BALDER

160

BALFOUR

tember 25, 1513, he first saw the Pacific Ocean from a peak of Darien. Owing to intrigues against him, Balboa was obliged to give up his command, but undertook many successful expeditions while in a subordinate position. Davilla, however, who succeeded him as commander, envious of his success, accused him of plotting a rebellion, and had him beheaded in 1517.

BaI'der, the beautiful god of light in the Norse mythology. He was the son of Odin and Frigg and was beloved of gods, men and nature. Through a charm Balder was made incapable of injury from any object save the mistletoe. Loke, the god of fire, jealous of Balder, found out through deceit the one thing which could injure him, and persuaded the blind god Hoder to throw at him a weapon made of mistletoe. Balder was slain, and the twilight of the gods began. A messenger was sent to the lower world to beg for the return of Balder. The promise was given that he would be permitted to return if all things, both animate and inanimate, would weep for him. Loke, in the disguise of a giantess, refused to weep'and so Balder remained in the lower world. See Anderson's Norse Mythology, and Bulfinch's Age of Fable.

Bald'win, James Mark (1861), American psychologist, was born at Columbia, S. C, in 1884 graduated from Princeton, and subsequently studied at Leipsic, Berlin and Tübingen. In 1886-87 he was instructor in German in his alma mater, and in the two following years he was professor of philosophy at Lake Forest University, occupying the same chair from 1889 to 1903 in the University of Toronto, Canada. Subsequently he devoted himself to psychological studies, gaining prominence in the science and making a number of contributions to its varied branches; while at the same time filling the chair of psychology at Princeton. In conjunction with Professor Cat-tell of Columbia he founded the Psychological Review, and in 1901 became editor-in-chief of the Dictionary of Philosophy and Psychology. His other publications, besides his translations from French and German, include A Handbook of Psychology, in two volumes (1888), Elements of Psychology (1893), The Story of the Mind and Social and Ethical Interpretations in Mental Development (1897-98). He made many original discoveries and reasearches in his own special department of work, and contributed a number of articles to reviews and encyclopaedias.

Baldwin, Hon. Robert, born in city of Toronto, 1804, of Irish descent. His father, the Hon. W. W. Baldwin, was a member of the Parliament of Upper Canada. Practiced law very successfully and profitably from 1825 to 1848. First elected to

the Upper Canada Legislature in 1829, The executive, although in a minority, rejected year after year the legislation of the Legislative Assembly. He became the champion of responsible government. Lord Durham supported him and oligarchical rule was doomed. He was a member of the executive council in 1836. In 1840 he became solicitor general. In 1842 be became attorney-general in Upper Canada. Mr. Lafontaine was attorney-general in Lower Canada. Hence, the name of "Baldwin-Lafontaine Government." Held the position until 1851. Died 1858. Called the father of responsible government in Canada.

Bal'ear'ic Isles (bäl'e-är'ik), a group of islands lying off the Mediterranean coast of Spain. They are Majorca or Mallorca, Minorca, Iviza, Formentera, Cabrera and several islets. From 1232 to 1344 they formed the kingdom of Mallorca, but in 1349 were united with the kingdom of Aragon. They now form a Spanish province, Balleares, with an area of 1,935 square miles, where vines, olives and fruit trees are abundant. Port Mahon, in Minorca, is one of the finest harbors in Europe. The Phoenicians and Greeks visited the islands in early times. Later they were subject to Carthage, but were added to the Roman empire in 123 B. C. The natives were famous slingers and their name, Baléares, comes from the Greek word meaning "to throw." Population, 311,649.

Balfe (bălf), Michael William, a musician and composer (born 1808, died 1870). He studied under various masters, and in 1826 wrote his first work, La Perouse, which was performed at Milan. In the same year he sang in Italian opera at Paris, and later conducted the London Italian opera. His most successful operas are The Bohemian Girl, The Rose of Castile and The Talisman. Many of his songs are favorites.

Balfour (băVfōōr), The Right Hon. Arthur James, an English statesman and prime-minister (1902-05), was born July 25, 1848. He was educated at Cambridge University, and in 1874 entered parliament as a member of the Conservative party, and during 1878-80 he was private secretary to his uncle, Lord Salisbury. He was president of the local government board (1885), secretary for Scotland (1886) and chief secretary for Ireland (1887), and then filled the important position of leader of the Conservative party in the House of Commons. In July, 1902, on the retirement of Lord Salisbury, Mr. Balfour became prime minister, a post he held until the close of 1905, when he resigned the premiershp and was succeeded by the Liberal leader, Sir Henry Camp-bell-Bannerman. He is a fine scholar. a man of letters, a metaphysician and a