Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

weighing 4 cwt., which is lifted 9 inches vertically from the bell before it falls. This bell and the great bell of Saint Paul's Cathedral are tolled on the death of members of the royal family of Great Britain. In the 'Westminster clock,' as in all the tower-clocks formerly constructed, the mechanism which drives the clock is located in the tower directly back of the face. But in the city-hall clock erected in Philadelphia in 1899 the clockwork is located in the main part of the building, and is connected with the dial-mechanism in the tower by means of compressed air. The whole is based on the fundamental principle of all modern mechanisms -the governing of great forces by comparatively feeble ones. The primary clock is an astronomical clock, constructed with the greatest care, so as to be free from all disturbances from dust, moisture, and vibrations, and is so constructed that without interfering with its delicacy and accuracy it can operate four sets of hands, each weighing 500 pounds. The dials are the largest in the world, having a diameter of 25 feet. The total height of the tower is 547%1⁄2 feet, and the centres of the dials are 362 feet above the pavement. The hour-hand is 12 feet long, and is entirely different in shape from the minute-hand, so they never can be mistaken. The face of the dial is made up of several pieces, and the usual numerals are omitted from the face, not being of service at so great a height. The clock was designed by Warren S. Johnson; a detailed description of its mechanism was written by him, and published in the Journal of the Franklin Institute (Philadelphia) for February, 1901.

ELECTRIC CLOCKS. An electric clock is one whose mechanism is, in some way, either actuated or controlled by electricity. There are two types of electric clocks-(1) Independent clocks, whose mechanism is kept in operation by electricity; (2) systems of clocks which are connected with a central or primary clock by an electric circuit, and are so arranged that either (a) the primary clock regulates its movements, at stated intervals, by forcibly moving the hands by an electric current into the proper position, or (b) the primary clock directly runs the hands of the secondary clocks, which are simply dials without independent machinery.

Clocks of the first class usually have some electromagnetic attachment applied to the mechanism, which keeps them constantly wound up; in other words, they are constructed like ordinary clocks, except that they are self-winding. The first self-winding clocks were made as early as 1855 by Alexander Bain, who applied electromagnetic attachments to the bob of the pendulum, which, in obedience to contacts connected with the pendulum itself, attracted it to and fro. Since that time many other means of applying the electric current to keep a clock running have been devised, and hundreds of patents for the same have been taken out in England and America; but, as yet, this form of electric clock has proved of little practical value. Another form of independent electric clock was put in operation in 1896, in the laboratory of Durham College, North Carolina. The clock is run directly by electromagnets, which are actuated by a current from an earth battery. The pendulum is swung by the electric current, and it is this which moves the clock. The works

and dial are placed on the pendulum and swing with it.

In the second class of electric clock the object is to keep a system of clocks correct by an automatic connection with a central and standard timekeeper. It is probable that this method of time-service will be rapidly extended, until not only public buildings, but private offices are supplied with time from a central clock, as they now receive a common service in heat, light, power, water, etc. Instead of employing the central clock simply as a regulator, it may be adopted as an actual propeller of the clocks on its circuit, and the secondary. clocks become mere dials for indicating time.

[graphic]

FIG. 6. ASTRONOMICAL CLOCK IN PHILADELPHIA CITY HALL.

Certain difficulties have been encountered in the electric connection between the main and secondary clocks, due, among other things, to induced currents from crossed telephone or other electric wires. In view of these difficulties, it has been proposed by prominent electricians that the Marconi wireless system be applied to clocks, and thus obviate the faults of the old system. Though the general adoption of electrically controlled clocks is a development of the close of the nineteenth century, they have long been the subject of experimentation. In 1837 Alexander Bain began to experiment on electrically driven synchronous clocks, and in

1846 his system was in use between Glasgow and Edinburgh.

PNEUMATIC CLOCKS. A system of synchronous clocks which are connected with the central controlling clock by compressed air instead of electricity is called pneumatic. The clockwork in the City Hall at Philadelphia, described above, is of this type. The movement of the central clock compresses air in the connecting tubes, and causes a bellows to expand at each dial, us moving the hands. ASTRONOMICAL CLOCKS. An astronomical clock is one built with the simplest and most accurate mechanism possible, and with every possible protection against outside disturbances, so that its movements will be sufficiently accurate for astronomical calculations. One of the most important considerations for an accurate timekeeper of this class is that it should be maintained at a constant temperature, and often in astronomical observatories, rooms are specially constructed for this particular purpose. It will be noticed, from the accompanying cut of the astronomical clock in the City Hall at Philadelphia, that the dial has three circles-the minutecircle above the centre, the twelve-hour circle beneath the centre, and the hour-circle upon the circunference of the dial. A clock regulated to keep sidereal time is sometimes called an astronomical clock, as is also a clock having a dial on which the movements of the heavenly bodies are shown.

CLOCKS AND WATCHES EXPORTED FROM THE UNITED STATES (From the Statistical Abstract of the United States for 1900)

[blocks in formation]

hand-laborer but the collocation of the parts. Coiled springs, instead of pendulums, had been used in European clocks for two hundred years before their use was introduced into American factories; but they were placed only in the most expensive clocks: the invention of a reliable but cheap steel spring, which could be placed in the least expensive clocks, is due to American enterprise, and its introduction has revolutionized the clock-making industry. The small spring clocks can be manufactured and sold for less than one dollar, and are very popular.

BIBLIOGRAPHY. The following are general works on horology: Saunier, Treatise on Modern Horology in Theory and Practice, trans. from the French, by Julien Tuppier and Edward Rigg (London, 1897); Kendall, History of Watches and Other Timekeepers (London, 1897); Grinthorge, Rudimentary Treatise on Clocks, Watches and Bells (London, 1883); Britten, Old Clocks and Watches and Their Makers (New York, 1904). In the Journal of the Society of Arts (London) for March 7, 1890, is an interesting article by Julien Tuplin, on "Recent Progress in British Watch and Clock Making." The Supplement of the Scientific American for September 19, 1896, contains an article on "Clocks Provided with Automatons." The Philadelphia City-Hall Clock is described in the Journal of the Franklin Institute (Philadelphia) for February, 1901. The Electrician (London) for December 22, 1899, contains an article on "The Electric Time-Service." See WATCH; TIME-SIGNALS; TIME, STAN

DARD.

CLOCK BELL-METAL.

An alloy used for the making of bells in clocks, which may have the following composition: 72 parts copper, 26.56 The silver is parts tin, and 1.44 parts silver. 1,229,616

$1,580,146

$1,304,457 1,020,873 962,423 1,204,181 919,534 1,302,813 846,676 1,204,005 929,395 1,460,375 968,911 1,770,402 955,557 1,727,469 819,810 1,043,621 1,863,431 787,620 1,190,074 1,977,694

CLOCK-MANUFACTURE IN THE UNITED STATES. American clocks were first manufactured in Connecticut, about 1800, by Eli Terry. His clocks soon became popular, and he continued in business until his death, when his sons succeeded him, under the name of the Terry Manufacfuring Company.' Many neighboring establishments were soon engaged in clock-manufacture, and Connecticut is still the centre of the industry in the United States. According to the census of 1850, there were 1436 clock-factories and 2901 watch-factories in the United States. At first the movements were constructed of wood, and in the better clocks the pendulum was of wood overlaid with gold-leaf. In 1814 Terry invented the 'short-shelf clock,' which rapidly displaced the long or hanging clocks previously made. Brass-wheel clocks were not made in the United States until 1837. American manufacturers introduced the system of cutting out the parts from sheet brass with a die, instead of casting them-a method which at once insured greater accuracy as well as cheapness in the product. The adoption of the die and of other forms of automatic machinery in the manufacture of clocks has now been carried to such an extent that nothing is left for the skilled

added to give sweetness to the tone. In some cases, bismuth and antimony are added in small quantities; but while they are said to produce a better tone, they make the alloy more brittle.

CLODIA. The infamous sister of Clodius, and wife of Quintus Metellus Celer, whom she is supposed to have poisoned. She is identified with the Lesbia to whom Catullus addressed his love-poems. Her younger sister Clodia rarried Lucullus, but was put away on account of her conduct.

CLODIUS PULCHER, klo'di-us pulkēr, PUBLIUS. A Roman demagogue. He appears in history, in B.C. 70, serving under Lucullus in Asia. In 69 he impeached Catiline for extortion in Africa; but Catiline bribed his accuser and escaped. Clodius appears to have been avaricious and unscrupulous. Near the close of the year 62 he was said to have had an intrigue with Pompeia, wife of Julius Cæsar, on the occasion of the celebration of the rites of the Bona Dea in Cæsar's house. Clodius was tried for violation of the sacred mysteries, but was acquitted, it was charged, because he had bribed the judge. He was elected tribune in 59, and one of his first acts was to exile Cicero, who had refused to defend him in the trial for sacrilege; but the great orator was soon afterwards recalled, in spite of Clodius's opposition. He went on from bad to worse, gathering around him the worst elements of the people. until he became a candidate for the prætorship (B.c. 53) in opposition to Milo. Both candidates worked with reckless energy.

The contest was ended in an unexpected manner, January 20, B.C. 52. Milo set out on a journey to Lanuvium. On the way he met Clodius, who was on his road to Rome. Both were accompanied by armed followers, but passed each other without disturbance. However, some of the men in the rear-guard of each party began to quarrel; a fight followed, and Clodius was killed. MILO; and consult Cicero's oration, Pro Milone, which, however, is polemical and exaggerated. CLODPATE, JUSTICE. A country justice in Shadwell's comedy Epsom Wells.

CLODT-JÜRGENSBURG,

See

klot-yur gens boorK, PETER KARLOVITCH, Baron (1805-67). A Russian sculptor, born at Reval. He studied at the artillery school of Saint Petersburg, and was for a short time in the army. He had his art training at the Academy of Saint Petersburg. where he was appointed a professor, and became particularly skillful in his depiction of horses, especially as seen in vigorous action. The horses executed for the quadriga group on the triumphal arch erected at Saint Petersburg in 1838 are excellent specimens of this feature of his work. The four colossal groups of "Horse-Tamers," in bronze, on the Anitchkov Bridge, Saint Petersburg, are also by him. Replicas of two of these are in the grounds of the Schloss in Berlin.

CLŒLIA, klē'li-å. A maiden given by the Romans as a hostage to King Porsenna. She escaped from the Etrurian camp with some companions, swam the Tiber, and returned to Rome. The Romans, however, bent upon keeping good faith, sent the fugitives back to Porsenna, who, in admiration of this generous action, freed Clelia and her fellow-hostages, and allowed her to take with her some of the Etrurian youths. A statue was erected in her honor on the Via Sacra.

CLŒLIA GENS. A patrician clan of Rome, tracing its name to Clolius, one of the companions of Æneas. It was supposed to have been originally a noble Alban house. The name is also spelled Cluilia, and, in its ancient form, Cloulia.

CLOG ALMANAC. A form of rude calendar, said to be of Danish origin, and consisting of a square stick notched for months and days, and showing the saints' days, moon's phases, and other features of the almanac. Specimens are to be seen in the British Museum and other collections.

CLOISONNÉ, klwä'zo'nâ'. See ENamel.

CLOISTER (from OF. cloistre, Fr. cloître, from ML. claustrum, inclosure, from claudere, to close). Strictly, the entire space inclosed by the main encircling wall of a religious establishment (Germ. Kloster, monastery), including church, dormitories, and all other buildings. Thus, all the buildings for the body of canons attached to a cathedral were included in the term 'cloister.' A 'cloistered monk' is one living within monastic precincts. But common usage has recently limited the term to those rectangular courts, in the centre of the main group of monastic or canonical buildings, which are surrounded on all sides by a covered arcade. These cloisters are the centre of monastic life; from their arcades the refectory, chapter-house, dormitories, and church are reached. In their central open space or garth are the well and garden. Cathedrals had their cloisters-usually attached to the north side of the church, the south side

being reserved for the episcopal palace. But in monasteries the main cloister was in the south flank. Many large monasteries had more than one cloister; one for the lay brothers, open to all (sometimes in front of the church); one for the monks; a third, smaller, for the abbot. In such great early Benedictine monasteries as Saint Gall there was a cloister for the artisans.

The earliest examples of rudimentary cloisters are in the monasteries of the fourth, fifth, and

sixth centuries. in Syria; the earliest in the West have disappeared, none being earlier than the eleventh century. From that time until the fifteenth century Romanesque and Gothic cloisters abound everywhere. With the advent of the Renaissance and the decay of the orders in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, cloisters are rarer, except in Italy.

The general type of cloister is a colonnade resting on a high parapet, usually with a single opening in the middle of each side of the earlier cloisters the columns are single, heavy, quadrangle leading into the central garden. In and short, and the galleries are more ordinarily covered with a wooden roof than vaulted. Above these galleries rises a second story, either a second gallery or a solid construction (dormitory); in consequence of reconstructions, this upper story is very seldom preserved. During the twelfth century the single columns gave way to coupled shafts, slenderer and higher than those of the preceding style. Sometimes, especially in the North, piers supplemented or replaced columns. The cloister followed the changes of style of other buildings. The finest Romanesque cloisters are in southern France and Italy; Germany and England enter the field particularly during the Gothic period; Italy, with few exceptions, furnishes the only fine Renaissance examples. Saint Trophime in Arles is a rich, and Le Puy in Velay is a plain, example of French Romanesque cloisters, while those of Thoronet and Silvacane show the French Cistercian severity, and those of Fontfroide and Laon show transition to Gothic. In Italy at the same time there was far greater variety and richness. The northern examples at Verona (cathedral), Pomposa, and Bologna (San Stefano) are simple; but farther south the twelfth century developed richer types, as in the Oriental examples at Salerno, Ravello, and Amalfi, and the gem at Monreale (Palermo), with varied columns and mosaic decoration. These were soon to be followed by exquisite examples of the Roman school (Fossanova, Saint Paul, and the Lateran, Rome). In fact, Rome possesses an unrivaled series, from the heavy cloister of the Tre Fontane and San Lorenzo to the delicate cloister of Saint Paul, through all intermediate stages. Gothic cloisters were beautiful everywhere, but the finest specimens are those of the north of Europe, especially France. The arcades are surmounted by rich tracery, by which the galleries, now usually covered with lofty groin vaulting, are well lighted. In cooler climates the tracery, sometimes the entire gallery, was glazed. The cloisters of Noyon, Semur, Soissons-the last-named exquisitely rich-of MontSaint-Michel (with its novel tripod arrangement of shafts), of Rouen, with a beautiful second story, express the ideas of the Golden Age of the thirteenth century in France; while those of the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries are

poorer and inferior, as at Bordeaux and Narbonne. In Germany the most interesting are the Cistercian cloisters, like those of Maulbronn, Altenberg, and Heiligenkreuz. In England, though there are some good early Gothic examples-as at Salisbury-the best are late, as at Gloucester, Hereford, and Canterbury.

CLOISTER AND THE HEARTH, THE. An historical novel of the time of the early Renaissance, by Charles Reade (1861). The scene is laid chiefly in Holland and Italy. The book should be contrasted with George Eliot's Romola (1861), which deals with a like theme.

CLONMEL (Ir., honey-meadow). A municipal borough in Tipperary and Waterford counties, Ireland, on both banks of the Suir (Map: Ireland, D 4). It stands chiefly on the Tipperary side, and on one of the isles of the river. Among its industries are flour-milling, brewing, and tanning. The chief exports are agricultural produce and cattle. Barges of 20 to 50 tons ply on the Suir to Waterford. Clonmel was an In the thirimportant place in Danish times. teenth century the Franciscans established universities in the town. In 1650 Cromwell besieged the town and demolished the castle. Clonmel was the birthplace of Laurence Sterne, the novelist. Clonmel is still a great tourist resort, though gradually decreasing in its population. In 1901 it numbered 10,167; nearly onetenth of the houses were unoccupied.

CLONTARF (Ir., bull's meadow). A suburb of Dublin, Ireland, about three miles east northeast of Dublin (Map: Ireland, E 3). It is much frequented during the summer months for sea-bathing, and there are many handsome villas in the vicinity. At Clontarf in 1014, Brian Boroimhe (q.v.) met his death while win ning a victory over the Danes.

CLONUS. Rapid flexion and extension due to irregular nerve action in certain diseases of the spinal cord. It is elicited by flexing the foot forcibly and suddenly releasing it.

CLOOTS, klōts, or KLOOTZ, JEAN BAPTISTE DU VAL-DE-GRÂCE, Baron (1755-94). A freethinking philosopher and republican enthusiast of the French Revolution, generally referred to as 'Anacharsis Cloots, the Orator of the Human Race.' He was born June 24, 1755, at Gnadenthal, near Cleves, the son of a German baron of Dutch extraction, and was sent to Paris to be educated when he was only eleven years of age. There he seems to have imbibed extremely rationalistic ideas on religion and politics, which were strengthened by a short residence in Berlin, where he came in contact with the Potsdam philosophers, one of whom was his uncle, Cornelius de Pauw. Returning to France at the age of twenty-one, Cloots began the campaign of Reason by an attack on revealed religion, and published a curious book, entitled Certitude des preuves du Mahométisme-a satirical work, which fell somewhat flat. A visit to England, where he became intimate with Burke, was followed by an extended tour on the Continent. Everywhere he preached his doctrines of liberty, equality, and fraternity, and in several countries he barely escaped imprisonment. From Portugal the news of the outbreak of the French Revolution sent him post-haste to Paris, where he at

To

once began to play an important part. He was
instrumental in spreading republican principles
in Brittany, and on June 19, 1790, he appeared
at the bar of the National Assembly at the head of
a throng of Parisians from the slums dressed up
in fantastic costume to represent the nations of
the earth, and delivered a magniloquent oration
in behalf of "Universal Republicanism."
show the sincerity of his principles, he discarded
his rank and titles (though not his large income).
Cloots was made a French citizen, and in 1792
was elected to the National Convention. He
voted for the death of the King, in the name
of the human race." He was popular with the
visionaries and with the lower orders of Paris,
but incurred the enmity and suspicion of Robes-
pierre. In consequence, Cloots was expelled
first from the Jacobin Club, and later from the
Convention. He was finally arrested in 1794, and
after a summary trial was sent to the guillotine,
with Hébert and his followers, March 24, 1794.
He left a number of works, the chief of which are
L'orateur du genre humain (1791) and Base con-
stitutionelle de la république du genre humain
(1793). Consult: Avenel, Anacharsis Cloots,
l'orateur du genre humain (Paris, 1865); Gal-
lois, Histoire des journaux et des journalistes de
le révolution française, vol. ii.; Bax, Outlines
from a New Standpoint (London, 1891).

CLOQUET. A city in Carlton County, Minn., 29 miles west-southwest of Duluth, on the northern Pacific, the Great Northern, and the Chicago, Milwaukee and Saint Paul railroads (Map: Minnesota, F 4). It is an important lumber centre, being especially noted for its large output of white pine, and manufactures print paper and boxes and match blocks. There is a public li brary. Cloquet was incorporated as a city in 1903. The government is administered by a mayor and a unicameral council. Pop., 1900, 3072; 1905, 6117. CLORIDANO, khổrê-dii nô. A young Moor, in Ariosto's Orlando Furioso.

CLORIN'DA. (1) In Tasso's Jerusalem Delivered, a leader of the forces opposing the Crusaders at the siege of Jerusalem. Tancred falls in love with her, but accidentally kills her in a combat at night, and administers Christian (2) In Fletchbaptism to her before her death. er's Faithful Shepherdess, a beautiful character on which Milton drew in Comus.

CLO'RIS. A maiden in love with Prince Prettyman, in Buckingham's The Rehearsal.

CLOSE (from OF. clos, p.p. of clore, to shut, from Lat. claudere, to close). A term in heraldry. When the wings of a bird are down and close to the body, it is described as close. The word is used only with reference to birds addicted to flight. See HERALDRY.

CLOSE. A space inclosed by a wall or fence; a court, yard, or quadrangle; a narrow sidestreet or passage leading to a court; especially the precincts of a cathedral or a monastery.

In a legal sense, it is a parcel of land in which some one has an interest, amounting at least to a right to present possession, and which in fiction of law is considered as inclosed by an ideal or invisible, if not real. boundary. Breaking or entering another's close is a trespass. See CURTILAGE; FEE: TRESPASS.

CLOSE (klos) TIME. A portion of the year during which game or fish may not be killed or caught. See GAME-LAWS.

CLOSET, klo-zět' (OF. closet, dim. of clos, close). In heraldry (q.v.), the half of the bar. CLOS'TER-SEVEN (KLOSTER-ZEVEN). See WILLIAM AUGUSTUS, Duke of Cumberland.

CLOSURE, or CLÔTURE, klo'tur (OF. closure, Fr. clôture, from Lat. clausura, a closing, from claudere, to close). A rule of procedure adopted in the English Parliament, for the purpose of terminating prolonged discussion, and bringing matters under debate to an issue. It had its origin in 1882, when the policy of obstruction adopted by the Irish members made legislation impossible. It was decided then that, at the request of 40 members, the Speaker might declare debate closed, and call for a vote on the question under discussion. As modified in 1887 the rule now stands that the Speaker may cut off discussion at the request of 200 members, or at the request of 100 only, if less than 40 members vote in the negative. In France the clôture has also been frequently used, since the coup d'état of 1851. In the United States House of Representatives, and in the State Legislatures, the same object is attained by moving the 'previous question.'

CLOT, klo, ANTOINE BARTHÉLEMY, or CLOT BEY (1793-1868). A French physician, born at Grenoble. He studied at Montpellier, and for several years practiced medicine and surgery at Marseilles. After 1822 he lived mostly in Egypt, where by order of Mehemet Ali he established hospitals and medical and pharmaceutical colleges and organized the medical service of the Army and Navy. In 1832 he was given the rank of an Egyptian bey, and in 1836 that of a general. After the death of Mehemet Ali, Clot left Egypt and resumed the practice of medicine at Marseilles. In 1854 he returned to Egypt, and became physician - in - ordinary to the Viceroy, Saïd Pasha. Clot's great activity as an organizer did not prevent him from carrying out important scientific observations and gathering large scientific collections. His published works include: Relation des épidémies de choléra-morbus qui ont régné à l'Héggiaz, à Suez et en Egypte (1832); De la peste observée en Egypte (1840); Coup d'œil sur la peste et les quarantaines (1851); Méhémet-Ali, Vice-roi d'Egypte (1862); De l'ophthalmie, du trichiasis, de l'entropion et de la cataracte observés en Egypte (1864); and Un dernier mot sur la non-contagion de la peste (1866).

CLOTAIRE, klo'tar', I. and II. See MERO

VINGIANS.

CLOTBUR. See COCKLEBUR.

CLO'TEN. The stepson of Cymbeline, in Shakespeare's Cymbeline-a malicious character. CLOTH. See WOOLEN AND WORSTED MANUFACTURES; WEAVING.

CLOTHES-MOTH. Any of several small moths of the genus Tinea, the larvæ of which feed on woolen fabrics and furs. In the United States the depredations wrought by clothesmoths, or 'moth, are caused by at least three different species, which differ both in structure and habits. One (Tinea pellionella) is a small brown moth, with darker brown spots on the fore wings, whose larvæ live within a case composed of bits of the food-material bound together with silk. As the larvæ increase in size, the

silk cases are lengthened, and when the case becomes too narrow it is split open and a new part is inserted, as may be demonstrated by changing the caterpillar from time to time to differently colored materials. The larva of lives within a winding gallery made up of bits another, the carpet-moth (Tinea tapetzella), of carpet or other cloth held together with silk. Its fore wings are blackish and yellowish white; the hind wings and head are dark gray. The straw-colored species (Tinca biselliella) has a naked larva that spins a little silk over its foodmaterial, but makes neither a case nor a gal

[merged small][graphic][merged small][ocr errors]

a, The moth; b, feeding larva; c, pupa in case.

lery. When ready to pupate a cocoon is spun, which, like the larval cases of the foregoing, is composed of fragments of cloth bound together by silk. In the spring or early summer woolen clothes and furs should be thoroughly brushed and subjected to direct sunlight. They should then be carefully packed away in cloth bags or tight boxes, together with naphtha - balls or tobacco-leaves. Tarred paper and plenty of newspapers are useful for wrapping up rugs. Bits of camphor-wood or cedar are also helpful in keeping out moths. A few drops of carbon bisulphide allowed to evaporate in a tight compartment containing infested goods will kill moths and eggs; but as it is very inflammable and the fumes are injurious to man, it should be used with caution. Benzine and gasoline are also useful but rather dangerous moth-killers, and printer's ink is poisonous. The best preventive for rugs, etc., is constant use and kicking about;' for small garments and furs, inclosure in tight cloth bags. Consult Marlatt, Household Insects of the United States (Department of Agriculture, Washington, 1896).

CLO THO (Lat., from Gk. Kwow, Klothō, the Spinster, from weer, klothein, to spin). One of the three Fates. See PARCE.

CLOTIL'DA, SAINT (c.475-545). A daughter of Chilperic, King of Burgundy, and wife of Clovis, King of the Franks. Her father and mother were murdered by her uncle, Gundebald, who spared the child and educated her. She was married to Clovis (q.v.), who through her influence was converted to Athanasian Christianity in 496. He avenged the murder of her family by reducing Gundebald to subjection. After the death of Clovis Clotilda persuaded her sons to renew the quarrel, and a war followed that ended in the union of Burgundy with the Frankish kingdom. Clotilda retired to Tours, and practiced the austerities of a devotee until her death. She was buried in the Basilica of Saint Peter, which she had built in Paris, and was cannized by Pope Pelagius. There is a statue

« AnteriorContinuar »