STITH, WILLIAM (1689-1755). An American colonial historian, born in Virginia. He went to England. studied theology, was ordained priest in the Established Church, and on his return (1721) was made master of the Grammar School at Wil liam and Mary College, Williamsburg, Va. He won a distinguished place among the clergymen of the colony, was chosen chaplain of the Douse of Burgesses in 1738, and rector of Henrieo Parish and president of William and Mary College (1752-55). He is known for his scholarly but unfinished History of Virginia from the First Settlement to the Dissolution of the London Com pany (1747, reNlited with a bibliography 1866). This work is highly praised for its accuracy and much blamed for its diffuseness, being, in the opinion of Jefferson. "inelegant and often too minute to be tolerable." STOA (Gk. aroci, grout, a roofed colonnade, piazza, porch). One of the extended colonnades surrounding the marketplace and often extending through the principal streets of Greek cities. The stoa was always roofed, its main purpose being that of shelter in bad weather, and its was above the level of the street. At the
back w•as usually an inclosed wall, and in front a single or double colonnade facing the street. Later, when broader spaces were to be roofed, the stoa became an independent structure. Sometimes a dividing wall was placed between the two rows of columns; but the more usual form was the stoa diple, in which a row of columns replaced the dividing wall. The forms of the stoa multiplied; two inner rows of col umns were often used and additional stories were added. The stoa originated among the Ionian Greeks in Asia Minor, whence they were introduced into Greece. Celebrated examples were the simple Stoa Poikile (many-colored) updn the marketplace of Athens, the walls of which were decorated with scenes from the bat tles of Marathon and (Ewe by Polygnotus; the stoa diple of Thoricos; the three-aisled "Basili ca" of nestum; and the two-storied stoa of King Attains il. at Athens. Stoas were frequently adorned with statuary and painting.