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^Xotitia episco- '"^"^'^
patu rn orb is Christiani (Ant- werp, 1613) : — Chronicon Cisterciense (Cologne, 1614) : — Geographia Ecdesiastica: — Codex regidarum et consti- tutionum clericalium: — Origines ccenohinniin JJdinlii'/i- norum, Carthusianoi-um, etc.: — Opera /lisi'u-ii-n it illplo- matica, Elogia illustrium Belgii scripttirimi. Chnnncon rerum Belgicarum, Chronicon reriiin toto orbe gestarum, etc. All his works were collected and jiublished at Brussels in 1733, in 4 vols. fol. — Wetzer u. Welte, Kirchen- Lex. s. V.
Mirage, the French name of an optical illusion common in the East, and directly referred to by Isaiah (3"I'IJ, sharab', "parched ground," xxxv, 7; '"heat," xlix, 10), and perhaps indirectly by Jeremiah (xv, 18, " waters tliat fail ;" literally, that cannot be trusted). It is still known by the name of se7-ub, the Arabic equiva- lent of the above Heb. term. This phenomenon is !i^ simple in its origin as it is astonishing in its effci i Under it are classed the appearance of distant obji r: as double, or as if suspended in the air, erect or inverteil, etc. The cause of mirage is a diminution of the density of the air near the surface of the earth, produced by the transmission of heat from the earth, or in some other way; the denser stratum being thus placed above, in- stead of, as is usually the case, below the rarer. Now rays of light from a distant object, situated in the denser medium (i. e. a little above the earth's level), coming in
a direction nearly parallel to the earth's surface, meet the rarer medium at a very obtuse angle, and, instead of passing into it, are reflected back to the dense me^ dium. the common surface of the two media acting as a mirror. Suppose, then, a spectator to be situated on an eminence, and looking at an object situated like himself in the denser stratum of air, he will see the object by means of directly transmitted rays; but, besides this,, rays from the object will be reflected from the upper surface of the rarer stratum of air beneath to his eye.
u
Mirage, flg. 1.
(See fig. 1.) The image produced by the reflected rays will appear inverted, and below the real object, just as an image reflected in water appears when observed from a distance. If the object is a cloud or portion of sky, it will appear by the reflected rays as lying on the surface of the earth, and bearing a strong resemblance to a sheet of water. (See fig. 2.) This form of mirage, which is
most common in sandy, desert countries, appearance of pools and lakes of water, in water is most needed and least likely to
is an illusive places wlier^ occur. Thia
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MIRAMION
328
MIRANDULA
phenomenon offers so perfect a delusion in all its cir- cumstances that the most forewarned and experienced travellers are deceived by it, as are even the natives of the deserts, when not sufficiently acquainted with the locality in wliich it appears to be aware that no water actually exists. No one can imagine, without actual experience, the delight and eager expectation, followed by the most intense and bitter disappointment, which tiie appearance of the serub often occasions to travelling liarties, particularly when the supply of water which tliey are obliged to carry with tlicm ujion their camels is nearly or quite exhausted. (See fig. 3.) " siill the same buruiug sun ! no cloud in heaven !
The hot air quivers, aud the sultry mist
Flouts o'er the desert, with a show
Of distant waters mocking their distress." — Southky.
Major Skinner, in his Journey Overland to India, de- scribes the appearance of the serub in that desert, between Palestine and the Eupiirates, which probably supplied the images employed by Isaiah : "About noon tlie most perfect deception that can be conceived exhil- arated our spirits and promised an early resting-place. We had observed a slight mirage before, but this day it surpassed all I had ever fancied. Although aware that these appearances have often led people astray, I could not bring myself to believe that this was unreal. The Arabs were doubtful, and said that, as we had found water yesterday, it was not improbable that \ve should find some to-day. The seeming lake was broken in several parts by little islands of sand, that gave strength to the delusion. The dromedaries of the sheiks at length reached its borders, and appeared to us to have commenced to ford, as they advanced and became more surrounded by the vapor. I thought they had got into deep water, and moved with greater caution. In pass- ing over the sand banks their figures were reflected in the water. So convinced was ]Mr. Calmun of its reality that he dismounted and walked towards the deepest part of it, which was on the right hand. He followed the deceitful lake for a long time, and to our sight w^as strolling on its bank, his shadow stretching to a great length beyond. There w'as not a breath of wind; it was a sultry day, and such a one as would have added dreadfully to the disappointment if we had been at any time without water." See Pakciieu Ground.
Miramion, :\rAaiE Boxneau, Ladij, a very esti- mable Frciirh female philanthropist of the 17th century, was born at Paris Nov. 2, 1029. She was the daughter of Jacques Bonneau, lord of Rubelles, and of jNIaria d'lssy, both very wealthy. She married (March, 1G15) Jean Jaccjues de Beauharnais, lord of Miramion, who died the same year. Many desirable parties solicited her hand, but she preferred to consecrate herself to (k)d and to the care of the poor and sick, and took re- ligious vows Feb. 2, 1049, when only twenty j'ears of age. Every liour of her life was devoted to some char- itable or pious act. In KSGO she collected twenty-eight pour monks driven from Picardy by the war, and nour- ished and cared for them for six months. Her zeal and liberality prompted her to found at Paris the House of Befuge and that of Sainte-Pelagie; she drew up the rules for these two houses, destined to serve as asylums for wives and repentant women. She contributed largely for the establishment of the Seminary of Foreign Mis- sions. Civil war had increased the misery of the people of Paris; Jladame de ^liramion sold her necklaces, es- timated at 24,000 pounds, and her plate, and distributed the proceeds in alms. In KUll she established a society of twelve girls to teach country children how to dres's wounds and succor the sick. This little community was called the " Sainte-Famille ;" Madame de Miramion subsequently united it to tlie daughters of '• Sainte-(ic- nevieve." She bought for them a large house on the wharf of the Tournelle, sufhciently endowed the estab- lishment, and consented to become superior. She gave more than 70,000 pounds to lier )iarish of Saint-Nicolas de Chardonnet, the seminary of which she endowed with