have this peculiarity, though it is most common among dark races. Animals also have the same peculiarity, as the white elephant, white hare and white mice. The whiteness is caused by the absence of coloring matter in the outside layer of the skin. The eyes of albinoes are red, and are weak in the daytime but strong at night.
Alboni, Marietta, a celebrated (contralto) opera singer, born in the Romagna, Italy, in 1823, and died at Paris, June 23, 1894. She studied under Rossini and made her debut at Bologna, achieving a phenomenal success. She afterward sang in all the chief Continental and English cities, and also appeared in the United States, She married Count Pepoli, a Bolognese, after whose death, in 1863, she retired from the stage.
Albu' men, a substance familiarly known in the white of eggs, which exists abundantly in all animals and in the juices, seeds, grains and other parts of plants. It is one of a class of substances called proteids, which form an important part of food, since they build up the tissues of the body. Albumen is naturally a fluid, but when heated to a high temperature it is changed into a firm, white solid. White of egg is used to clear liquids, as coffee, because when boiled it collects all the impurities in flakes and rises to the surface as scum, or sinks to the bottom, according to the weight of the liquid holding it.
Albuquerque (dl-boo-kdr'kd), the county seat of Bernadillo County, New Mexico. It is 56 miles southwest from Santa Fe, and its elevation is 4930 feet. The territorial University of New Mexico is situated in this city. Among the chief industries of the city are the trade in wool and hides and manufactures of lumber, sash, doors, boxes, etc. There are mines of gold, silver, copper and iron in the vicinity. The Rio Grande, the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe and the Atlantic and Pacific railroads pass through Albuquerque. Albuquerque is growing very rapidly; the population in 1910, is 11,020.
Alcamenes (al-kam1'e-nez), a famous Athenian sculptor, a pupil of Phidias. He flourished from about 448 to 400 B. C. He is said to have once competed with his master in chiseling a statue of Minerva. Alcamenes's statue was beautiful in finish, but he had forgotten that it was to be placed on a high column; and so placed his work would not bear comparison with that of his great master. His masterpiece was his statue of Venus Urania, in the temple of Venus at Athens.
Alcestis (al-ses'tes). In classic mythology, the daughter of Pelias and wife of Admetus, king of Thessaly. She is said to have sacrificed herself that her husband's life, then in danger, might be spared, as Apollo had promised her. She was brought back from Hades by Hercules. The story of her wifely devotion is the theme of a tragedy, or rather of a melodrama, by Euripides.
Al' chemy, the art of making gold and silver and of preparing a universal medicine. In ancient times it seems to have been cultivated to some extent by the Greeks and Chinese, and was learned by the Arabs in their invasions. In the middle ages it was looked upon as a science, and was earnestly studied among the nations of Europe. A university of alchemy was founded at Prague, and princes for a time kept their private alchemists.
The alchemists believed in the existence of a certain solid red preparation called the philosopher's stone or the grand elixir, which, when placed on common metals, such as lead, and melted to a liquid, would change them into gold. It would also cure all diseases, while a similar white preparation changed all metals to silver. In the study of this art many scientific truths were discovered, and so alchemy became the forerunner of chemistry.
Alcibiades (al-si-bifa-dez), one of the most brilliant of the Athenians. He was born at Athens about 450 B. C., and boasted that he was descended from the hero Ajax, and through him from Jupiter himself. He was brought up by Pericles, his guardian, and was a favorite pupil of Socrates. He was beautiful in person, had splendid abilities and energies and great ambition, but was without self-restraint and utterly selfish. Entering public life at the time of the contest with Sparta he became the leader of the war party, and persuaded the Athenians to undertake an expedition against Sicily. The night before he set out as one of the generals all the images of the god Hermes or Mercury were thrown down, and he was charged with a share in the sacrilege. No sooner had he reached Sicily than he was recalled to stand trial, but fled to Sparta and devoted all his energies to defeating his own countrymen. Soon the Spartans grew jealous of his power and influence and he was compelled to flee to the Persians. Anxious to return to his native Athens, he promised the Athenians the help of the Persians. He was recalled and made general, and won several brilliant victories, but was banished again at his first defeat. After the fall of Athens, on his way to the Persian court to seek help for his country, he was assassinated, 404 B.C.
Alcinous (al-cin1o-us), a mythical king of the island of Scheria described in the Odyssey. Being separated from other people, he and his people lived in unbroken peace and prosperity. The description of the king's palace with its fine furnishings, and its wonderful court containing the orchard of everbearing trees and vines is well known and is quite remarkable. The
