Picayune

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Pickett

 

his aim being to produce a pictorial equivalent
of the emotions inspired by nature, not to per-
petuate its external aspects. See impression-
ism.
Picayune, a name derived from the Carib
language, and used in Louisiana for a small
coin worth 6% cents, current before 1857.
Piccard, Auguste (1884- ), Belgian
physicist. In 1932 reached an altitude of
54,120 ft. in a balloon.
Piccard, Jean (1884- ), Am. physicist,
twin brother of Auguste, chemical engineer,
with explosives as his specialty.
Pickering, Edward Charles (1846-
1919), American astronomer, born in Boston.
He established the first physical laboratory in
the United States in the Massachusetts Insti-
tute of Technology and carried out valuable
researches in light and in the spectra of stars.
In 1876-87 he was Phillips professor of astron-
omy in Harvard, and in 1887 became Pain
professor of astronomy. In 1902 he was ap-
pointed director of astronomy in the Carnegie
Institution, Washington, D. C.
Pickering, John (1777-1846), American
lawyer and philologist, son of Timothy Picker-
ing, was born in Salem, Mass. He was a found-
er of the American Oriental Society and its
president up to the time of his death, and was
president of the American Academy of Sci-
ences. He gave special attention to the lan-
guages of the North American Indians and
published two works in this connection, be-
sides as Greek-English lexicon.
Pickering, Timothy (1745-1829), Ameri-
can statesman, born in Salem, Mass. He par-
ticipated in the campaign of 1777 against
Howe; became quartermaster-general in 1780;
ind took part in the campaign which resulted
in the capture of Cornwallis at Yorktown. He
was chosen a delegate to the convention which
ratified the Federal Constitution; and in 1789
he was a delegate to the convention which
framed a new state constitution. In 1790 he
was sent by the government on the important
mission to the Iroquois Indians; during 1791-
95 was postmaster-general; and in 1795 was
appointed secretary of war. During his ad-
ministration of this office a military school at
West Point was established. In 1795 he be-
ame secretary of state, an office he continued
to hold until May, 1800, when, owing to a
quarrel with President Adams, against whom
he had secretly been working, he was dismiss-
ed. In 1803-11 he was a IL S. senator;
and in 1812 and 1814 he was elected to Con-
gress, and in 1817 became a member of the ex-

ecutive council of Massachusetts. Among his
published works may be noted Letters Ad-
dressed to the Native American (1797).
Pickering, William (1796-1854), Eng-
lish publisher. The Diamond Classics (1821-
31) was his first venture. Other series were
the Christian Classics and the Oxford Classics.
He adopted the Aldine Press trade-mark, used
boards covered with dyed cloths instead of pa-
per for binding, and became famous for the
choice delicacy of his work.
Pickering, William Henry (1858-1938),
American astronomer, born in Boston, Mass.
In Peru he climbed to an altitude of 19,-
500 ft. on Mount El Misti with the object of
examining atmospheric conditions, at different
altitudes. He is the author of; Visual Observa-
tions of the Moon and Planets (1900); Atlas
of the Moon (1903); The Moon (1903) ; etc.
Picket. A small detachment of soldiers,
usually a platoon or section under command
of an officer or a selected non-commissioned
officer, posted in a convenient position from
which, by means of sentinels and patrols, it
can preserve an uninterrupted view of the
ground to the front and flanks and report
promptly any movements of the enemy.
Picketing, a term used to designate the
practice among workmen on strike of posting
men to prevent non-striking workmen from
filling the places left vacant in consequence of
the strike. Such pickets are usually stationed
at the entrance to workplaces, or at point
where non-strikers must pass, and endeavor
through persuasion to deter the latter from
continuing in employment. So long as pickets
do not employ force or intimidation, and do
not annoy non-strikers by their acts, they are
within their rights as citizens. In any impor-
tant strike, however, it usually happens that
some pickets will resort to violence or threats
to attain their ends. Hence it has become com-
mon for employers to apply to the courts to
enjoin strikers against picketing and its at-
tendant unlawful acts.
Pickett, Elbert Deet* (1885- ) tem-
perance worker, born at Daingerfield, Texas,
He studied liquor control in Great Britain and
France during 1919 and represented the gov-
ernment at the 16th International Congress
Against Alcohol in 1921. He is the managing
editor of the Cyclopaedia of Temperance and
the author of Enemies of Youth.
Pickett, George Edward (1825-75), Am-
erican soldier in the Confederate service, born
at Richmond, Va. At fair Oaks, June i, 1862,
his brigade repulsed the attack of four Feder-