Canticles

(kān'te-kiz.) [From L. canticulum, a little song.] (Script.) The SONG. The Solomon's Song, or Song of Songs, a canonical book of the Bible, supposed by some to be a marriage-song written by Solomon, and must be explained by compositions of a similar nature in Eastern countries. Other writers consider it to be a series of sacred idyls, each distinct and independent of the other. It was forbidden to be read be fore a mature age by the Jews and early Christians,| lest it should be misunderstood. Cantilena, (kan-te-lā'nah.) [L., a song.] (Mus.) The treble melody, or upper part of any composition. Canto, (kūn'to.) [It., a song.] (Poet.) A part or division of a poem, corresponding with what in prose is termed a book.-(Mus.) The first treble, or highest vocal part of a composition. Can'to-fer'mo. [It., firm song.] (Mus.) The subject or theme of any counterpoint, whether plain or figured. Canton, (kant on.) [Fr.] (Geog.) A small division of territory, constituting a district, state, or govt., as in the Swi cantons. In France, the term is given to a small subdivision of a dept.-(Her.) A small square separated from the rest of a coat. A shield is said to be cantoned when two lines proceeding from the top or sides meet each other at right angles. Canton, (kant on,) a maritime city of China, C. p. of Quang-tong, 1,200 m. S. by W. of Pekin; Lat. 23° 9' 10" N., Lon. 113° 14′ 30″ E. This is a large, tolerably well-built, and densely populated city, quadrangular inform, and with a small space, separated from the native quarters, allotted to foreign residents. The commerce of C. is the most extensive of any city of Asia, excepting only Calcutta, and nearly all the foreign powers have their representatives here in the interests of trade. Canton was the first port in the Celestial empire opened to Europe ans. The foreign trade is almost wholly in the hands of the English and Americans, and the latter people have established a line of steamers between C. and San Francisco. Pop. 1,200,000.CANTON RIVER, or Che-kiang (" Pearl River"), is the lower portion of the Pekiang, and is navigable for 300 miles. Below C., it bears the name of Bocca Fig. 129.-CANTONESE MILKMAN. Tigris. Can'ton, in Illinois, a village of Canton township, Fulton co., 70 m. N.N.W. of Springfield; pop. 3,308.-In Mi ouri, a village of Lewis co., on the Mi i ippi river; pop. 2,363. -In New York, a village, C. of St. Lawrence co.,on Gra river, 20 m. E.S.E. of Ogdensburg; pop. of twp. 6,014.- In Ohio, a manufacturing town, C. of Stark co., on the Nimishillen creek, 118 m. N.E. of Columbus; pop. 8,660. [s. 138]