CONTAGIOtrS DISEASES. 344 CONTES DE MA MERE L'OYE. ing upon a StaU; to adopt proper regulations to prevent the spread of epidemics belongs to the so-called natural duties, ratlicr than the luore deiined and absolute principles of international jurisprudence. 15ut with the increase of inter- national intercourse and the development of a more sensitive national conscience, a demand lias arisen among civilized nations for the recog- nition of the riglit to such protection by another State, as -well as the long-established one of sui-- rounding itself l>y defensive barriers. The Unit- ed States has taken the lead in a commercial way by vigilant inspection of meats and like food e.xports. In 1S70 Sir Shenstone Baker prepared a Code of International Quarantine, which was approved by the United States. See Quaran- tine ; and consult the authorities referred to there and under Police Power. CONTARINI, kon'til-re'ne. The name of a noble family in Venice, one of the twelve that elected the "first Doge. Between 1043 and 1674, seven doges were furnished by this famil}', and several of its members were men of note. Do- menico. Doge in 1043-71, was the first of the fam- ily to be invested with that dignity; during his reign the rebuilding of Saint Mark's Church was begun. Andrea, Doge in 1307-82, terminated the long war between Venice and Genoa by defeating the Genoese fleet at Chioggia. His return from this expedition was depicted by Paolo Veronese by order of the Republic. Amhrogio was Ambas- sador of Venice to Persia in 1473-77 and gave an account of his travels, published in Venice ( 1 487 ) . Oasparo ( 1483-1 .542 ) , cardinal and diplo- matist, went as Venetian ambassador to the Diet of Worms in 1521, thence accompanied Charles V. to the Netherlands. England, and Spain, and in 1523 concluded the Emperor's alliance with Ven- ice. In 1535 he was made cardinal by Pope Paul III., and as Papal legate to the Diet of Ratisbon, in 1541, made the most extensive concessions to the Protestants, endeavoring to bring about a reconciliation with the Catholic Church. Of his earnest efforts to introduce sweeping reforms in the latter, his Consilium de Emcndandd Ecclcsia (1537) is suflicient proof. The best-known of his other writings is De Magi^tratihus et Repuhlica Venetorum (15431. Giovanni (1549-IC05) was a painter of the Venetian School, who formed him- self chiefly after the works of Titian and Palma the Younger. Called to Vienna by Emperor FiU- dolph II.. he painted many portraits, but he is more noted for his historical compositions, among which are "The Doge jNIarino Grimani Adoring the Virgin," "Conquest of Verona by the Vene- tians," both executed for the Doge's Palace in Venice; and "Baptism of Christ." CONTARINI FLEMING. A romance by Benjamin Disraeli (1832). CONTE, koN'ta', XicoLAS Jacques (1755- 1805). A French chemist and inventor, born at Aunou - sur - Orne (Orne). He was at first a painter, but afterwards turned to the mechanical arts, and, when France was deprived, through war with England, of its plumbago supply, in- vented a substitute in the shape of a mixture of graphite and clay. This substance he utilized for the manufacture of black-lead pencils, known as crniions Contd, by a ])rocess since followed in making all pencils. He also made extensive researches concerning the military aerostat, be- came director of the aerostatic school at Meudon, and was appointed by Napoleon chief of the
- terostatic cori)s of the French army of invasion
in the Egj)tian expedition. During that expedi- tion his inventive genius proved to be of great service; for, after the reverse at Aboukir, the revolt at Cairo, and the consequent loss of instru- ments and supplies, he directed the manufacture of cloth, surgical instruments, bread, arms, amnumition. and other necessaries. He also devised (1798) a barometer, similar to the later one of Vidi. In 1802 he assisted in founding the Society for the Encouragement of National In- dustry. Consult -Jomard, Conte, sa vie et ses tra- laux (Paris, 1852). CONTEM'PORANE'ITY (from Lat. con- ieiiiponiiicus, simultaneous, from com-, together + tcmpus, timel. A term used in geologj' to imply that two formations were deposited during the same period of time. This does not neces- saril}' mean that they must contain the same fossil species, nor is it likely that they will, except when the two areas of deposition are in the same basin. The term contemporaneity is some- times confused vith hoinotaxti. which means that certain formations occupy the same relative ])ositions with respect to the development of life forms. Thus, certain formations of the Devonian in Europe and North America might show similar faunas, but not have been deposited at exactly the same time. They would be homo- taxial. See Geology. CONTEMPT (Lat. contcmplus. from contcm- ncrc, to despise, from com-, together + tern Here, to despise). In law, any disobedience of, or dis- respectful or disorderly conduct in the presence of. any court or legislative body. It is punish- able because it tends to imjiair the dignity, power, and authority of such bodies, and thus interfere with the administration of the law, and generally the' body concerned has an inherent power sum- marily to impose upon the offender a penalty of fine or imprisonment, or both. All courts have such power. The guilty jierson may usually have these penalties remitted by "'purging' the contempt; that is, by making pecuniary repara- tion, as far as possible, for any damage caused by his acts, and apologizing for his fault. If satisfactory, an order or minute is then entered reciting that this has been done and directing that the culprit be relieved from the penalty. Consult: Rapalje, Treatise on Contempt (New York, 1SS4) ; Oswald, Contempt of Court, Com- mittal, and Attachment, and Arrest Upon Civil Process (London, 1805). CONTEMPT OF PARLIAMENT. See Par- LIAllEXT. CONTES A NINON, koxt za ne'noN' (Fr., Ninon stories). A collection of short stories by Emile Zola, which were collected and pub- lished in 1804, when their author was only twen- ty-four years old. It was his first important work, and has been deemed by some critics his best book of short stories, being free from the exaggerations and brutalities which marked many of his later writings. In 1874 he pub- lished Xonveaux contes a yinon. CONTES DE MA MERE L'OYE, koxt de ma ni.'ir Iwu (Fr.. stories of my ^Mother Goose). A famous collection of fairy tales by Charles Per- ranlt (1607), purporting to be written by his ten-year-old son. The stories are taken from popular tradition, and are told in simple, child-
