LAXENBURG, Lower Austria, village nine miles south of Vienna, on the .Schwechat River. Its palace is one of the summer homes of the Austrian imperial family. The Imperial Park, which is open to the public, consists of 1,000 acres, covers 17 islands, in the Scirwechat River and was laid out in 1782-98, following the English style. The Altes Schloss is used as a hunting lodge and was rebuilt in 1693 after its destruction by the Turks. The Neues Schloss dates from 1752 in the reign of Maria Theresa and Joseph II. The Franzenburg dates from 1799 and is noted for its art collections. Pop. about 1,000.
LAY, Benjamin, British-American philan thropist: b. Colchester, England, 1677; d. Ab ington, Pa., 3 Feb. 1759. His parents were Quakers, and he illustrated in his life the hu mane principles which the Society of Friends has so long conspicuously represented. At 18 he adopted a sailor's life, and for some years followed the sea. In 1710 he was married and lived again for a while at Cokhester; after ward went to Barbadoes, where he became a merchant; but having aroused hostility by his denunciation of slavery, removed from the island (1718) to Philadelphia, where his anti slavery agitation was continued. Of numer ous tracts which he wrote on slavery one was published by Franklin, entitled Slave Keepers, that Keep the Innocent in Bondage, Apostates' (1737). He was influential in bringing the Friends in this country to take a more decided stand against slave-holding, and just before his death a resolution was passed condemning those who still held slaves. He did not, however, confine his reforming endeavors to one direction, but labored for a more humane treatment of criminals, and discouraged the use of animal products whether for food or clothing, the use of tea and tobacco, and on one occasion tried to fast for 40 days in imitation of Christ.
He is described as a singular figure, dwarfish and hunchbacked, and presenting an appear ance of poverty. He was buried in the Friends' burying-ground at Abington.
LAY, Henry Champlin, American Prot estant Episcopal bishop :b. Richmond, Va., 6 Dec. 1823; d. Easton, 17 Sept. 1885. He was graduated at the University of Virginia, ordained deacon (1846) and priest (1848). He was consecrated missionary bishop of the Southwest (1859) and translated to the diocese of Easton (1869). During the Civil War the episcopal charge of Kansas was as signed to him, that State being then erected into a diocese. The revision of the lectionary was largely due to Bishop Lay; while he was engaged on the Standard Prayer Book up to his' death. He was the author of in the Church' (1872) and The Church and the Nation> (1885).
LAY, John Louis, American inventor: b. Buffalo, N. Y., 14 Jan. 1832; d. New York, April 1899. In July 1862 he was appointed sec ond assistant engineer in the United States navy, and in 1864 invented a new torpedo. By means of this apparatus Cushing destroyed the Albemarle, a Confederate ram. When Admiral Porter advanced up the James River after the evacuation of Richmond, Lay was employed to clear away the submarine obstructions. He was engaged by the Peruvian government to mine the harbor of Callao, in view of a Spanish at tack, but his main work as an engineer and in ventor was the construction of the dirigible torpedo, which bears his name, and was pur chased by the United States government.