Default font and .Xdefaults

[Tim Johnson]

Hello:
I've just installed emacs 21.4a with the following 
version info:

GNU Emacs 21.4.1 (i686-pc-linux-gnu, X toolkit, Xaw3d scroll bars)
On Linux Redhat 9.0

It now appears that the .Xdefaults setting of:

Emacs.default.attributeFont:
-*-Fixed-bold-r-*-*-*-120-*-*-*-*-iso8859-8

Is not being loaded. 
According to docs, default font is Courier 12pt under X
and that is what I believe that I am seeing, but it is wholly inadequate
for someone of my vision.

NOTES: 
  I've "recompiled" .Xdefaults as in xrdb -load ~/.Xdefaults
  Have loaded emacs with -q and -debug-init with no changes or
  complaints.

Questions: 

What syntax is needed for .Xdefaults to provide a larger,
bolder font?

Pointers to docs?
  FYI: I also have no Info node for 'emacs', but that's an issue I'll
  tackle when I can easily read again.
  (i.e. c-h i memacs RET gives [no match])

Thanks
tim

-- 
Tim Johnson <tim@johnsons-web.com>
      http://www.alaska-internet-solutions.com