Page:Collier's New Encyclopedia v. 10.djvu/470

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WOLF 400 WOLFE forehead, oblique eyes, and erect ears. The fur varies according to the climate with respect both to its nature and color. In the N. it is long and thick — longest on the belly and legs, bushy on the tail, and erect on the neck and sides — while in the S. it is generally shorter and rougher. The color is usually pale yel- lowish gray mingled with black, lighter, often whitish gray below. It undergoes some change witn the season, including to red in the summer, in the winter to yellow, which becomes white in the N.; it is of a darker hue in the S. The fore- head is whitish gray, the snout yellowish gray, always mingled with black, the lips whitish and the cheeks yellowish, some- times distinctly striped. A full grown wolf measures 5 feet 5 inches in length, whereof 18 inches belong to the tail; its height is 33 inches, and its weight over 100 pounds. The wolf's natural voice is a loud howl, but when confined with dogs, it will learn to bark. WOLF, FRIEDRICH AUGUST, a German scholar and critic ; born in Hayn- rode, near Nordhausen, Prussia, Feb. 15, 1759, Before leaving the gymnasium of Nordhausen, he had not only read the chief ancient authors, but had acquired an extensive knowledge of the languages and literatures of France, England, Italy and Spain. In 1777 he entered the University of Gottingen, but was an ir- PRIEDRICH AUGUST WOLF regular attendant at professors' lectures, giving himself chiefly up to intense and solitary study. As a consequence he was hardly known, and where known not particularly liked. In 1782 he was ap- pointed rector of the Biirgerschule at Osterode in the Harz, and next year he was called to Halle as Professor of Philosophy and Paideutics. Here he labored upward of 20 years with the highest enthusiasm for the cause of edu- cation. His ambition was to produce a great race of teachers, who should be instinct with the noblest and purest spirit of antiquity. In 1793 appeared his great work, "Prolegomena ad Homerum" (3d and 4th eds. 1872 and 1875) In 1824 he went S. on a voyage for the sake of his health, but died in Marseille, Aug. 8, of that year. WOLFE, CHARLES, an Irish poet; bom in Dublin, Ireland, Dec. 14, 1791; was educated at Trinity College, Dublin, and it was while there that the poem which has secured his fame, "Ode on the Burial of Sir John Moore," was published in the "Newry Telegraph" (1817). He was also the author of several other poems, and his "Remains" were pub- lished at Dublin (1825). He died at the Cove of Cork (now Queenstown), Ireland, Feb. 21, 1823. WOLFE, JAMES, an English military officer; born in Westerham vicarage, Kent, Jan. 2, 1727; was educated at Westerham and Greenwich. From the first he was bent upon following his father's profession of arms; and, balked by illness at 13 of a share of the un- fortunate Cathagena expedition, in 1742 he received an ensign's commission in a foot regiment. In 1743 he took part in the famous battle of Dettingen, boy though he was, as adjutant of his regi- ment; in 1744 he obtained his captaincy; and in 1745-1746 he served against the Scotch, being present at the battles of Falkirk and Culloden. Again abroad on service in 1747. he was wounded, though not seriously, at the battle of Lawfeld, and so distinguished himself that he was publicly thanked by the Duke of Cum- berland. From 1749 to 1757, with oc- casional interruptions, such as a six months' residence in Paris, he was en- gaged in garrison duty in Scotland and England; his interesting correspondence with his mother shows that he had no great liking for the former country and its inhabitants. In the mismanaged ex- pedition against Rochefort (1757) Wolfe acted as quartermaster-general. The total failure of the operations brought disgrace to nearly all concerned; but it became known that had Wolfe's counsels been followed the result would almost certainly have been different. Pitt's at- tention was now first decisively drawn to him as an officer of whom great things misht be expected ; and in 1758, with the full rank of colonel, he was appointed to the command of a brigade in the expedi- tion against Cape Breton under General Amherst. A brilliant success was ob- tained in the capture of the strong for- tress of Louisberg, after a seven weeks*