P. 489, c. 1—“Peter the Great.” He was born in 1672; began to reign, jointly with his brother Ivan, in 1682, his sister being regent. Peter, however, soon obtained complete control. At once his energy began to display itself. The army was reorganized, the czar going through every grade of service, and requiring his nobles to do the same. Shipwrights from other countries were employed to build a navy, and as he had no sea-ports but those on the White Sea, he declared war against Turkey and took Azof. He visited many countries of Europe to study their civilization; sent his young nobles with their wives, to the European courts to polish their manners; introduced men of learning and established much needed schools. Indeed, every conceivable reform was carried on. His wars were principally with Charles XII, of Sweden, (short accounts of which have already been given), with Turkey, and with Persia. He died in 1725. P. 489, c. 1—“Catherine the Second.” See note on Scandinavian History, present number. P. 489, c. 2—“Ar-chi-măn´drīte.” Literally, the chief monk. The title in the Greek church corresponds to abbot in the Catholic church. P. 489, c. 2—“Bells.” The bells of Russia are the most famous of the world. Before the great fire there were in Moscow alone, 1,706. Of these the Tsar Kolokol is the largest. This “king of bells” was cast in 1733 from the fragments of what had been the giant bell of Moscow, but had fallen from its support and been broken. The Tsar bell is said to weigh 443,772 pounds, and to be worth $300,000. It is not now hanging, and it is not known whether it has ever been. It stands on a granite pedestal, and has been consecrated as a chapel. P. 489, c. 2—“Krŏt´kī.” P. 489, c. 2—“Debonair,” dĕb-o-nar´. Anglicized from the French expression _de bon air_—of fine bearing or appearance,—so in its present use, as an adjective, it means courteous or gentle. P. 489, c. 2—“Dmĭt´rī.” P. 489, c. 2—“Monomakh,” mo´no-makh. See THE CHAUTAUQUAN for January, 1883, page 179. P. 489, c. 2—“Bol-ga´ry.” See map. P. 489, c. 2—“Mamaï,” mă-mā´ï. P, 489, c. 2—“Kŏl-om-na.” See map. P. 489, c. 2—“Ser´pŭk-hof.” P. 490, c. 1—“Ku-lĭ-kō´vă.” P. 491, c. 1—“Dŏn-skoï´.” P. 491, c. 1—“Kăl´ka.” P. 491, c. 1—“Black Death.” The plague which ravished Europe in the fourteenth century. It appeared first in Italy in 1340. In London alone, in 1348, two hundred persons were buried daily. In 1362 in England, fifty-seven thousand three hundred and seventy-six persons perished. Germany, Ireland, France, and all Europe were alike afflicted, as many as thirteen millions dying in a year. P. 491, c. 1—“Tī´mur Lĕnk.” P. 491, c. 1—“Tăm´er-lāne.” P. 491, c. 1—“Tŏk-tăm´uish.” P. 491, c. 1—“Kŏs-trō´mä.” See map.