Helicon (hĕl′ĭ-kŏn), a mountain-range situated in the southwest of Bœotia. In ancient Greece it was the fabled resort of the Muses. The poet Hesiod lived at its foot, and on its slopes were the two fountains whose waters were held to give inspiration to the poet.
Heligoland is a small island about a mile long and one third of a mile wide, situated in the North Sea and belonging to Germany. It is peopled by 2,080 permanent residents, but is a great summer-resort. Its people live from the lobster-fisheries and from summer visitors. The island was conquered from the Danes in 1807 by Great Britain, and ceded to Germany in 1890. Since 1891 Heligoland has been attached to Schleswig-Holstein. See Black's Heligoland.
He′liograph, an instrument chiefly used in military operations in signaling messages from one station to another by means of a small mirror, which reflects to a distant point the rays of the sun cast upon it. The instrument is simple and portable, and when used is made to send messages to a distant point by the use of long and short flashes, thus spelling out words and sentences by the use of the dot-and-dash or Morse alphabet. The essential difference between messages by the heliograph and by the ordinary telegraph “sounder” is that in the first case the message is read by sight and across the distance at the station sending the same, and in the latter by sound and at the station to which it is sent.
Heliopolis (hē-lĭ-ŏp′ō-lĭs) (city of the sun), one of the most ancient and important Egyptian cities, stood on the Pelusiac branch of the Nile. The obelisk now standing in Central Park, in New York, was first brought from this city to Alexandria. Heliopolis was the great seat of learning in ancient Egypt.
He′liotax′is (in plants). See Phototaxis.
Heliotrope the common name of species of the genus Heliotropium, which contains about 115 species widely distributed in warm regions, nearly 15 of which occur in North America. They are recognized by their spreading and one-sided clusters of flowers, which in the cultivated forms have a characteristic fragrance. The forms of cultivation are probably all derived from two species, the leading one being H. Peruvianum, native to Peru. The other species is H. corymbosum, also from Peru. The original color of both of these species is violet, but the colors of cultivation are various shades of purple to white.
Heliotrope or Bloodstone is a variety of chalcedony or jasper. It is found in almost all parts of the world, but the finest specimens are brought from Asia.
Heliot′ropism (in plants) is the sensitiveness
of a plant to a change in the direction of
A young plant of mustard
grown in water, showing
heliotropic curvature
caused by one-sided
illumination. n, n, level
of water; b, older part of
stem; a, younger part
where curvature occurs;
c, c, primary leaves; d,
sharp curve of root; e,
the growing point. The
arrows show the direction
of the light.
light, to which it
responds by placing its
organs again in a definite
position with
respect to it. In many
plants this is
accomplished by a change in
the rate of growth of
some part, producing
curvature and carrying
attached parts
into the new position.
Thus, if a geranium
plant be taken from a
greenhouse and set
before a window, the
leaves are carried into
a position facing the
window by curvature
of their stalks. This
is the usual response
of leaves of this kind,
while radial leaves,
as those of the onion,
direct their tips
toward the light.
Some stems bend so
as to direct the apex
toward the light, and
some roots turn away from it. Other
plants accomplish like changes by means
of the motor organs (which see), in
which changes of turgor (which see)
produce the curvatures that move the attached
parts.
He′lium. See Argon.
Hel′lespont. See Dardanelles.
Hell Gate is a pass in East River between Long Island and New York, for a long time dangerous to the passage of vessels, but in 1885 the obstruction was removed by blasting. See Blasting.
Hell′muth, Right Rev. Isaac, was born near Warsaw, Poland, in 1820, of Jewish extraction. Educated at the University of Breslau, in 1841 he made a public profession of Christianity, and came to Canada in 1844. Ordained by the Bishop of Quebec in 1846, he was a professor in the University of Bishop's College, Lenoxville, for eight years. Later he became archdeacon, dean of Huron and rector of St. Paul's Cathedral, London (Ontario). He was elected coadjutor-bishop of the diocese of Huron, and made bishop with the title of Bishop of Norfolk. The same year he succeeded Bishop Cronyn, who died in 1871. His most enduring work was education. With Bishop Cronyn he established Huron Theological College (1863), Hellmuth Boys' College (1865) and Hellmuth Ladies' College (1869). He aided in establishing Western University, contributing largely to it from his private funds. These institutions are all doing excellent work at the present time. While they flourish, he will never need a monument. His son, Isidore Hellmuth, is a graduate of Cam-
