Page:Collier's New Encyclopedia v. 03.djvu/144

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CONJURING
110
CONNECTICUT

two main groups: Coördinating conjunctions, joining independent propositions, and subdivisible into copulative disjunctive, adversative, and illative conjunctions; subordinating conjunctions, linking a dependent or modifying clause to the principal sentence. The only active influence which the conjunction can be said to exercise grammatically in a sentence is in respect of the mood of the verb following it in dependent sentences, the rule being to employ the subjunctive where futurity and contingency are implied, the indicative where they are not; as “I will do it though he be there” (which he may or may not be); or “I will do it, though he is there” (which he is).

CONJURING, the production of effects apparently miraculous by natural means. The earlier professors of the art claimed bonâ fide supernatural powers; and in ages when the most elementary principles of physical science were unknown beyond a very limited circle, it was not difficult to gain credence for such a pretension. The modern conjurer makes no such claim, but tells the public frankly that his marvels are illusory, and rest either on personal dexterity or on some ingenious application of natural principles. Of the conjurers of remote antiquity we have few reliable records; though it is a tolerably safe conjecture that the prestige of the ancient mysteries rested in no small degree upon effects of natural magic. The founder of the modern school of conjuring was Robert Houdin (1805-1871), with whom a new era began in 1841. He was followed by Frikell, Hartz, Herrmann, Buatier de Kolta, Verbeck, Lynn, Bertram, etc., producing their magical results with the minimum of visible apparatus. There are, however, signs of a reaction in favor of more spectacular illusions in which the resources of optical and acoustic, as well as mechanical science, are laid under contribution in aid of conjuring proper.

CONKLING, ROSCOE, an American legislator; born in Albany, N. Y., Oct. 30, 1829; was admitted to the bar in 1850; sat in Congress as a Republican in 1858-1862 and 1864-1866, and was elected to the United States Senate in 1867, 1873, and 1879, He became an influential member of his party; in 1876 he received 93 votes for the Presidential nomination, and in 1880, by his support of Grant and his personal opposition to Blaine, divided the Republicans into two sections. In 1881 he and his colleague, Thomas C. Platt, suddenly resigned from the Senate, owing to a dispute with President Garfield on a question of patronage, and sought re-election; but after a warm canvass both were rejected, though vigorously supported by Vice-president Arthur. Conkling afterward practiced law in New York City. He died April 18, 1888.

CONNAUGHT (kon′nât), the smallest of the four provinces of Ireland; between Leinster and the Atlantic; area, 4,392,086 acres. Its W. coast is much broken up by numerous bays and inlets, and is thickly studded with islands. A large proportion of the province is bog, and, generally, it is the least fertile of all the provinces. It is divided into five counties: Galway, Mayo, Roscommon, Leitrim, and Sligo. Pop. about 595,000.

CONNEAUT, a city of Ohio in Ashtabula co. It is on Conneaut creek and on the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern, the New York, Chicago, and St. Louis, and the Bessemer and Lake Erie railroads. It is an important port for the shipping of iron ore and coal. It has a good harbor and excellent shipping facilities. There are railroad shops and manufactures of canned goods, bricks, shovels, lumber, etc. There are hospitals, a public library, and a park. Pop, (1910) 8,319; (1920) 9,343.

CONNECTICUT, a State in the North Atlantic division of the North American Union; bounded by Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Long Island Sound, and New York; gross area, 4,845 square miles; one of the original 13 States; number of counties, 8; population (1890) 746,258; (1900) 908,420; (1910) 1,114,756; (1920) 1,380,631; capital, Hartford.

Topography.—Connecticut lies on the S. slope of the New England hill region, and while its surface is diversified by hills and valleys it is in only a few places over 1,000 feet in altitude. The highest elevation is Bear Mountain, Salisbury, 2,354 feet. The State is drained by three large rivers and their tributaries; the Connecticut, rising in New Hampshire, bisects the State in a N. and S. direction, and is navigable for 50 miles; the Thames, formed by the Shetucket, Yantic, and Quinnebang, is navigable as far as Norwich; and the Housatonic, with its main branch, the Naugatuck, navigable to Derby, The coast line is about 100 miles in length and affords many excellent harbors, of which New Haven and New London are the largest.

Geology.—The valley of the Connecticut river exhibits triassic sandstone and post-tertiary formation, but the greater part of the State is of eozoic or primary formation, which is separated into E. and W. sections by secondary rocks. Extensive trap dykes traverse the E. and W. sections, and boulders of great size on the hill tops, together with