The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1918-10-10
Ancient Cambria Is Rich In
Historic Lore; Dates Back
Nearly2 Thousand Years

Cambria, now noted in this great
war, is fortified town of France,
in the department of Nord situated
on the right bank of the Scheldt 80
miles south OF Lille, in 50 degrees,
10 minutes north latitude and 3 de-
/ grecS ~ minutes east longitude. IT
is well built, contains large num-
Der of ancient houses, and is
surrounded by strong walls flanked
with round towers.
Prior To the outbreak of the pres
ent war, the principal building is the
Cathedral of ST. Scpulchre, occupy
ing the site OF an earlier structure.
which was greatly damaged during
the French Revolution, and suffered
still more severely from a conila-
grafton in 1880. 1t still contains
monument by David to the memory
OF fenelon, but the tomb in which
the archbishop was burned was
broken open in 1913, and his coffin
melted into bullets. OF the old arch
iepiscopal palace. the only thing left
is Renaissance portal; and the
archbishop now has his residence in
what was formerly the convent of
the Benedictines.
Besides these may be mentioned
the church OF St. Gerry, and the bel
fry of st, Martin; the town house.
dating from 1873, the citadel: and
the public library, containing up
wards OF $4,000 volumes, in what
was formerly the church OF the hos
pital Of ST. John.
Cambria i, the chief town OF an
lrrondisemcnt, and has judicial and
commercial tribunals of the first in
stance. \ college. two theological
iemnarieS, medical school. and
4 school OF design were its chief
educational establishments; it had
also various learned societies. The .
own has long been famous for its ,
Of fine muslin, to which ;
t gave the name cambric; and it ,
ilSo contained manufactures of cot =,
on cloth, lace, and thread as well /;
IS Sugar-tactories, oil refinerics, dis
1Ilcries, breweries, and other in .
iustrial establishments. It's trade :,
onsistS OF grain, wine, hemp, hops,
attic, butter, and coal. +
The Scheldt begins to be navi- -
able at the town, and communicates
'ith St Quentin by means of a ma
al. The population prior to the
ar was about $4,000.
Cambrai is the ancient Nervian l., y
Dwn OF Camaracum, which is first :, =,
iii the Antonine Itinerv. +,
n the fifth century it was the cap h,
al of the Frankish king, Ragnachar IN
ortiiied by Charlemagne, it was in
iptured and piIlaged by the Nor NJ
ans in so. and unsuccessfully be- Sc
'iged by the Hungarians in 953. r
uring the tenth. eleventh and 81
yelfth centuries, it was the scene is
frequent hostilities between the vi
shop and his supporters on the Al
le hand and the citizens on the an
her; but the latter ultimately ef- m,
cted their independence. Re
In 147S Louis NI. who had OBJ fu
ined possession of the town on the Nj
ath OF the last duke of Burgundy 10
nded it over to the emperor, and Hi
the sixteenth century Charles,
e Fifth caused it to be fortified Fl
tn a strong citadel for the cree
n of which the castles of Cavil-
5, Escaudoeuyres, and many 9TH
were demolished. From that to
-e to the peace Of Nimeguen, pre-
ich assigned it to France. it fre- pla
emily passed from hand to hand by the
'ture or treaty In 1913. it was x.
ieged in vain by the Austrians. bel
e league of Cambria is the name toll