented bj' the artists cover the entire range of human life. We see the children at play, the young men at their gymnastic sports and at their feasts, amusements, and dissipa- tions, the soldiers arriving for battle or return- ing home, and the girls and women in their se- cluded life within the house, spinning, weaving, at their household tasks, and at their toilet. The marriage procession, the sacrifice, the theatrical performance, and finally the various ceremonies connected with the burial of the dead and the of- ferings at the grave are all vividly sliown on the vases. ^Moreover, the artists drew a very large part of their inspiration from the mythological literature, and freely reproduced the versions then most popular. Hence these works are often valuable authorities for myths imperfectly rep- resented in extant literature. BiBLiOGE.vpiiY. See the "Bibliography by Au- thors," in Eeinach, Repertoire drs vases peints grecs et etrusqties, vol. ii. (Paris, 1900), and the "Bibliography by Subjects," in Huddilstnn, Les- sons from Greek Pottery (New York, 1902). The history of Greek vases is not treated fully from the most modern standpoint in any work. Still valuable are: Rayet and Collignon, Histoire de la ciramique grecqiie (Paris, 1888) ; Dumont and Chaplain, Les ceramiqucs de la Orece propre (Paris, 1881-90) ; Von Rohden, "Vasenkunde," in Baumeister, Denkm-'jler des klassischen Alter- tunis (Munich, 188.5-88); Robinson, Catalogue of Greek, Etruscan, and Roiiuni Vases in the Boston Museum of Fine Arts (Boston, 1893); Pettier, Catalogue des rases antiques de tcrre- cuite du Louvre (Paris, 1896, 1899, two vol- umes of photographic plates with a text), is of great value for the general characteristics of Greek vase-painting, a history of the study, and the early styles. Excellent works are: Furtwiingler and Loesehcke, Mykenische Thonge- fiisse (Berlin, 1879), and Miikenische Vasen (Berlin, 1886) ; Thiersch, Tyrrhenische Ampho- ren (Leipzig, 1899); CJerhard, Ausrrlesene griechiscke 'asenhilder (Berlin, 1840-,'58) ; Le- normant and De Witte, Elite des monuments c£ramographiques (Paris, 1844-61); Genick and Fiirtwangler, Griechisclw Keramik (Berlin, 1883) ; Lau, Die griechisehen Vasen. ihr Formen- und Decorationsystem (Leipzig, 1877) ; Benmlorf, Griechiscke und sicilische Vasenhilder (B(>rlin, 1869-83); Harrison and MacColl. Greek Vase Paintings (London, 1894) ; Furtwiingler and Reichhold, Die griechisehe 'asenm<ilerrl. Auswahl herr^orragender VasenhiUler (JIunicli. 1900), still unfinished, but probably the most accurate publication of (Jreek vases yet at- tempted. The vases scattered in expensive pub- lications and periodicals are collected in small outline drawings in Reiniieh's Repertoire, cited above. Important also are the catalogues of the collections at Athens by Couve and Colli- gnon (Paris, 1902), Berlin by Furtwiingler ( I'-cr- lin, 18S.T), the Hritisli Museum by Smith and Walters, vols, ii.-iv. (Loiulon. 189.'i-n0), Vienna by Masncr (Vienna, 1892), and Munich by Jahn (Munich, 1855), with an introduction which laid the foundation for the scientific study of Greek vases. VASELINE. A variety of petrolatum ( q.v. ) . VA'SEY, George ( 1822-93 ) . An American bot- anist, born near Scarborough, Yorkshire, and edu- cated at the Berkshire Medical College, Pittsfield, Mass., where he graduated in 1848. He prac- ticed medicine for twenty years in Illinois anil in 1872 became botanist of the Agricultural Depart- in(>nt at Washington. His works, which were jmblished by the Government, are: A Descripiire ('dialogue of tlte .Yoiiie Forest Trees of the United States (1876) ; The Agricultural Grasses of the United States ( 1884) ; A Descriptive Cata- logue of the Grasses of the United States ( 1885) ; and Grasses of the South (1887). VASILI, va'ze'le', CoMTE Paul. The nom- de-pluuie of .Tuliette Adam (q.v.). VASILKOV, va-sel-y'-kof. A district town in the (iovernment of Kiev. Southern Russia, 25 miles southwest of Kiev (Map: Russia. D 4). It manufactures small articles of gold and silver, leather, brick, soap, and candles. Population, in 1897, 17.824. VASISHTHA, va-sish'ta. The name of one of the 111(1^1 ccleln-ated Vedic Rishis, tlie spiritual adviser of King Sudas in ancient North- ern India, and the traditional author of several hymns of the Rig-Veda, particularly in the sev- enth book. Vasishtha's name is connected with an old Sanskrit law-book known as the Vasistha Dharma Sdslru, another proof of the priestly tra- dition in the famil.v of the Vasishthas. For legends concerning Vasislitha, see Muir, Oriaiual Sanskrit Texts, vol. i. (2d ed., London, 1872) ; and consult: Kaegi-Arrowsmith, The Rigreda (Boston, 1886) : Dowson, Hindu Mythologii (London. 1879) : Wilkins, Hindu Mythology (2d ed.. London. 1900). VASQUEZ DE COKONADO, vits'kath dil ko'ru-n;i'i)u. Fr,>;cisco. See Coronado, Frax- ctsco Vasqvez. VASSAL. I'uder the feudal system, one who was invested with a fief and who was bound to render feudal services and homage to a su|)erior lord. The great lords of the realm who held directly of the King were known as crou-n vas- sals, but the term vassal was also applied to their feudal retainers. The services to be per- formed by a vassal depended upon his rank and station; if he was a great lord his chief duties were to serve the King in time of war and also furnish men and arms for military purposes; if he was only an insignificant tenant of a noble, his chief obligation niiglit be to assist personally in the cultivalion of his superior's lands. See FEii)Ai.is!r and authorities there referred to; also Fevdai, Tenure. VAS'SAK, .ToHX Fi.i.isoN- (1813-78). .
American lay pre;ichcr and missionary, a cousin of iMatthcw Vassar, founder of Vassar College, born at Poughkeepsie. >i. V. He worked for several years in the Vassar brewery at Poughkeepsie. and then, feeling that his religions convictions woiild not permit him to continue in the business, with- drew from the company and devoted his lime and money to missionary work. In 1850 he became an .agent and colporteur of the .American Tract Society, and for several years traveled as its rep-
