Page:Collier's New Encyclopedia v. 04.djvu/419

LEFT GOLDSBOBO 366 GOLDSMITH versity of Pavia, from which he was ex- pelled for writing scurrilous satires. After his father's death he settled as an advocate in Venice, but shortly took to a wandering life with strolling players, till in 1736 he married the daughter of a notary and settled down in Venice. Here he first began to cultivate that de- partment of dramatic poetry in which he was to excel; namely description of char- acter and manners. In this he took Moliere for his model. For five years he visited various cities of Italy, composing pieces for different theatrical companies, and for a time renewing his legal prac- tice. In 1761 the Italian players invited him to Paris, where many of his pieces met with uncommon applause. He be- came reader and master of the Italian language to the daughters of Louis XV.; and received latterly a pension of 3,600 livres. At the breaking out of the revo- lution the poet lost his pension, and the decree of the National Convention of Jan. 7, 1793, restoring it and making up the arrears found him on his death-bed. His widow received the pension for herself. Many of his pieces still appear on the stage. He died in Paris, France, Jan. 6, 1793. GOLDSBORO, a city of North Caro- lina, the county seat of Wayne co. It is on the Southern, the Atlantic Coast Line, and the Norfolk Southern railroads, and on the Neuse river. It is the center of an important agricultural and cotton- growing region. It has also extensive industries, including the manufacture of cotton, oil, lumber, rice, furniture, agri- cultural implements, brick, woolen goods, etc. Its public institutions include a park, an Odd Fellows' Orphan Home, the Eastern Insane Asylum, a hospital, and a sanitarium. Pop. (1910) 6,107; (1920) 11,296. GOLDSCHMIDT, MADAME (gold' shmit), maiden name Jenny Lind, a famous Swedish vocalist; born in Stock- holm, Sweden, Oct. 6, 1820. At 3 years of age she could sing correctly any piece she had once heard, and at 9 she was placed under Croelius, a famous teacher of music. Count Piicke, manager of the court theater, after hearing her sing, caused her name at once to be entered at the Musical Academy, where she made rapid progress. She acted re peatedly in children's parts on the Stockholm stage till her 12th year, when her upper notes lost their sweet- ness. For four years she studied music theoretically. Her voice having re- covered, she appeared at the Royal Theater, Stockholm, as Agatha, in "Der Freischutz," in 1838, and for lY- years she continued the star of the opera at Stockholm. A series of concerts in the principal towns of Norway and Sweden gave her the means to study in Paris under Garcia. Declining Meyerbeer's offer to go to Berlin, she returned to her native city, where she enjoyed a great triumph on her reappearance. In 1844 she went to Dresden, and after- ward to Frankfort, Cologne, and Vienna. She first appeared before a London audi- ence in May, 1847, as Alice, in ''Robert the Devil," followed by a series of un- paralleled triumphs in "Sonnambula," "The Daughter of the Regiment," "Puri- tani," etc. She visited New York in 1850, under the auspices of P. T. Barnum, and was enthusiastically re- ceived, but dissolved the engagement prematurely in 1851, was married to M. Otto Goldschmidt, a skillful pianist and conductor, and retired from the stage. She reappeared in 1855, in 1861, in 1863, and in 1880, for a limited period. She was Professor of Singing at the Royal College of Music, 1883-1886. She died in Wynd's Point, Malvern, England, Nov. 2, 1887. GOLDSMITH, OLIVER, a famous English author; born in Pallas, Long- ford CO., Ireland, Nov. 10, 1728. In 1745 he entered Trinity College, Dublin, OLIVER GOLDSMITH where he gave no indications of genius or scholastic talents, and becoming in- volved in some youthful irregrularities, quitted the university, and led for some time a sort of vagrant life. Returning to