SILAS. 163 SILENTJS. nothing more is known of Silas, unless, as is quite probable, he is the person referred to in 1. Peter v. 12, as the 'faithful brother' of the writer. ' Consult McGiffert, The Apostolic Age (Xcw York, 1807). SILAS MARNER, The We.^ver of Ra-eloe. A story of humble life by George Eliot (1801), considered by many her finest work. Silas, a linen-weaver, wrongly accused of theft, leads an isolated, miserable existence, his one treasure, the savings of years, being stolen by the Squire's son. In its place, a little child strays into his cottage, and fills his life with joy. SILAY, se-li'. A town of Western Negros, Philippines, situated on the northwestern coast 9 miles north of Bacolod (Jlap: Philippine Islands, G 9). Population (estimated), in 1899, 14,537. SILCHER, zilK'er, Friedrich (1789-1860). A German song-composer, born at Schnaith, Wiirt- temberg. He studied with liis father and Auber- len, an organist at Fellbach. He taught music while residing at Stuttgart and in 1817 received the appointment of musical director at the Uni- versity of Tubingen, which position he held until within a few mouths of his death. His Saiiimliinff deutscher Volkslieder contains many of his songs, which have proved great favor- ites. Among these are: '"Aennchen von Tharau," '•Jlorgen musz ich fort von hier," "Ich weisz nieht was soil es bedeuten," "'Zu Strassburg auf der Schanz." Among his other works are three books of hymns, Tithintjcr Liedertafcl, and Hurmoiue- und Corn positioujilchre. He died at Tiibingen. SIL'CHESTER. A village in Northern Hampshire, England, about half-way between Reading and Basingstoke. Near the modern vil- lage is the site of the old Koman town Calleva Atrrbatnm. The site is inclosed by the remains of the old wall and broad ditch, but no other ruins of the city are visible above ground, and the place has long been under cultivation. Some slight explorations had been made pre- viously, but the first systematic excavations were attempted in 1864 by Joyce, who renewed his efforts from time to time. In 1890 the So- ciety of Antiquaries took up the work, and now the greater part of the ancient site has been ex- plored. The museum at Reading has been chosen as the depository of such objects as can be trans- ported. The wall forms an irregular heptagon, of about 1% miles in circuit. Six gates have been found; the main gates are on Roman roads which traversed the town from north to south and east to west. In the centre lay the Forum, an open space surrounded on three sides by colonnades with shops behind them, while on the fourth was the Basilica, a hall 270 feet long by 58 feet wide. Outside the whole block was a colonnade fronting on the street. The streets divided the town into a series of blocks {insul(r) ; the houses were not closely joined, but seem to have stood in their own gardens. They are not of the type of the city house of Italy, but consist of rooms opening from a long corridor, or else of three such corridors about a square court-yard. One house of large size, and with baths attached, is supposed to have been an inn. Three temples have been found, and apparently an early Christian cliurch, a small building with a nave, two aisles, and an a|)se, as well as side rooms. The place was thor- oughly Romanized, as is proved by the inscrip- tions and the art, in which notliing Celtic is dis- cernible. Tlie earlier excavations are reported in Arckaologia (l^ondon Society of Antiquaries), vols. xl.. xlvi., and 1. Beginning with vol. lii. (1890) full annual reports have been published, well illustrated by plates and plans. For a brief account of the excavations through 1898, see The Cliissicul Review, vol. xiii. (London, 1899). SILENE, si-le'ne (Neo-Lat., from Lat. Silc- nus. Ok. Sff/tj/i'Of, SeilCnos, name of a satyr). A large genus of annual or perennial plants of the natural onler Caryophyllaccoe; mostly natives of the northern temperate zone. Bladder campion (Silene Ciiciihalus) , a European perennial, grows in grain fields and dry pastures, has a branched stem a foot high, bluish-green leaves, panicles of white flowers, and an inflated calyx. The young shoots are sometimes used like as- paragus, and have a peculiar but agreeable flavor, somewhat resembling that of peas. They BLADDER CAMPION. are best when blanched. Though recommended for cultivation, the plant has not obtained a place among garden plants. Silene stcllata, the starry campion of the United States, quite similar to the moss campion (Silene acaulis), a little plant, with beautiful purple flowers growing in patches so as to form a kind of turf, is one of the finest ornaments of the higher mountains of Europe. It occurs also in America. !Many species are popularly called catchfly from their viscidity. SILENT WOMAN, The. See Epicosne. SILE'NUS (Lat., from Gk. j:ear/v6(, Seile- nos). In Greek mythology, one of the Sileni. These are spirits of the springs, streams, and luxuriant marshy meadows, companions of Diony- sus, like satyrs. They seem to belong to the Asiatic worship of the wine-god, and it is in Asia Jlinor that we find a or the' Silenus in various legends, which, while showing the
