r. From the soft cellular portion of the stem the an- cient material called papyrus was made. " Papyri," says Sir G. Wilkinson, "are of the most remote Phara- onic periods. The mode of making them was as fol- lows: the interior of the stalks of the plant, after the rind had been removed, was cut into thin slices in the direction of their length ; and these being laid on a flat board in succession, similar slices were placed over them at right angles; and their surfaces being cemented to- gether by a sort of glue and subjected to a proper de- gree of pressure and well dried, the papyrus was com- pleted. The length of the slices depended, of course, on the breadth of the intended sheet, as that of the sheet on the number of slices placed in succession beside each other, so that though the breadth was limited, the papvrus might be extended to an indefinite length" (Kitto; Smith). See Writing.
Rush, Bkn.iamin, M.D., LL.D.. a distinguished American physician, was born near Bristol, in the vi- cinity of Philadelphia, Jan. 5, 1745. At nine years of age he was placed under the tuition of Dr. Samuel Fin- ley, who was subsequently president of Princeton Col- lege. By him he was prepared for college, and entered the above-named institution under the presidency of Ur. Davies, and graduated in 1760. The following six years he devoteil to the study of medicine under the preceptorship of Dr. John Rodman, of Philadelphia. To perfect himself in the science of medicine, he went to Europe, and attended medical lectures at the University of Edinburgh for two years, and afterwards spent some time in the London hospitals. In 1769 he returned to Philadelphia, with qualifications seldom surpassed, to enter upon the practice of his profession, and was not long in obtaining an extensive and lucrative practice. He was appointed professor of chemistry in the Univer- sity of Pennsylvania in 1789, and in 1791 professor of the theory and practice of medicine, and subsequently
of the institutes of medicine and clinics, which he held during life, lie was elected member of Congress in 1776, and signed the Declaration of Independence. He was appointed surgeon-general of the Middle Department of the army, and also physician -general. lie resigned this post in 1778; and, after serving as delegate to the state convention which ratified the Constitution of the United States, he retired from political life and resumed the practice of his profession. His writings are mostly on medical subjects, and were published in five volumes. That on mental diseases, published in 1812, is especially valuable as to its bearing on medical jurisprudence. He was an enlightened and practical Christian, abounding in every good word and work. Dr. Rush died April 18, 1813. He published numerous pamphlets on moral, scientific, and social topics, for which and other litera- ture, see Allibone, iJict. of Brit, and Ame?\ Authors, s. V. (W. P. S.)
Rushtoii. See Rishton.
Rusk, James, a minister of the Methodist Episco- pal Church, was born in Ireland of Scottish parents, and emigrated to America when twenty-one. He was li- censed to exhort at Pleasantville,N.Y., became a teacher in Irving Institute at Tarrytown, and was by the Quar- terly Conference of that place licensed to preach. He was admitted on trial in the New York Conference in 1851, and received a supernumerary relation at the Con- ference of 1857. He took up his residence at Cold Sjjring, where he died, April 4, 1859. See Minutes of Annual Conferences, 1859.
Rusk, John Y., a minister of the Methodist Epis- copal Cliurch, was born in Perry County, O., Jan. 10, 1842. He was educated at the Ohio Wesleyan Univer- sity, graduating June 28, 1866; was licensed to preach by the Uniontown Quarterly Conference, Sept. 15; and was admitted on trial into the Ohio Annual Conference, Sept. 27. He was ordained deacon by bishop Morris in
1868, and was appointed to New Holland, where he died, Sept. 25, 1869. See Minutes of Annual Conferences,
1869, p. 229.
Rusling, Joseph, a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church, was born near Epworth, Lincolnshire, England, May 12, 1788. He came to this country when about seven years of age, and settled in New Jersey. He joined the Church in 1808, commenced preaching in 1812, and in 1814 was admitted on trial in the Philadel- phia Conference, of which he remained an active mem- ber until his death, July 6, 1839. Mr. Rusling estab- lished the first Methodist book-store in Philadelphia. He published a few Sertnom, and Hymns for Sunday- schools. See Sprague, Annals of the Amer. Puljnt, vii, 551 ; Simpson, Cyclop, of Methodism, s. v.
Rusling, Sedgwick, a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church, was born near Hackettstown, N. J., April 24, 1799. He became an exhorter in 1826, and was licensed to jireach in November of that year. In 1827 he was admitted on trial into the Philadelphia Conference. He labored actively until 1850, when he became supernumerary because of ill-health. In 1852 he resumed regular work, but in 1855 became supernu- merary again, filling, however, a vacancy in Elizabeth City. He died in Lawrenceville, Tioga Co., Pa.. March 7, 1876. See Minutes of A nnual Conferences, 1876, p. 47.
Rusor, in Roman mythology, was an appellative of Pluto, "the god to whom everything returns."
Russalki, in Slavonic my thology. were nymphs of supernatural beauty, who resided in brooks, rivers, and seas. They often bathed in some sparkling fountain, sported on the grass of some sunny meadow, swung to and fro on the waving trees, or combed their long green hair, and might then be overheard; but woe to him who should so ol)serve them, for they rarely gave their love to any favored swain, and he who had once seen them could afterwards discover no attractive features in a woman of earthly mould. — \ oWm^r, Worterb. der My- thol. s. v.