COSMORAMA. 458 COSSACKS. The name was a|)|)Iied to cxliibitions where rep- resentations of Uuulsfapes, buildings, and other features of places in ditierent parts of the world could be seen. By properly arranging the lenses, mirrors, and illumination, the pictures were pro- duced not only enlarged, but with the effect of perspective. Cosmoramas were first introduced in France at the beginning of the nineteenth century. COS'MOS ( Neo-Lat., from Gk. K6afios, kosmos, order, world, universe). A genus of annual and perennial herbs of the order Compositae. The twenty or so species comprised in this genus are natives of tropical America, mostly jVIexieo. A few annual species are cultivated in flower-gar- dens, pnd have within recent years come into increased prominence and popularity, especially in the United States. (For illustration, see Plate of Cranberky, etc.) The plants are some- times 10 feet high, lea'es pinnately cut, flowers mostly rose, crimson, purple, yellow, or white; generally solitary on a long peduncle. A sandy soil not too rich is preferred. The seeds are sown indoors, and the plants when large enough are set in the garden, after danger of frost is past. Cosmos hipinnutus and Cosmos sulplmreus are the species most commonly growTi. The former grows 7 to 10 feet high, blooms in the late fall, and has many different forms. A dwarf variety about 4% feet high blooms in July. Cosmos sulphureus grows '2V-2 to 4 feet high, with sulphur or rich orange-yellow flowers 1 to 3V4 inches in diameter. It comes into blossom in some of the more southern States in late spring, and continues to bloom without cessa- tion until killed by fall frosts. The black cosmos (Cosmos diiwrsifolius) is a tender annual grow- ing only 12 to 16 inches high. COSMOS. A great scientific work in four volumes, by Alexander von Humboldt, which ap- peared at intervals from 1845 to 1858. It is a physical description of the universe, setting forth physical laws in logical order, though modern science shows it faulty in some of its matter. COSQUIN, ko'skaN', Emmanuei, (1841—). A French writer on folklore. He was born at Vitry-le-Francois, Mame. In his Conies popu- laires de Lorraine (1887) he aims to show that the folklore of Europe has been derived from India. He has also written considerably on re- ligious subjects, chiefly for the paper Le Fran- fuis, and prepared the following French trans- lation of the works of Fessler, secretary of the Vatican Council: La vraie et la fausse infalli- hilitc des Papes (1873) and Le concile du Vati- can (1877). COSS. See Algebra. COS'SA, France.sco (c.l438-c.80). An Italian painter. He worked at Ferrara and Bologna, and is considered, with Lorenzo Costa, to have been the founder of the Ferrarese School. In the Palazzo Schifanoja at Ferrara there is a curious fresco by him, "The Glorification of March, April, and May," the other months hav- ing been done by lesser artists. In this compo- sition there are .a number of portraits of his contemporaries, remarkable for their fidelity to nature and for the valuable studies of costume. The Marquis of Borso, for whom the picture was painted, gave Cossa but slight compensation, and he, indignant at this ti'eatment, left Ferrara and settled at Bologna. His picture in the gallery there — a Madonna surrounded by saints — is considered his finest work. COSSA, LuiGi (1831-90). An Italian econo- mist. He was born in jMilan, studied at tlie universities of Pavia, Vienna, and Leipzig, and in 1858 was appointed professor of political economy in Pavia. His most important work is the Primi ciemenfi di economia politica (8th ed., 1889), which has been translated into English and several other languages. Among his other publications may be mentioned Saggi di economia politica (1878).' COSSA, PiETKO (1834-81). An Italian dram- atist, born in Rome. He is considered the most brilliant writer, for the stage that the nineteenth century produced in Italy after the death of the Count Giraud. The best of his plays are the fol- lowing: Neroni (1871); Plauio (187G); Cola di Rienzi ; GiuUano I'Apostata (1876); Messalima (1876) : / Borfjia (1878) ; and Cleopatra. (1879). "If not great plays or dramatic poems," says an eminent critic, "they ate, at all events, very splendid historical masquerades." A collection of them, Teatro poetico, was published (Turin, 1887). COSSACK ASPARAGUS. See Typha. COSSACK POSTS. A system of outposts, used in the United States Army. Each post consists of four men — tliree reliefs of one sen- tinel each and a non-commissioned otficer as commander, or, failing such, an old and experi- enced' .soldier. They are a substitute for the usual line of pickets and sentinels. From four to twelve such posts are supplied from each support: and in close rugged country they are posted about 300 yards in front of them, and are usually 150 to 300 yards apart from each other. The sentinels are posted from 10 to 30 yards in front of the Cossack posts and are kept under constant observation by the other mem- bers of their post. They are relieved every hour, and the posts every three hours. The advantages claimed for the Cossack system are that it is more economical in point of men required than is the usual method, and is besides less fatigu- ing, and consequently more effective: and that, above all else, it enables the sentries to he more resolute in the performance of their duties, be- cause, hacked up by the nearness of their post, they are freed from any timidity of loneliness. See Outpost. COSSACKS (Russ. kozaku, Icazaku, from Turk, kazuk, robber; the same word in Tatar designating a light - armed warrior). A name borne by a people living under a peculiar mili- tary organization, who for several centuries have constituted an important element in the popula- tion of southern Russia. Their principal homes are the steppes of the Don and of Ciscaucasia and a region at the southern end of the Ural Mountains, on the borders of European Russia and Siberia. Thej' are a mixed race, of Russian, Polish, Tatar, and other elements, with the Russian predominating. In fact, they are distin- guished from the other Russians by their unset- tled mode of life rather than by any difference of race or fundamental character. The Cos- sacks make their appearance in history about the close of the Middle Ages as a frontier peo- ple, on the border of Slavdom (Russia and Po- land) on the one hand and the Tatar regions to the southeast on the other. A free, wild people.
