Limoges

le-mozh, a French city about 250 miles southwest from Paris. It is a city with a history. It was a post of considerable importance when Gaul was occupied by the Romans. In the fifth century it was devastated by the Vandals and the Visigoths. In 1370 the Black Prince took it by assault and gave it up to fire and sword. The most celebrated building is the cathedral, dating from 1273. The main portal, bell tower, organ loft, glass windows, and a number of frescoes are worthy of note. The city possesses a museum of painting and sculpture, and an extensive collection of pottery. There are numerous woolen and cotton mills, paper works, and foundries. Shoemaking is an important industry. Clogs, or wooden shoes, are made here. The timber for the purpose comes down the river Vienne. The principal industry of the city, however, is the manufacture of porcelain. The kaolin or porcelain clay obtained in the vicinity is unrivaled even by that of China. There were lately no less than thirty-five porcelain factories with eighty furnaces, employing several thousand workmen. Eight hundred artists devote their time to ornamentation.