Powers

3814

Pragmatism

Powers, Hiram (1805-73), American
sculptor, was born on a farm near Woodstock,
Vt.T and in 1810 went with his family to Cin-
cinnati, where in 1826 he began to model and
repair wax figures for a local museum. His
Greek Slave, now in the Corcoran Galley in
Washington, was finished in 1843 and was gen-
erally admired. Other noted works are his
Eve Tempted (iS^^Penseroso (1845), Fish-
fr Boy (1846), Proserpine (1846), and Cali-
fornia (1858, now in the Metropolitan Mu-
seum of New York),

Powhatan (c. 1550-1618), celebrated Indi-
an chieftain, whose real name was Wahusona-
cook. He was head chief of the Indian tribes
with whom the settlers at Jamestown, Vir-
ginia, came in contact. In 1607 Capt. John
Smith, while on an exploring expedition, was
captured by Powhatan's followers, and ac-
cording to an account not historically verified,
escaped execution only through the interces-
sion of the chief's daughter, Pocahontas.

Powys, John Cowper (1872- ), au-
thor and lecturer, born in Derbyshire, Eng-
land, resident of the United Stales much of the
time since 1905. Among his books are Wolj-
Bane (1916); Mandragont (1917); The Com-
plex Vision (1920); The Meaning of Culture
(1930); A Glastonbury Romance (1933) 5 find
Autobiography ('34); Owen Glendwwer ('41^.

Powys, Llewelyn (1884-1930), author,
born in Dorchester, England, resident of New
York much of the time since 1920. Ilis pub-
lished books include Ebony and Ivory (1923);
Black Laughter (1925); The Verdict of Rri-
dlcgoose (1926); Apples Be, Ripe (1930); Im-
passioned Clay (1931); and Abridgement of
the Life (1932).

Poynter, Sir Edward John (1836-1919),
English historical and classical painter and au-
thor, was born in Paris. lie was director of the
National Gallery, London, from 1894 to 1905,
and became president of the Royal Academy
on the death of Millais in 1896. He was cre-
ated a baronet in 1902. Poynter's work in-
cludes frescoes for St. Paul's (London), St.
Stephen's (Dulwich), and other buildings;
portraits, notably those of Edward vn. and
the Duke of Northumberland.

Pozzuoli, town and episcopal see, Italy, in
the province of Naples, on a promontory in
the Gulf of Naples, 6 m. \v. of Naples. Its
mineral springs made it a favorite resort of
the Romans, and it contains important Roman
remains and ruins—the bridge of Caligula, an
amphitheatre, the Scrapeum, villas, and mau-
soleums. A branch of the Armstrong shipbuild-
ing yards, with arsenal and navy yard, is lo-

cated nearby and a particularly good cement
made from earth peculiar to the locality i?
manufactured. It was mark' a Roman colony
in 19.) B.C., and refounded by Augustus, Nero,
and Vespasian. It was the chief port for the
Roman trade with Alexandria and Spain; p.
c. 23,000.

Pradier, James (1792-1852), French
sculptor, was born in Geneva, Switzerland.
Among his works are Bacchante and Centaur
(iSiq), The Children oj Nlubc (1^22), Psyche
(1824), An Odalhque (\8.jr), Spring (1849),
Pandora (at Windsor), the Strassburg and
Lille monuments in the Place <le la Concorde
in Paris, Sapho, The Toilet of Alaltnta, the
Three Graces, and the spandrels in the Arc de
Triomphe.

Prado, the national Spanish Museum of
Art at Madrid.

Praed, Winthrop Mackworth (1802-39),
English port, was born in London. PruecTs
poems, cast in the lighter vein, are character-
ized by grare, delicacy, and brilliance of wit;
while in the Red Fisherman he shows a won-
derful power of imagination.

Praemunire. The Knglish Statute of Pnu-
munire (1392) forbade the purchase or pur-
suit in Rome of translations, excommunica-
tions, etc., under pain of outlawry, forfeiture
of goods, and attachment.

Praetor, the chief magistrate o£ ancient
Rome, first elected in 366 ».<•., from among
the patricians. Ilis main function was at first
to rule in Rome while the consuls were ab-
sent on military service; hence he was much
concerned with civil matters, especially law,
which came to be his chief province.

Praetorians, of ancient Rome, a body of
household troops, instituted by Augustus in
2 if/:. They consisted at first of nine or ten
thousand men, horse and fool* and were in-
creased by Vitellius to sixteen thousand. They
were suppressed by Constantino the Great in
312 AJ>.

Pragmatic Sanction, a name given in the
middle ages to any ordinance affecting the
general interest (s&nctiv pragmatica). By the
Pragmatic Sanction of 14^8 Charles vn, of
France asserted the right* of the Galilean
Church. Another famous Pragmatic Sanction
was that drawn up by the emperor Charles
vi. of Austria in 1713. It declared the indi-
visibility of the Austrian dominions, and the
right of his daughter Maria Theresa to in-
herit them.

Pragmatism, a system of philosophy
which in its broadest sense means the ac-
ceptance of the categories of life us funda-