LAOMEDON, Greek mythological char acter, son of Ilus, king of Troy and father of Priam (Podarces). By command of Zeus Laomedon was served by Apollo and Poseidon, Apollo tending his flocks and Poseidon build ing the walls of Troy which Laomedon founded. Laomedon refusing the compensation agreed upon the country was visited by a pestilence sent by Apollo and a sea monster sent by Poseidon. The oracle declared that relief could be obtained only by the sacrifice to the sea monster of one of Laomedon's daughters. Lots were cast and Hesione was chosen and chained to a rock to await the sea monster's coming. Here Hercules found her and promised to free her in exchange for the magic horses given to Tros, the father of Ganymede, to comfort him after the loss of his son. Laomedon again broke his word and Hercules returned, destroyed Troy, killed Laomedon and all his sons except Priam who had opposed his father's methods. Hercules carried. away Hesione and placed Priam upon the throne. It was said that so long as the grave of Laomedon remained inviolate by the Scman gate the walls of Troy would remain impregnable.
LAON, France, capital city of the department of Aisne, 87 miles northeast of Paris. It has been from earliest times a forti fied city, owing to its situation upon command ing ground. It was the ancient Ladunum and was fortified by the Romans in the 5th century. The invasions of the Franks, Vandals, Huns and others were checked here in early times; in the Hundred Years War Laon changed hands several times, being held successively by the Burgundians, English and French. Napo leon here was defeated by Blucher in 1814, and in the Franco-Prussian War Laon fell into the hands of the Germans. In the European War Laon again fell before the Germans in the autumn of 1914 and remained 'within the famous "Von Hindenburg line' as it stood in the sum mer of 1918. The cathedral of Laon was built in the 12th and 13th centuries and is considered one of the most important Gothic structures in France. There is an old episcopal palace, now in use as a courthouse; the 13th century gates of Ardon, Chenizelles and Soissons; the ancient abbey of Saint Vincent and the church of Saint Martin, built in the 12th century. Laon was the seat of a bishopric until the Revolution. Its modern fortifications consist of an inner line of defense works and two groups of forts to the southeast and southwest. It has sugar and metal-manufacturing indus tries and is famous for its artichokes, aspar *agog and fruits. The town possesses an excel lent museum, a lye& for boys, a girls' college and agricultural and normal schools. Pop. 15,228.
LAOS, 15'6z, or LAOTIANS, division of the Thai or Shan race of Indo-China, occupying the territory in northern India from Tongking to Cambodia in the Malay Peninsula. The people prefer to be called Thai rather than Lao, which is a political name, indicating the That peoples governed by Siam. Shan also is a political name, probably from the Chinese, and means the Thai peoples under Burmese rule. They are at present chiefly under French and Siamese rule although a species of independence is accorded a few tribes. The Laos came from the mountain districts of Yunnan. Szechuan and Kueichow, driving the wild tribes of the Kwa peoples away. Their civilization was of a comfortable order, with small states having few and easy laws and low taxes, and embodied for the greater part the adoption of Buddhism. The Laos are of a friendly, pleasant disposi tion, too easy-going to compete successfully in commerce; their chief occupations are along agricultural lines in connection with rice, silk and herds. The cutting of teak timber is done mostly by the wilder tribes in the mountains. There are two distinct divisions of the Laos, the Lao Pong Dam, or North Laos, and the Lao Pong Kao, or Eastern Laos. They possess a written language, the Lao Pong Dam deriving theirs from the Burmese, while the Lao Pong Kao language is similar to the • Siamese. The physical character istics of the race are low stature, yellow complexion, high cheek bones, small, flat nose, oblique eyes, black hair and scanty beard. While polygamy is practised it is rare and the women of the race enjoy considerable freedom and are kindly treated. They have a distinct taste for music, their instrument being the a mouth organ of rather sweet tone; and they have a considerable development of folklore. From 1828 the Laos were governed by Siam, the most powerful Laotian state, Vien-Tiane being destroyed at that time. The government was thereafter conducted in part by native hereditary princes and partly by man darins sent from Bangkok. The government is now divided between France and Siam. As a whole the Laos arc lazy but peace-loving; they are superstitious, crediting disease to evil spirits and believing in wer-wolves. Men, women and children are alike addicted to tobacco smoking. Consult Granier, M. J. F.. 'Voyage d'explo ration en Indo-Chine) (1873) ; Mouhout, A H., in the Central Parts of Indo-China, Cambodia and Laos> (1864) ; Hallett, H. S., 'A Thousand Miles on the Elephant in the Shan States' (1890) ; Gosselin. C., 'Le Laos et le protectorat francais' (1900) ; Reinach, L. de, 'Le Laos' (1902) and 'Notes sur le Laos' (1906).