Cremona
kre-mo'na, a city on the northern bank of the Po, famous in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries for the making of violins. In fact the violin acquired its present shape and its highest quality of excellence at Cremona. Among the noted makers were Stradivarius and Amati, the latter being the name of a family rather than an individual. A genuine old "Cremona" is exceedingly valuable on account of its rarity, and commands a high price. The modern city has a population of 30,000 people and is the seat of considerable local trade. It boasts one of the finest towers in Italy, nearly 400 feet in height, commanding an extensive view of the fertile plains of the Po. There are manufactures of silk, earthenware, and of mustard. See Violin
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Creole State
. See Louisiana
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Creon
the King of Thebes, who, in the legend of the war against that city, forbade anyone to bury the bodies of Eteocles and Polynices, and condemned their sister Antigone to death for disobeying this order.
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Creon (King of Corinth was son)
King of Corinth, was son of Sisyphus . He promised his daughter Glauce to Jason , who had repudiated Medea . To revenge herself on her rival, Medea sent her a present of a dress covered with poison. Glauce put it on, and was seized with sudden pain. Her body took fire, and she expired in the greatest agony. The house in which she was, was also consumed, and Creon and his family shared Glauce's fate.
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Creon (King of Thebes)
King of Thebes , whose territories were ravaged by the Sphinx . Creon offered his crown to anyone who would explain the enigmas proposed by the Sphinx. Oedipus solved the riddles, and ascended the throne of Thebes.
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Creophylus
One of the earliest epic poets, said to have been the friend or son-in-law of Homer. Creta (Candia). One of the largest islands in the Mediterranean Sea , about 160 miles in length, and from thirty-five to six miles in breadth. 2026 Editor's Note: Creophylus was a legendary early Greek epic poet, said to be a contemporary of Homer and author of the lost epic *Capture of Oechalia*. In Plato's *Republic*, he is mentioned disparagingly, with an allusion to his name meaning 'meathead'. (Ed: BR 2026-06-06)
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Crepe de Chine
krap de sheen, a soft, thin, lustrous silk crape, smoother and less crinkled than ordinary crape. It is used for evening gowns, neckwear, and millinery purposes. In the manufacture of crepe de chine, the warp threads are twisted in groups, the alternate groups being twisted in opposite directions. When released from the loom these threads untwist partially; there is also an uneven tension due to the opposite direction of the twists. This produces tiny crinkles, which may be varied both in character and quantity by regulating the number of twists given to the warp, and by the number of warp threads used in each group. See Crape
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Crepe Lisse
krap lees, a thin, gauzy silk fabric, plain woven, and stiffened in finishing with sizing. Sometimes it is crimped to imitate real crape. It is used for ruchings, trimmings, and millinery purposes.
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Crepon
kra-pon, a name signifying coarse crape, applied to several articles of worsted fabrics made in imitation of real crape. The crinkled effect of crepon is produced by the Jacquard loom . Two sets of warp threads are used, the one having greater tension than the other. The lower set, which is sometimes of cotton, forms the foundation of the fabric. The upper set forms the face and is of silk, wool, or mohair. The Jacquard loom is so arranged that certain warp threads are skipped in the weaving to form a pattern. The varied effects produced are described as pebbled, cockled, dimpled, souffle, brocaded, blistered, etc. The fabric is dyed and finished with as little stretching as possible, that the crinkle effect may not be lessened. The material is sometimes silk striped, sometimes embroidered with silk on the Swiss embroidery machine. Crepons are classed frequently as "novelty goods." Cotton crepon is woven of yarns which have been mercerized and then protected by gum or some gelatinous substance from the action of caustic soda. These yarns are used in combination with others not so protected. The fabric is then treated with a solution of caustic soda which shrinks the unprotected yarns, producing a crinkled effect. See Mercerizing ; Swiss Embroidery; Jacquard
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Crerar
JOHN, an American philanthropist; born in New York City, about 1828. He entered mercantile life and accumulated a fortune, removing to Chicago in 1862, and adding to his wealth by railway financiering. He readily bestowed large sums upon charitable undertakings, and in his will left $2,500,000 to found the John Crerar Public L Library, from which sensational novels and skeptical works should be excluded. He died in Chicago, Oct. 19, 1889.
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Crescendo
increasing; a gradual increase in the force of sound. Expressed by the sign <, or the abbreviation cres. The sign was first employed in England by Matthew Locke, in 1676. CRESCENTIACEÆ, crescentiads, an order of perigynous exogens. It consists of small trees, with alternate or clustered exstipulate leaves and flowers growing out of the old stems or branches.
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Crescent City
a popular name for the city of New Orleans .
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Cress
the name of several species of plants, most of them of the natural order Cruciferæ. Water-cress, or Nasturtium officināle, is used as a salad, and is valued in medicine for its antiscorbutic qualities. The leaves have a moderately pungent taste. It grows on the brinks of rivulets and in moist grounds. Common garden cress is the Lepidium sativum; Normandy cress, Barbarea præcox; winter cress, B. vulgāris; Indian cress, Tropæõlum majus; bitter cress, Cardamine pratensis (cuckoo-flower). CRESSY. See CRÉCY-EN-PONTHIEU.
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Creston
a city of Iowa and the county-seat of Union co. Its industries include machine shops, car works, planing mills, and cold-storage plant. It is on the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy railroad. There are a public library, Elks' Home, and other public buildings. Pop. (1910) 6,924; (1920) 8,034.
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Cresus
the fifth and last king of Lydia. He succeeded his father Alyattes, 560 b. c. He was so successful in all his enterprises that he soon became one of the richest monarchs of that time. He asked the philosopher Solon what he thought of his good fortune. "I pronounce no man fortunate until his death," was the reply . Cresus was made prisoner by Cyrus, King of Persia. When bound to the stake and about to be burned to death, he recalled the words of Solon, and thrice repeated his name . Cyrus demanded an explanation . Cræsus gave it, and Cyrus not only spared his life, but also took him into his favor. At the death of Cyrus he recommended Cræsus to the favor of Cambyses, who dered him to be put to death.
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