ABSYR'TUS. See ARGONAUTS.
ABT, apt, Franz, German song-writer and conductor: b. Wiesbaden, 22 Dec. 1819; d. 31 March 1885. He studied theology at Leipzig, but abandoned it for music at Mendelssohn s instance. In 1841 he became kapellmeister at the court theatre at Bernburg; shortly afterward relinquishing the post for a similar one in Zü rich, where he remained till 1852. He was then called to Brunswick as chief conductor of the orchestra in the royal theatre, and made court kapellmeister in 1855. In 1872 he came to the United States at the invitation of a number of choral societies, and was very favorably re ceived; he conducted at the famous Peace Jubilee in Boston in that year. In 1881 he retired to Wiesbaden on a pension. Many of his songs (for example, 'When the Swallows Homeward Fly,' 'Good Night, Thou Child of My Heart,' "0 Ye Tears,' etc.), have endeared themselves to the heart of the people all over the world.
his original name being, Abd al Kabah ibn Abi Kuhafah al Atik, also Abd Allah, father-in-law of Mohammed, being the father of the Prophet's wife: b. Mecca, 573; d. 23 Aug. 634. On the death of Mohammed, in 632, he was chosen as his suc cessor and the first caliph of Islam. He began waging a successful warfare against his enemies in Arabia, Persia and the Byzantine Emperor Heraclius, but two years later died at the age of 63 and was buried in Medina, near the tomb of Mohammed and Ayesha, the Prophet's wife and his daughter.
a'-boo-his'in, surnamed ((The Wag," hero of one of the 'Arabian Nights' Tales," entitled 'The Sleeper Awak ened.' Unaware he entertains the caliph and later becomes the monarch's friend and trusted adviser.