Crucible-tongs
See LIFTING-TONGS. Crusted-ladle is caused by the formation of scoria and oxide of iron on the surface of molten metal as it cools in the ladles. This, if allowed to remain unprotected from the cooling action of the atmosphere, forms an impenetrable upper crust, through which in time it becomes impossible to pour the metal, resulting sometimes in the whole mass having to be remelted. A plentiful use of broken charcoal mixed with dust of the same acts as a preventative of this by shielding the surface from the action of the atmosphere, and supplying a constant heat thereto as the charcoal is gradually consumed. When it is desired to keep metal in a ladle for a considerable length of time, let the surface be kept well covered with the charcoal, especially around the outer edge, where it is necessary to watch particularly, as it is at that part where the crust first commences to form. If the edge is broken occasionally, and the supply of charcoal kept constant, the operation of preserving the metal in a good fluid state will be helped considerably.
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Cruikshank
GEORGE, an English pictorial satirist; born in London, Sept. 27, 1792. A publication, "The Scourge" (1811-1816), afforded scope for the display of his satiric genius, and from that time forth he continued to pursue with remarkable success this his true vein. His illustrations for Hone's political squibs and pamphlets, and especially those dealing with the Queen Caroline trial, attracted much attention; but in the exquisite series of colored etchings contributed to the "Humorist" (1819- 1821), and in the etchings to the "Points of Humour" (1823-1824), did his true artistic power begin to be visible. This second, and in many ways finest, period of his art, represented by these works, culminated in the etchings to "Peter Schlemihl" (1823), and to Grimm's "German Popular Stories" (1824-1826). His numerous plates in "Bentley's Miscellany" mark a third period of his art, in which he aimed at greater elaboration and completeness. The finest of these are the series to Dickens" "Oliver Twist," to Ainsworth's "Jack Sheppard," and in "The Tower of London" and "Windsor Castle." As a water-colorist he left work marked by considerable skill and delicacy. In his late years he devoted himself to oil-painting. His most important picture was "Worship of Bacchus" (1862). He died Feb. 1, 1878.
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Cruikshank, George
krook'shank, George (1792-1878), an English caricaturist and artist. He was a native of London. When a child poverty prevented him from gaining a general education. Throughout his life he showed ability but want of culture. At the age of fifteen he was known as an illustrator of children's books. Fame was achieved by a series of etchings made for Bentley's Miscellany in 1837 to accompany Oliver Twist , then running in serial form. The Bottle, a series of eight large plates, represents the various stages of drunkenness in a style worthy of Hogarth. Tam O'Shanter, The Merry Wives of Windsor, Punch and Judy , Boz, the Comic Almanac, and many other subjects afforded opportunity for humorous sketches. The British museum is the fortunate possessor of over 5,000 sketches by this humorist. While he did not create types, like the G. O. P. or Uncle Sam of Nast, it may be said that few artists have done more to ridicule vice and purify the public taste than he. See Hogarth ; Punch ; Nast ; Caricature
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Cruiser
one who cruises about; specifically, an armed vessel which cruises about, either to protect the commerce of its own country or to inflict damage on that of another. The cruiser rates just below the battleship and just above the gunboat. An armored cruiser has side or vertical armor and horizontal or deck armor. A protected cruiser has horizontal or deck armor only. An unprotected cruiser has no armor. See NAVY.
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Crusoe
Robinson. See Defoe ; Selkirk
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Crustaceans
a class of articulated animals, agreeing with insects, arachnida, and myriopoda, in having articulated limbs, but differing from them in important respects, and particularly from all of them in the adaptation of the organs of respiration to an aquatic life, even those of them which live on land being generally inhabitants of damp places, and breathing by a kind of gills. Some of the lowest and minute aquatic crustaceans, indeed, are not provided with gills; but with the aeration of the blood is supposed to take place through the surface of the body. The crustaceans derive their name from the hard armor which in most of them covers their whole body.
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Crutch
The wire which connects the pallet staff of a clock to the pendulum and by which the pendulum is kept in motion. This wire enters a longitudinal slot in the pendulum rod, if the rod be made of wood, or is made in the form of a U if the rod be a metal one. The slot is usually lined with brass. A clock with long wooden pendulum is usually brought to beat by either moving the crutch on the pallet staff or by bending the crutch itself.
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Cryolite
a mineral composed of aluminum, sodium, and fluorine. It is found in large quantities in Greenland. The name, which signifies ice or frost stone, was given it by Abildgaard, who discovered it in 1800. It also occurs in the Ural Mountains, but not abundantly. The mines at Ivigtut, Greenland, have been worked since 1857, and are apparently inexhaustible. None of the finest specimens, however, reach the United States, as the mines are owned by the Danish government and the best of their product is taken to Copenhagen. Among the resulting products are soap, baking soda, washing soda, aluminum sulphate, and a kind of glass which resembles porcelain. subterranean
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Crypt
originally a cell or cave, especially one constructed for sepulture. From the usage of these by the early Christians crypt came to signify a church underground or the lower story of a cathedral or church. It is usually set apart for monumental purposes, and is sometimes used as a chapel. The crypt is a common feature of cathedrals, being always at the east end, under the chancel or apse. The largest in England is that of Canterbury Cathedral.
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