BRIDGE OF SIGHS 178 BRIDGETOWN to music, notably Gladstone's Latin ver- sion of "Rock of Ages." BRIDGE OF SIGHS, a bridge in Venice, spanning the Rio della Paglia and connecting the ducal palace with the prisons. It dates back to 1597 and forms a graceful arch 32 feet above the water, inclosed at the sides and arched overhead. It contains two passages, through which prisoners were led for trial, judgment or punishment. BRIDGEPORT, a consolidated town and city, and one of the county-seats of Fairfield co., Conn.; on Long Island Sound, at the mouth of the Pequonnock river, and on the New York, New Haven and Hartford railroad; 18 miles S. W. of New Haven. The city is built on a plain on each side of the river, the E. portion being named East Bridge- port, and the W., lying back of the plain, rising to an elevation of about 70 feet above high water, is known as Golden Hill, and contains many elegant residences. There are public parks, the most attractive of which is Seaside Park on the shore, having a sea-wall and a picturesque drive, and containing a Soldiers' Monument and a statue of Elias Howe. The portion of the city known as Black Rock is a much fre- quented resort during the summer months. Bridgeport contains many churches and chapels, a well endowed public library, and many other public buildings. Among these are a United States Government building, containing the postofRce and custom-house depart- ments; the County Court House; a Y. M. C. A. building; the Barnum Me- morial Institute, bequeathed jointly to the Historical and Scientific Societies; several hospitals, and an orphan asylum and v/idows' home. The city is noted for its large manufacturing interests, and is the seat of the Singer sewing machine, the Union Metallic Cartridge works, the Remington Arms Co., and many other establishments of the first class. During the World War Bridge- port was one of the chief manufactur- ing centers of the country. The prin- cipal manufactures besides those men- tioned are carriages, furniture, bicycles, typewriters, hardware, monumental bronze, cutlery, wire, silk, corsets, brass goods and other commodities. In 1919 thero were 3 National banks. Bridgeport was settled in 1670, under the name of Fairfield village, and was incorporated as a city in 1836. Pop. (1910) 102,054; (1920) 143,555. BRIDGES, ROBERT, English poet- laureate; born Oct. 23, 1844. He was educated at Eton and Oxford and be- came a physician, retiring from the ac- tive practice of his profession in 1882. He wrote many poems of considerable poetic merit, though he cannot be classed among the masters of English verse. He was made poet-laureate, suc- ceeding Alfred Austin in that post in 1913. Among his best poems are "Eros and Psyche" and "Achilles in Scyros." A complete edition of his works was published in 1913. BRIDGET, the name of two saints in the Roman Catholic Church. The first, better known as St. Bride, was born in Ireland about the end of the 5th cen- tury. She was exceedingly beautiful, and to avoid offers of marriage and other temptations, implored God to render her ugly, which prayer was granted. An order of nuns of St. Bride was established, which continued to flourish for centuries. St. Bride was held in great reverence in Scotland. The second St. Bridget, or more properly Birgit or Brigitte, was the daughter of a Swedish prince, born about 1302, and died at Rome in 1373, on her retui-n from a pilgrimage to Palestine. Sho left a series of mystic writings which were pronounced inspired by Gregory XI. and Urban VI. Her youngest daughter, Catherine, was also canonized, and be- came the patron saint of Sweden. BRIDGETON, city, port of entry and county-seat of Cumberland co., N. J.; on the Cohansey river and several rail- roads; 38 miles S. of Philadelphia. It is a very old settlement, having been a place of considerable importance before the Revolutionary War. Its surround- ings are agricultural; and it has manu- factures of glass, gas pipe, nails, ma- chinery, flour, oil cloth, woolen goods, shoes, and shirts, and also large fruit and vegetable canning interests. It has a public park, Tumbling Dam, which contains a picturesque lake and a fine athletic field. The city contains the Ivy Hall Seminary, a public high school. National banks, good water and sewage systems, and electric lights and street railroads. Its excellent climate _ and scenic attractions have made the city a popular resort for summer tourists and residents. Pop. (1910) 14,209; (1920) 14,323. BRIDGETOWN, the capital of the island of Barbadoes, in the West Indies, extending along the shore of Carlisle Bay, on the S. W. coast of the island for nearly 2 miles. Its appearance is very pleasing, the houses being em- bosomed in trees, while hills of mod- erate height rise behind, studded with
