Prints

3833

Prisons

compound, after careful grinding, is suitable
for newspapers, the paper for this class of
work being usually of such an absorbent
nature that a better quality of varnish is
unnecessary. For book work and magazines,
where high-class illustrations such as line
and process plates are employed, a totally
different varnish must be used, the paper
having a different texture and finish, and the
ink used must here depend more upon sur-
face drying than upon absorption. To this
end the so-called drying oils are employed
in the varnish. Linseed oil has been found
to give the most reliable results.

In the manufacture of colored inks chemi-
cal knowledge is necessary, so that the chem-
icals employed in the manufacture of the
pigment or varnish do not react upon each
other. Lithographic inks, black and colored,
are prepared from carefully selected var-
nishes, and contain a much larger percentage
of pigment than letterpress inks.

Prints, designs or pictures placed on paper
or a similar substance by means of pressure,
usually in a printing press. Prints are pro-
duced in three ways: relief processes, in-
taglio processes, and planographic processes.
The relief processes comprise woodcuts and
wood engravings. Intaglio processes com-
prise engraving, dry point, mezzotinting, and
etching (see ENGRAVING; ETCHING). Piano-
graphic processes comprise lithography,
which is based whoDy on chemical and
physical action. The charm and value of a
print lies essentially in the quality of line
peculiar to the process employed in its mak-
ing, something which cannot be reproduced
in the ordinary process of wholesale print-
ing. The subject of Japanese prints forms a
study in itself (see JAPANESE ART). Consult
Richter's Prints: A Brief Review of their
Technique and History (1914).

Prior, Matthew (1664-1721), English poet,
was born probably in Wimborne, Dorset-
shire. Of his works Prior himself regarded
with most favor Solomon on the Vanity of
the World; but his only other long work,
Alma, or the Progress of the Mind, a poem
in the Hudibrastic manner, has generally
been preferred. His greatness as an artist,
however, is most clearly shown in his shorter
pieces such as the Lines written in Mezaray's
History of France, and his verses to children.

Priory, a monastic community governed by
a prior or prioress. Simple or obedientiary
priories are dependent upon abbeys, cither
paying a yearly tribute or yielding their
revenues entirely to the superior order. Con-

ventual priories are autonomous houses
which have no abbots. See MONASTERY.

Pripet, or Pripyat, river, West Russia, one
of the chief tributaries of the Dnieper. Its
course of nearly 500 m. crosses a vast marshy
district estimated to cover over 30,000 sq. m.,
of which over 22,000 have been drained
and reclaimed by the Russian government.
In the early part of the Great War it was
the scene of several engagements in the
vicinity and in February, 1918, an armed
flotilla on its waters was captured by the
German forces.

Priscianus, Roman grammarian, was born
probably hi Caesarea, about 500 A.D., and
taught at Constantinople. His Latin gram-
mar was a standard work, and all subse-
quent grammars have been based on it.

Prism, a solid figure whose ends or bases
are two identically equal polygons lying in
parallel planes, their corresponding sides be-
ing joined by parallelograms. The prism is
triangular, quadrangular, etc., according to
the form of the bases.

Prisoners of War. An officer or soldier
who is captured or who surrenders must be
given quarter, and is entitled to be adjudged
a prisoner of war. He must be treated with
humanity, and his personal property, ex-
cluding arms, horses, and military papers,
must be protected. Wages may be devoted
to improving the prisoner's condition. He
cannot be required to engage in military op-
erations against his own country. The cap-
tor may lawfully shoot the prisoner who at-
tempts to escape while engaged in the act,
but he cannot punish him afterward for the
attempt. A prisoner is required to state his
true name and rank, but cannot be required
to give any other information which might
prove of value to the enemy. All civilized
nations signed the Hague Convention of
1907, which provided rules for treatment
of prisoners. After the conclusion of peace
the repatriation of prisoners of war takes
place as speedily as possible.

Prisons. Prisons and dungeons are men-
tioned in the Hebrew Bible and in other
ancient writings, showing that they must
have existed in some form from earliest
times. They were probably used at first for
prisoners of war or enemies of the govern-
ment till released by death or otherwise.

In 1769 John Howard of England began
his ceaseless labors and journeys in behalf
of prisons and prisoners, which brought
about improvements in his own country
and on the Continent, The most widespread