Page:Collier's New Encyclopedia v. 05.djvu/332

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JOHN THE BAPTIST 268 JOHNSON and died in London, England, Feb. 3, 1399. JOHN THE BAPTIST. See JOHN. JOHN'S, EVE OP ST., one of the most joyous festivals of Christendom during the Middle Ages, celebrated on Midsum- mer Eve. Fires were kindled chiefly in the streets and market places of the towns; sometimes they were blessed by the parish priest, but as a rule they ivere secular in their character. The young people leaped over the flames, or threw flowers and garlands into them, with merry songs, and dances. In Eng- land the people on the Eve of St. John's went into the woods and gathered boughs which were placed over their doors, to make good the prophecy respecting the Baptist, that many should rejoice in his birth. It was a lingering belief of the Irish peasantry that the souls of all people on this night leave their bodies and wander to their ultimate place of death by land or sea. JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY, an American educational institution in Bal- timore, Md. ; incorporated in 1867, during the lifetime of the founder, but not formally opened till 1876, after his death. Johns Hopkins left the greater part of his fortune to the university, the en- dowment of which is over $3,000,000. The hospital maintained in connection with the institution is equally liberally endowed. Post-graduate study forms the leading feature of the course of in- struction, though other courses are given. Several of the most important buildings were destroyed by fire in 1920. The degrees of Bachelor of Arts, Doc- tor of Philosophy and Doctor of Medi- cine are conferred. Advanced and grad- uate students have elective courses, but each instructor has a discretion of his own with regard to admission to his classes. It reported at the close of 1919 : Professors and instructors, 334; students, 2,969; volumes in the library, 94,000; productive funds, $15,000,000; income, $928,000; president, Frank J. Goodnow, LL.D. JOHNSON, ALVIN SAUNDERS, an American economist and writer; born near Homer, Neb., in 1874. He gradu- ated, University of Nebraska, in 1897 and took post-graduate courses in Co- lumbia. From 1902 to 1906 he was in- structor and adjunct professor of eco- nomics at Columbia University. From 1906 to 1908 he was professor of economics at the University of Nebraska and in 1908 occupied the same chair at the University of Texas. In 1910 he was appointed associate professor of economics at Leland Stanford University, becoming full professor in 1911. From 1912 to 1916 he was professor of economics at Cornell University and from 1916 to 1918 at Leland Stanford University. From 1917 he was one of the editors of the "New Republic" and contributed much to encyclopedias on economic subjects and wrote "Rent in Modern Economic Theory" (1903); "In- troduction to Economics" (1909) ; "The Professor and the Petticoat" (1914). JOHNSON, ANDREW, an American statesman, 17th president of the United States; born in Raleigh, N. C, Dec. 29, 1808. At 10 years of age he was in- ANDREW JOHNSON dentured to a tailor, for whom he worked for seven years, receiving no schooling, but was taught to read by a fellow- apprentice. In 1826, with his mother, he emigrated to Tennessee. Here he mar- ried Eliza McCardle, a woman of good education, who instructed him in writing and other accomplishments. He was three times elected alderman, and then mayor in 1828-1830. In 1835 and in 1839 he was sent to the Tennessee Legis- lature. In 1840 he made campaign speeches for Van Buren, that gave him a wide reputation for oratory. In 1843 he was elected to Congress, and re- elected in 1845, 1847, 1849, and 1851. In 1853 Tennessee was "gerrymandered" to prevent his election, whereupon he ran for governor, and was elected. In 1857