and South America. The common skunk is about the size of a small cat, and ranges from Hudson Bay to Guatemala. The body is rather stout, the tail very bushy, and the prevailing colors black and white. It usually is black, with broad stripes of white running lengthwise. These animals burrow and are active at night. They feed on mice, salamanders, frogs and eggs of birds that nest very low. Sometimes they rob hens' nests, but this is by no means the rule. They are of positive benefit to the farmer on account of the large number of beetles, grasshoppers and field-mice which they destroy. Ordinarily they do not run at the approach of man, but, conscious of the protection of their nauseous secretion, move away deliberately. They can eject this fluid at will eight or 12 feet. They prowl around chiefly at dusk and after dark. They are quite bold and fearless, coming close to camp and dwelling, a pair often taking up abode under barn or porch. The flesh is said, to be white and sweet. Owing to the present scarcity of the more valuable fur-bearers, the fur of the skunk is now extensively used, and in the market goes under the name of Alaska sable.
Skye (skī), the largest island of the Hebrides, off the west coast of Scotland. It is 49 miles long and from seven to 25 broad. It is mountainous, with a few tracts of pasture and one large plain. The highest peak of the mountains, called Coolin Hills, is 3,234 feef "high. Lake Coruisk, the “dread lake” of Scott's Lord of the Isles, and Glen Sligachan, thought to be the grandest glen in Scotland, with columns and cliffs over 1,000 feet high, with waterfalls leaping over them and deep caves at their foot, are among the interesting scenery. Fish abound, and with potatoes form the main diet of the people and also furnish the principal industry. The inhabitants (who chiefly are crofters) are principally Celtic, speak Gaelic, and number 14,608. The principal proprietors are Lord Macdonald and MacLeod of MacLeod. Consult Smith's A Summer in Skye.
Sky′lark, an European bird that mounts high in the sky and sings on the wing. It is the lark of the poets. The larks of America belong to a different family. See Lark.
Sladen, Douglas (Brooke Wheelton), was born in London, England, on Feb. 5, 1856, and educated at Trinity College, Oxford, becoming first professor of history in the University of Sydney, N. S. W., spending four years in that colony. He has travelled extensively and published much about the countries he has seen, being an extensive contributor to Australian literature. In this connection may be mentioned Australian Lyrics, Poetry of Exiles, A Summer Christmas, Australian Ballads, A Century of Australian Song and Australian Poets.
Slate. See Shale.
Sla′ter, Samuel, an Englishman who introduced the manufacture of cotton into the United States, was born at Belper, Derbyshire, in 1768, and died at Webster, Mass., in 1835. Slater was an apprentice under Strutt, the partner of Arkwright. When he quitted England (1789), he did so secretly for fear that efforts might be made to prevent him from introducing Arkwright's machinery abroad. Relying wholly upon his memory, however, he did so; and in 1790 he succeeded in founding the first American cotton-factory at Pawtucket, Rhode Island. He afterwards built mills at Webster, Mass. The town of Slaterville grew up from the homes of his workmen. In 1816 Slater also built woolen-mills at Webster, Mass. He was a liberal and philanthropic employer and the founder of schools for the children of his workmen.
Sla′very, the condition of a man who belongs to a master, who has the right to employ him and treat him as he pleases. It probably arose first from captives made by war. It was general among ancient nations, including the Jews. In Greece slaves were employed not only for domestic service, but as bakers, tailors, seamen, miners, soldiers and police. They usually were mildly treated and were often freed. A slave was not allowed to wear his hair long or to enter the gymnasia and public assemblies, but could appear in the temples and at festivals. At one time there were 200,000 slaves in Attica, three times the number of the freemen. Roman slavery was very severe, as is seen by their gladiatorial combats. Old and useless slaves were often left to starve on an island in the Tiber. The cruelty of the masters was gradually softened by the law, a very cruel one being obliged to sell his slaves. The slave could not own property, though sometimes allowed a small portion of his gains when in trade, and could not testify in the courts. In Britain the Anglo-Saxons made slaves of the Celts and other natives, and had a regular trade with the continent in Irish slaves; but with the Norman conquest slavery was merged into serfdom. The traffic in slaves continued among Mohammedan nations, Christian captives being sold as slaves in the markets of Asia and Africa. The Barbary corsairs, down to 1812, carried off large numbers from the coasts of Europe into slavery. Cervantes, for five years a slave, reports 25,000 Christian slaves in Algiers alone. During the middle ages in Europe the class called serfs were, practically, slaves. They were usually attached to the soil and could be transferred with the land they tilled. They could not hold property, but their oath was taken in evidence and, if injured, they were protected by law.
