X                                                                  2117                                          XEROPHYTES

X

X (ěks), the twenty-fourth letter, is a double consonant or, rather, a superfluous sign for the compound consonants gz and ks, as in exist, wax. X, when followed by an accented syllable beginning with a vowel, or when followed by silent h and an accented vowel, is gz, as in exalt, exhort. But in a few exceptions to this rule and in other words x is ks, as in exar'ehate, excellent. X at the beginning of words has the sound of z, as in xebec, and in some compounds keeps the z sound, as in meta-xylene. Final x always is ks, as in ax.

Xanthippe (zăn-tïp'pe), the wife of Socrates (a. v.), has the reputation of being an archtermagant, doubtless with some reason. Still it should be remembered that her naturally infirm temper must have been severely tried by the small concern manifested by Socrates in relation to his domestic affairs. Socrates had completely mastered his naturally strong appetites and passions and had acquired a temper of perfect serenity. It is but natural then that historians, on ever so small a basis of fact, should delight to match such a philosopher with a woman of such a temper as Xanthippe is said to have possessed. On the other hand, if we can trust Plato, she seems to have really loved her husband, and at his death he tenderly committed her to the care of his friends. Many stories are told of her to illustrate her peculiar infirmity, but it is impossible to tell how much credit should be given to them. The era of Socrates was 470-399 B. C.

Xavier {zav'i-ër), Saint Francis, The Apostle of the Indies, one of the first members of the Societas Jesu (Jesuits), was born at Navarre, Spain, April 7, 1506. He was educated at Paris, graduating in 1530. Soon afterwards he joined the order formed by Ignatius Loyola, and on Aug. 15, 1534, took vows with five others, devoting themselves to missionary work in Palestine. War prevented them from carrying out this plan. When Loyola was requested to send missionaries to the Portuguese settlements in the Indies, Xavier was selected, and with one associate set out from Lisbon in 1541. He went first to Goa, to Ceylon, to Malacca and then to Japan. He intended next to go to China, but died when only in sight of that empire, Dec. 5, 1552. He was buried at Goa. It is said that during his ten years' apostleship, he planted the faith in 52 different kingdoms, preached the

gospel through 9,000 miles of territory, and baptized more than 1,000,000 persons. He was canonized by Pope Gregory XV in 1622.

Xenia (zē'nĭ-å), O., county-seat of Greene County, is a flourishing city, midway between Cincinnati and Columbus, on the Pittsburg, Cincinnati, Chicago and St. Louis Railway. The industrial establishments embrace marble and granite works, manufactories of rope, cordage, twine, shoes, paper-board, sawmills, planing-mills and a handle-factory. Besides its various manufactories and other enterprises it is the seat of the theological seminary of the United Presbyterian church and of the Ohio Soldiers' and Sailors' Orphans' Home. Wilberforce University, an institution for the education of colored youth of both sexes, is located three miles from the city. Population 8,706.

Xe'non. See Argon.

Xenophon (zĕn'o-fŭn), a Hellenic general, historian and philosopher, was born at Athens in 430 B. C. At an early age he became a pupil of Socrates, and is said to have been saved from death by that philosopher at the battle of Delium. At 40 he joined the expedition of Cyrus the Younger (a. v.) against Artaxerxes Mnemon, king of Persia, and after the battle of Cunaxa and the treacherous murder of the Greek generals played an important part in the Retreat of the Ten Thousand. Soon after his return to Greece he settled in a small town in Elis, where he lived for over 20 years, occupying himself in agriculture and literary pursuits. He is supposed to have died at Corinth in 355 B. C. Xenophon's principal works are The Anabasis, a history of the expedition of Cyrus and the Retreat of the Ten Thousand; The Cyropedia or education of Cyrus and Memorabilia, a series of dialogues intended to refute the charges on which Socrates was condemned to death.

Xerophytes (ze'ro-fits), plants adapted to dry soil and air. The conditions of drouth may be occasional, periodic or permanent, and plants have various ways of meeting them. The plan is to avoid as much exposure as possible and to store what water can be obtained^ Prominent among drouth adaptations are underground habits (geo-philous plants), rolling or folding of leaves, profile position of leaves (compass-plants), motile leaves which can shift their position (sensitive plants), small leaves etc. Probably the most conspicuous feature of plants