Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume IV.djvu/590

 578 CIDER CIENFUEGOS "Poem of the Cid," composed about the year 1200, is one of the earliest and most vigorous specimens of Spanish verse. It contains nearly 4,000 lines, and professes to give a continuous account of the doings of its hero. The author is often spoken of as the Homer of Spain, but his name is unknown. The " Chronicle of the Cid-" a prose production of the 13th century, is also of unknown origin. There are three editions of this, dated in 1541, 1552, and 1593. Besides these there are numerous romances and ballads on the same subject, many of which have been translated into English by Lockhart. A complete collection in the original is con- tained in Augustin Duran's Romancero general. The old " Poem of the Cid " was originally published by Sanchez in the first volume of his Poesias castellanas anteriores al siylo XV. (4 vols. 8vo, Madrid, 1779-'90), and reprinted by Ochoa (8vo, Paris, 1842). Excellent trans- lations from it were made by Herder in Ger- man, and by J. Hookham Frere in English. Southey's " Chronicle of the Cid " is made up of free versions and compositions from the old poem, the prose chronicle, the ballads, and the general chronicles of Spain. It furnishes the stories and traditions in a very pleasing form. Of the dramas founded on this roman- tic subject Corneille's Cid is the best known. CIDER, the expressed juice of apples, either fermented or unfermented. Its quality de- pends upon that of the fruit from which it is made. Vinous fermentation converts the sugar contained in the juice into alcohol. The specific gravity, therefore, of new or unfer- mented cider, being very nearly in proportion to the amount of sugar, will indicate to the manufacturer the strength which he may be able to give to his cider. The apples should be ripe and well mellowed, to diminish the quan- tity of gum, and develop the greatest possible quantity of sugar as well as the highest flavor ; and they should also be well crushed, that the Cider Mill. pulp may be immediately put to press, before fermentation commences. A good form of mill, which has long been in use, consists of two longitudinally grooved wooden cylinders turned on vertical axes by a horizontal lever, and firmly supported upon a vat into which the pulp falls. The pressing may be conveniently performed by a common screw press, in which Cider Press. the pulp is placed in layers called cheeses, folded in straw. The juice is received in a tub or vat, and is carefully strained before being put in barrels. The fermentation of cider is conducted in the same manner as that of wine, and several varieties may be pro- duced from different apples, and by various methods. It may be kept in barrels or bottles, like wine. The new or sweet cider is some- times boiled to a thin sirup, which may be preserved in tight bottles for a long time, and conveniently used for preserving, and for pre- paring condiments and other articles of food. Ul-M I KUis. a city of Cuba, capital of a ju- risdiction in the department of the Centre, sit- uated on the S. side of the island, on the bay of Jagua, 180 m. S. E. of Havana; lat. 22 15' N., Ion. 80 82' W. ; pop. about 10,000. The harbor, which is capacious and safe, is defend- ed by the fort of Los Ageles. The city is the most beautiful on the island. The streets are wide and straight, and many of the houses are surrounded by gardens. Among the principal buildings are a theatre, a number of churches, and several public schools. Railways connect the town with Cardenas and Sagua la Grande, on the N. coast. It has two daily newspapers and a considerable local trade. The chief ex- ports are sugar, wax, and timber. Cienfuegos was founded about 1813, and was named from the captain general of Cuba at that time. l II M 1 1 (.os. Nleaslo Alvarez de, a Spanish poet and dramatist, born in Madrid, Dec. 14, 1764, died at Orthez, France, in July, 1809. He was educated at Salamanca, and in 1798 published a volume of miscellaneous poems. He also wrote pieces for the stage, successful in their day, but now neglected, including Pitaco, Idomeneo, La condesa de Castillo, &n&Zoraida. He became the editor of the government gazette