DIATOM 



1788 



DICKCISSEL 



DI'ATOM, a little, brown, one-celled plant 

 which grows in either salt or fresh water, and 

 which has often been mistaken for an animal 

 because of its peculiar movement in the water. 

 There are several thousand species, growing in 

 jellylike masses in large numbers among the 

 green algae (which see). These serve as the 

 food for small animal forms, which in turn 

 are food for fish. The shells of the diatoms 

 are composed of silica, which will not dissolve 

 in water, and consequently large masses are 

 deposited at the bottom of seas, lakes and 

 ponds. At Richmond, Va., is a deposit many 

 feet in thickness. Such deposits are used as 

 polishing powder and as the absorbent of nitro- 

 glycerine in the manufacture of dynamite. 



DIAZ, de'ahz, PORFIRIO (1830-1915), a Mex- 

 ican soldier and statesman, who after a lifetime 

 in the service of his country, including more 

 than thirty years as President of the republic, 

 died an exile in a foreign land. 



For a time he 

 studied law, but 

 at the outbreak 

 of war with the 

 United States in 

 1846 he entered 

 the army and be- 

 gan a military 

 career which won 

 him a reputation 

 for skill and 



courage. He 



progress in Mexico ended 

 took a prominent with his exile to Spain in 



part in the fac- * 



tional fights which disturbed Mexico for a 

 number of years after the war, proving a most 

 efficient leader of the patriots during Napoleon 

 Ill's attempt to found an empire under French 

 control. It was under his command that 

 Pueblo and the City of Mexico were taken in 

 1867. 



After starting several revolts in an effort to 

 secure the Presidency he was elected to that 

 office in 1877, through sheer force of arms. 

 He soon proved his exceptional ability, and 

 when, during the Presidency of General Gon- 

 zalez, it was proved that Diaz was the better 

 man for the office, the constitution was changed 

 so that he might continue in office as long 

 as the people desired it. He won the con- 

 fidence of his own people, and of those of 

 foreign countries. Under his guidance trade 

 and industries, were extended, the tariff law 

 was revised, finances were improved and im- 

 portant lines of railway were established. 



PORFIRIO DIAZ 

 Thirty years of peace and 

 progress 



Although there was occasional opposition to 

 Diaz, it was not powerful enough for many 

 years to accomplish his overthrow, for it must 

 be admitted he ruled by the power of his 

 army. In 1912, however, a revolution headed 

 by General Madero resulted in the resignation 

 of Diaz. He fled to Continental Europe, and 

 from that point of safety followed with anguish 

 the record his unhappy country made in the 

 years of civil strife which started with the 

 murder of Madero. He died in Paris. See 

 MEXICO, subtitle History. 



DICE, cubes of ivory, bone, wood or other 

 material used in gambling games continuously 

 since their invention about 1244 B. c. Dots 

 from one to six in number are placed on all 

 six faces of the cube, so arranged that the 





DICE 



total of any two opposite faces is always 

 seven. The dice are placed in a cylindrical 

 box, shaken, and then thrown upon a flat sur- 

 face. The numbers showing on the top face 

 form the basis for deciding the game. The 

 highest total of the numbers showing may win, 

 or the dice may be used in the same manner 

 that cards count in a poker hand. Dice games 

 are regarded as such pernicious forms of gam- 

 bling that they are forbidden by law in many 

 states and in many parts of Canada. The par- 

 ticular objection to dice is that play is entirely 

 governed by chance, allowing no considerations 

 of skill. "Loaded dice" are frequently em- 

 ployed by dishonest players, the sides oppo- 

 site the highest numbers being so weighted 

 with lead that "high" naturally falls uppermost 

 when the dice fall from the box. 



DICKCISSEL, a popular name for the 

 black-throated bunting, in imitation of its 

 loud, persistent call. It is a handsome bird, 

 rather larger than a sparrow; the back and 

 body are dark above and yellow below. There 

 is a bright chestnut patch on each wing; the 

 throat is white, and across the breast is a black 

 crescent band. Earnestly calling from roadside 

 fence, from weed-stalk or in the grass, it is a 

 bird whose song is common in the open regions 

 of Central United States and is occasionally 

 heard in Southern Ontario. It feeds on eggs, 

 of insects, seeds and gravel and also relishes 

 the destructive cankerworm. It is therefore a 

 friend of the farmer. 



