EUGEN ONIEGIN, an opera in three acts by Peter Ilich Tschaikowsky (libretto adapted from Poushkin), first performance by the students of the Conservatory at Moscow in March, 1879. The reception was cool, but grad ually the work crept into popular favor. In spite of the strong dramatic character of Tschaikowsky's music, he never developed any marked talent for the theatre and from the dramatic standpoint 'Eugen Oniegin' shows many weaknesses. Beside the works of the younger Russian school of which Monssorgsky is the leader, it seems to lack the virility that has come to be associated with modern Russian music. The influence of sunny Italy is felt rather than that of the Northern steppes. But the music breathes the composer's joy in cre ation and is pervaded by a romantic melancholy and elegiac sentiment that makes its emotional appeal very strong. The letter scene is the most popular bit in the opera. Rosa New march, who has made a special study of Rus sian opera, likens 'Eugen Oniegin' to "the embodiment of some captivating, wayward, fe male spirit, which subjugates all emotional natures, against their reason, if not against their will." LEWIS M. ISAACS.
EUGkNE, e-zhan, Prince (Famicois Eu aNF: DE SAVOIE-CARIGNAN), Austrian general: b. Paris, 18 Oct. 1663; d. Vienna, 21 April 1736. Among all the generals and statesmen of Austria, none has rendered more numerous and important services than Eugene. He was great alike in the field and the cabinet. He petitioned Louis XIV for a company of dragoons, but was refused on account of the opposition of Louvois, Minister of War, who hated the family of Eugene. Indignant at this repulse and at the banishment of his mother, a niece of Car dinal Mazarin, Eugene, in 1683, entered the Austrian service. The distinction he earned at the siege of Vienna in 16&3, at that of Belgrade in 1688, at that of Mayence in 1689 and else where, procured for him rapid promotion. War having broken out between France and Austria, he prevailed upon the Duke of Savoy to enter into an alliance with the emperor, and in 1690 received the command of the imperial forces sent to Piedmont to act in conjunction with the troops of the Duke of Savoy. He defeated the
Turks at the battle of Zenta (11 Sept. 1697) and obtained on that occasion the applause of Europe. The loss of the Turks at Zenta obliged them to accede to the Peace of Carlowitz, 1699, which was the first symptom of their decline. On the outbreak of the War of the Spanish Succession he was given the command in Italy and defeated the French on several occasions, but inadequate forces led to his defeat at Luzzara, 15 Aug. 1702. In 1703 he received the command of the army in Germany, and his efficient co-operation with Marlborough frus trated the plans of France and her allies. In the battle of Hochstadt (Blenheim), 13 Aug. 1704, the two heroes gained a decisive victory over the French and Bavarian army, com manded by the Prince of Bavaria and Marshal Tallard, the latter of whom was made pris oner. In 1705 Eugene returned to Italy, where he hastened to the relief of Turin, stormed the French lines, forced thern to raise the siege and in one month drove them out of Italy. In 1707 he entered France and laid siege to Toulon; but the immense superiority of the enemy obliged him to retire into Italy. During the following years he fought on the Rhine, took Lille and, in conjunction with Marlborough, defeated the French at Oudenarde (1708) and Malplaquet (1709). After the recall of Marl borough and the defection of England and Hol land from the alliance against France, his farther progress was in a great measure checked. The Peace of Rastadt, the consequence of the Treaty of Utrecht, was concluded between Eugene and Villars in 1714. In the war with Turkey, in 1716, Eugene defeated two superior armies at Peterwardein and Temesvar, and, in 1717, took Belgrade, after having gained a decisive victory over a third army that came to its relief. The Treaty of Passarovitz (concluded in 1718) was the result of this success. His fame is still celebrated in popular song, "Prinz Eugen der edle Ritter." He was also distinguished as a discriminating patron of art and literature. Consult Malleson, 'Prince Eugene of Savoy (1888).