ARTHBITIS 278 ARTICHOKE ARTHRITIS, any inflammatory dis- temper that affects the joints, particu- larly chronic rheumatism or gout. ARTHROPODA, a subdivision of the annulosa, or articulata, containing the classes belonging to that sub-kingdom which are of the highest organization. The body is very distinctly divided into rings or segments, sometimes, as in the myriapoda ^centipedes and millepedes), mere repetitions of each other, but more frequently with some of them differen- tiated for special ends. In general, the head, thorax, and abdomen are distinct. Under the subdivision arthropoda are ranked in an ascending series the classes miriapoda, Crustacea, arachnida, and insecta. ARTHUR, a prince of the Silures, and King of Britain in the time of the Saxon invasions in the 5th and 6th centuries. He was the son of Uther Pendragon and Igerne, wife of Gorlois, Duke of Cornwall, and was elected King of Britain at the age of 15. He immediately declared war against the Saxons in the north of England, and defeated them so completely, that in one battle alone, it is said, he slew 500 Saxons with his own sword, the famous Calibur. He subdued the Picts and the Scots, and also Ireland and Iceland. After a long peace, during which he married the fair Guinevere, Arthur con- quered Gaul and Norway, and even fought against the Muscovite hordes. On the Romans demanding tribute, he crossed into Gaul, and defeated them in a mighty battle. Recalled to England by the revolt of his nephew, Modred, allied to the Scots and Picts, Arthur fought against him in Cornwall, his last battle, in which Modred was slain, and Arthur himself mortally wounded. He was buried at Glastonbury. It was long believed by his countrymen that he was not dead, but carried to fairy- land, and that he would yet reappear, and, with his mighty sword, again lead them to victory over their enemies. The existence and exploits of Arthur and of his paladins, the Knights of the Round Table, have been for ages the theme of minstrels and poets, examples of which are the famous "Morte d'Arthur" and the "Idylls of the King." ARTHUR, CHESTER ALAN, 21st President of the United States, born in Fairfield, Vt., Oct. 15, 1830; was the son of Scottish parents, his father being pastor of Baptist churches in Ver- mont and New York. He chose law as a profession, and practiced in New York. As a politician, he became a leader in the Republican party. During the Civil War he was energetic as quar- termaster-general of New York in get- CHESTER A. ARTHUR ting troops raised and equipped. He was afterward collector of customs for the port of New York. In 1880 he was elected Vice-President, succeeding as President on the death of James A. Gar- field, in 1881, and in this oflSce he gave general satisfaction. He died in New York City, Nov. 18, 1886. ARTHUR, JULIA, an American ac- tress, born in Hamilton, Ont., in 1869. She made her first professional appearance in "Richard III." and for three seasons played Shakespearean roles. Her first New York success was at the Union Square Theater in "The Black Masque." She later took the leading part in sev- eral successful plays and was received with equal favor in America and Eng- land. She played in Henry Irving's company with Ellen Terry. In 1898 she married Benjamin C. Cheney, Jr., and retired temporarily from the stage, to which, however, she has returned from time to time with considerable success. ARTICHOKE, a plant belonging to the order asteraceae, or composites, the sub- order tuhuliferss, and the section car- duinese, the same to which the thistles belong. It considerably resembles a huge thistle. The receptacle on which the florets are situated, and the fleshy bases of the scales are eaten. The modern Arabs consider the root as ape- rient, and the gum, which they term
