Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 05.djvu/650

* CREIL. 558 CBSMATION OF THE DEAr. CREIL, kra'y'. The capital of a canton and an iniimihuit railway junction in the Department of Oise, l''rance, on the Oise, 32 miles north of Paris by rail. The parish church dates from the twelfth century; the mined twelfth-century Transition Church of Saint Evremont is situated on an is- land in the river ; and there are remains of a royal castle of Charles V. Hardware, copper, machinery, and pottery manufactures are its diief inilusfries. and it has an increasing river- transit trade. Population, in 1901, 9125. CREIZENACH, kri'tse-naG, Theodor Adolf (1818-77). A German poet and literary his- torian. He was born in Mainz, the son of Michael C'reizenach, a famous Hebrew scholar, studied at Giessen, Giittingen, and Heidelberg, and was one of the founders of the Jew- ish Reform Society in Frankfort-on-the-^Main. He embraced Christianity in 1854, and in 1863 was appointed professor at the Frankfort Gym- nasium. He was a versatile writer, liis poems, Dichiiingen (1839) and Gedichte (1851), being distinguished by simplicity and an elegiac char- acter. His publication of the correspondence be- tween Goethe and Marianne von Willemer (1878) is a valuable contribution to the litera- ture on the great poet. CRELLE, krel'lf. ArGVST Leopold (1780- 18.55). A self-educated German mathematician. He was born at Eiehwerder, near Wriezen, and was an architect by profession, but is chiefly known as the founder of the Journal fiir reiitc iiiid aii'ieicdndte Mathematik (Berlin. 1826). This journal has given expression to many of the greatest mathematical developments of the nine- teenth century. Abel's proof of the impossibility of solving the general equation of the fifth degree by algebraic metliods appeared in the first vol- ume. Steiner, 'the greatest geometrician since the time of Euclid,' was a leading contributor, and Mobius intrusted to it the puldication of his most important researches. Crelle wrote quite extensively on algebra, trigonometry, the theory of numbers, the theory of functions, and various subjects of mathematical physics. His chief works are Vcrsticli ciner allgemeinen Theorie der analytischen Facultaten (1825); Encyklo- padische DarsieUtiitg der Theorie der Zahlen (1843); Sammhinfj mathematischer Bemerkun- gen (1820-22); Elemente der Geometrie und ehenen und sphiirischen Trigonometrie (1826-27). He was also editor of the Journal der Baukunst. CRELLINGER, kra'ling-er, Augdste (DiJB- ing) (1795-1805). A German actress, born in Berlin. She made her first appearance at the Court Theatre. Berlin, May 4, 1812, and subse- quently became one of the most famous actresses of her da.v, and frequently appeared as a star at the leading theatres of Germany, as well as in Saint Petersburg. Sappho, Lady Macbeth, Iphi- genia, Phiidra. and Adelheid in Gbt^ von Berlich- ingeii were some of her favorite roles. She ex- celled also in comedy parts, and was distinguished alike for her beauty, numerous histrionic ac- complishments, and consummate artistic train- ing. CREMA, kra'nia. A city in the Province of Cremona, north Italy, situated on the right bank of the Serio, 33 miles (by the winding railway) southeast of Milan (Map: Italy, D 2). The cathedral has a Romanesque fagade, and the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie has inter- esting frescoes. The circular Church of Santa Maria della Croce, built in 1490. has an octag- onal interior adorned with paintings by Campi. The chief ])roducts of the district are wine, fruit, and cheese; lace, silk, and linen goods are manu- factured. Crema was founded by the Lombards in the sixth century and suffered much during the wars of the Guelphs and Ghibellines. It was besieged, taken, and destroyed by Frederick Bar- barossa in 1159-60. Population (commune), in 18S1, 9111; in 1901, 9755. CREMATION OF THE BEAB (Lat. ere- matio, from crcmarc, to burn; connected with Goth, hai'iri, eoal, Icel. hyrr, fire). The process of disposing of the bodies of the dead by reduc- ing them to ashes. Three methods of disposing of the bodies of the human dead have prevailed since the earliest times: simple exposure; burial in the earth, in caves, or in artificial tombs; and cremation. Among the factors which have de- termined which of these methods should be adopted by a nation or race have been physical conditions, such as the character of the soil and climate and the abimdance or scarcity of fuel; sanitary considerations; and religious beliefs. Only the most uncivilized tribes have practiced simple exposure, depending on the elements and the wild beasts to dispose of the bodies of their dead. Such was the practice of the early Col- chians, who, we are told, hung dead bodies on the limbs of trees, while the Syrians abandoned their dead to wild animals. Dispos.L OF THE Dead AsroNG the Ancients AND Among Uncivilized Tribes. Of the two methods employed by civilized nations, crema- tion and burial, the former is the one originally prevalent among the Indo-European races. The graves of North Europe, througliout the Bronze Age, contain, not skeletons, but only urns for the reception of funeral ashes. The Egyptians, on the other hand, embalmed their dead; the Jews laid them away in sepulchres; and the ancient as well as the modern Chinese buried them in the earth. The Chinese, influenced by religious doctrine, now, as of old, insist on properly placed graves in their own land, and for this rea- son corpses are sent home from California. They do not have cemeteries specially set apart for the burial of the dead, but may bury them anywhere, and the frequent occurrence of these hallowed spots, which may not be desecrated, has proved a serious obstacle to railway' projects. The dry, hot climate of Egv'pt made the embalming proc- ess possible, and the scarcity of fuel made it less expensive than burning. The same natural cause, lack of fiicl, may h.ave led to the practice of burial among the Jews and other tribes. Among the ancient Persians the bodies of the dead were exposed to the elements, as is the practice of the modc^rn Parsis, or followers of Zoroaster. It is, however, probable that in some instances, especially in the ease of kings, burial with a coating of wax was allowed. Many of the early American Indians burned their dead and dis- posed of their ashes in various ways, while the ancient Greeks practiced both cremation and burial, the former being introduced by the Phrygians, and burial by the Egyptians. Among the Romans, cremation was the general practice during the latter days of the Republic and through four centuries of the Empire. Se-* Burial for a description of burial practices oi ancient nations.