VASSAB. 25 VATICAN. resentative througliout the West. During tlie Civil War he was at the front with the Union armies, and after the close of hostilities devoted himself to religious work in the South. He was pojuilarly known throughout the country as "Uncle .John Vassar." Uonsult Vassar, Uncle John. VdKsar (New York, 187!)). VASSAR, Matthew (17i)2-l.S(;8). .
Anieri-
can pliilanthropist, founder of Vassar College. He was born at East Derchaiii, Tuddenliam Par- ish, England, and in ITDO was brought to the United States by his father, James Vassar, a wool-grower, who in the s|)ring of 17!t7 settled on a. farm near I'oughkei'iisic. N. V., and four yeans later established himself as a brewer in that place. In ISOfi Jtalthew left home, and for four years thereafter worked in a country store near Newburg, N. Y. He then returned to Pough- kecpsie and entered his father's business as a bookkeeper and collector. In May, 1811, the brewery was completely destro3'ed by fire, and the family was thus reduced to comparative poverty. Matthew then began business as a brewer on his own account, and eventually accumulated a large fortune. He contriliuted liberally to numerous cluirities, but is chielly remembered as the found- er of Vassar College (q.v.). He died suddenly on June 24. 1868, while reading his annual report to the board of trustees of the college. For a biographical sketch, consult Lossing, Vassar Col- lege and Its Foxindcr (New York, 1867). See Vassar College. VASSAR, Matthew, Jr. (1809-81). An American philanthroj)iHt, nephew of Matthew Vassar, the founder of Vassar College. He was born in Poughkeepsie, N. Y., and received but little schooling, but at an early age entered the brewery established by his uncle and father, where he showed unusual aptitude for business affairs. For many years he was the manager of the brewery, and aecunuilated a considerable per- sonal fortune. He was in close sympathy with his uncle in his project for establishing Vassar College, and was named by him a member of its first board of trustees, which position he held, together with that of treasurer of the col- lege, until his death. He gave the college .$100,- 000 for the endowment of professorships. .$50,000 for other purposes, and with his brother con- structed the Vassar Brothers Lalioratory. He gave also largely to various public institutions in the city of Poughkeepsie, his gifts to both city and college amounting to aliout $.iO0.000. His brother, John C4uy Va.ssar (1811-88), began his business career as a memlier of the brewery firm, but was compelled by ill health to travel abroad. He traveled about the world for thirty years and wrote an account of some of his experi- ences under the title of Twrnty Years Around the World (1861). Like his brother, he was one of the original trustees of Vassar College, and gave jointly with him a considerable amount of money to the iii-ititution. VASSAR COLLEGE. One of the oldest women's colleges in the United States, situated at Poughkeepsie, N. Y. It was incorporated as Vassar Female College in 1S(!I, the present cor- porate name being adoirted in 1867. It received from the founder, ilatthew Vassar, 200 acres of land and $788,000 by gift and bequest, and fur- ther sums were given by members of the Vassar family. Students are admitted on passing the examinations set by the College Entrance Ex- amination lioard or by certificate from approved schools. The course of study, partially elective, covers four years and leads to the baccalaureate degree. The <legree of master of arts is also con- ferred. The college offers eight fellowships for graduate work and a large number of uniUr- graduatc scholarships. The grounds of the col- lege occupy 450 acres, three miles from the Hud- son River. The main building, 500 feet in length, contains the chapel, administrative ollices. and apartments. The Hall of Casts contains specimens illustrative of the chief periods of sculpture in the original size, and the Art Gallery possesses a number of examples of earl^- Anu'ricau artists. In l!IO;j the student attendance nundjcred 930, the corps of instructors 8.3, and the volumes in the library 50,000. The endowniient of the col- lege in that year was $994,054, the value of the grounds and buildings was estimated at $1,399,- 862, and of the entire college property at $1,057,- 888. The gross income was $372,280. VASSELOT, vas'16', Maeqiet de (1840—). A Freueh sculptor, born and educated in Paris. He worked for several years in the Bureaii of the Minister of the Interior and in 1865 decided to devote himself to art, after serving a year as secretary to the French embassy to Siam. He studied art under Bonnat. Jouffroy, and Le Bourg. His works include busts of Balzac in the Theatre Frangais, Boulanger, and Gambetta, and tlie statues "Chloe" in the Luxembourg, and "Christ at the Tomb" at Montmartre. As an historian of art he gained some repute by his Histoire du portrait en France (1880) and the nistoirr di's scvlptcurs franQais de Charles VIII. a Henri III. (1888). VASTO, vas't6. A town in the Province of. Chieti, Italy, situated on rising ground, 1^2 miles from the Adriatic, and 70 miles northwest of Foggia (Map: Italy, J 5). It has a Gothic cathedral, a town hall with a museum, and in- teresting remains of the period of Roman occu- jiation. The industries are (dive-culture, fishing, stock-raising, and the manufacture of wine, wax candles, and brick. Vasto, the ancient Eis- toniiim, was an important town under the Ro- mans. Population (commune), in 1901, 15,538. VATHEK, va'tek'. An Oriental romance, rillcu by William Beekford in 1782, originally in I'reiicli ; published first in English without the author's sanction by his friend Samuel Henley (who is said to have suggested it), later in 1780, and soon afterwaixls at Paris and Lausanne in French. While tedious in parts, it has been con- sidered the best Oriental story ever wn-itten by an Englishman, and presents a remarkable alliance of the sublime and the fantastic. jConsult Gar- nett. Essays of an Ex-Librarian (London, 1901). VATICAN", Cou^-ciL of the. A council held in Rome in 1809-70 and considered by Roman Catholics as the twentieth ecumenical council. (See Council.) In 1867, 300 years after the Council of Trent, Pope Pius IX. announced his purpose of holding another council. The jicriod between this announcement and the publi- cation of the Pope's encyclical (June 29, 1868), definitely summoning the council, was replete with controversy regarding it. Many of the prel- ates and of the general body of the clergy, espe-
