CROCUS
480
CROMER
of travelers, it is greatly reduced in numbers in the lower Nile, but it still is very abundant above the first cataract. This reptile is ordinarily 12 or 13 feet long;
exceptio nal sizes are 18 jand 20 feet in jlength. It seizes cattle [and antelopes by the nose while drink-•ing, and draws them into the water. Crocodiles devour dogs when they can catch them, and occasionally a child falls victim to the crocodile, but they rarely attack adults. On the whole they seem to prefer putrid flesh. They leave the water to bask on t- e mud-banks of rivers and marshes, and here they lay their eggs. From 20 to 60 eggs are inclosed in holes in the sand or mud, and left to be hatched by the heat of the sun. Associated with the crocodile is a bird, called the Nile-bird, that enters the mouth of the reptile while it is held open, and picks the leeches from the tongue and walls of the mouth-cavity. The gavials of India with long slender snouts belong to the crocodile group. The American crocodiles, living principally in South America and the West Indies, are now occasionally captured in Central America and the marshes of southern Florida. See ALLIGATOR.
Cro'cus. A genus of the iris family, some of which are the earliest spring-flowers, but some bloom in the fall. The genus contains about 70 lecognized species, and is native to southern Europe and southwestern Asia. The grass-like leaves and long tubular showy flowers rise directly from a subterranean corm. Numerous varieties are in cultivation.
Croesus (kre'sus), king of Lydia, in Asia Minor, came to the throne about 568 B.C., when he was about 35 years old. The Greek cities of Asia Minor fell before his armies. He became wealthier than any ruler whom the Greeks knew, and "as rich as Croesus" became a common saying. Solon, the Greek sage, once visited him. The king displayed all his treasures, and then asked the wise Greek who was the happiest man he had ever known. "Tellus of Athens," was the answer; "for he lived while his country was prosperous; he was surrounded with children and children's children, who were both beautiful and good; and he died upon the field of battle after having gained a gallant victory over the enemy." "And further," said Solon, "no man can be fully happy until a happy death has closed a happy life." And, in truth, Croesus* wealth did not save him
from misfortune. A son of whom he was very fond was accidentally killed in a boar-hunt. News came, too, that the Persian Cyrus, who had conquered right and left, had cast a longing eye on Lydia. Not knowing what to do, Croesus asked advice of the famous oracle of Delphi. Said the oracle: "If Croesus goes to war, he will destroy a mighty empire." What could be plainer? So off goes Croesus, to be badly whipped by Cyrus, and to find that the empire he was to destroy was his own. When Sardis, his capital, was stormed, the king, careless of life, was about to be slain, when another son, who had been born dumb, scared into speech, told the Persian soldiers that it was the king, and he was kept for a worse death. Placed on a huge funeral-pyre, he watched the flames licking their way upward to their victim, and, thinking of what Solon had said about a happy death, he kept crying out: "O Solon! Solon!" Cyrus chanced to hear him, and, asking what he meant, was told the sage's warning, which made such an impression on him that Croesus was rescued from the pyre, and became the conqueror's friend and guardian of his son and heir, Cambyses.
Croly, Jane Cunningham, American writer, known better by her pen-name of Jennie June, was born in Leicestershire, England, in 1831, and settled with her family, ten years later, at Poughkeepsie, N. Y. In 1857 she married D. G. Croly, a journalist, who died in 1889. From 1860 to 1887 she was editor of Demorest's Magazine, founded the Sorosis society, and took part in progressive movements on behalf of women. Subsequently she was elected to the chair of literature and journalism in Rutgers College and president of the New York City Women's Press club. Her books consist 01 a History of Sorosis and of the woman's club movement in America; Talks on Women's Topics; For Better or Worse; Thrown upon Her Own Resources, etc. She died on Dec. 23, 1901.
Cromer, Evelyn Baring, first Earl of, was born in Cromer Hall, Norfolk, on Feb. 26, 1841, and educated at the Royal Military Academy at Woolwich. He entered the Royal Artillery in 1858, and became captain in 1870 and major in 1876. After service in the colonies he was made private secretary to Lord Northbrook, while he was viceroy of India, from 1872 to 1876. He was commissioner of the Egyptian public debt in 1877-9, controller-general in Egypt, 1879, financial member of council of governor-general of India, 1880, and minister plenipotentiary, agent and consul-general in Egypt, 1883-1906. He was created baron in 1892, viscount in 1898 and earl in 1901, and is a privy councillor and a member of many orders of merit. He has published military works, paraphrases and translations from the Greek and a history of his Egyptian proconsulship. He virtually was a king of Egypt, and his work there was constructive statesmanship
CROCODILE
