Page:LA2-NSRW-2-0007.jpg

DAMASCUS

A railroad to Medina, Arabia, one thousand miles long, was opened in 1908. The exports and imports are large. In the city there are about 5,000 hand-looms, and 10,000 workmen are employed in weaving silk, cotton and woolen fabrics, carpets and similar articles. Much is being done in education, especially by the Christians. Population, 350,000. See Parker's Five Years in Damascus. Damascus=Blades.   See SWORDS. Damask, a fabric originally manufactured at Damascus, from which it derives its name. It was made of silk and was distinguished by its ornamental woven figures of fruits, flowers, animals and landscapes. The term is now applied to stuffs made for table-covers, window-curtains and furniture-coverings, with patterns woven in the loom; but not to those in which the design is printed. There are silk, linen, woolen and cotton damasks, and some are of two materials, usually dyed in different colors. Brocades and figured velvets resemble damasks, but in them the pattern is raised; while in damask the surface is flat and the pattern is distinct on both sides of the cloth. Table-linen damask is the kind most largely made. There are manufactures of damask in Great Britain and in other parts of Europe. Damien (da'my an'}, Father Joseph, a young Belgian priest who, in 1873, devoted himself to the self-denying duties of spiritual guide to the lepers confined on the Hawaiian island of Molokai. He became physician of their souls and bodies, their magistrate, teacher, carpenter, gardener, cook and even grave-digger. He was later joined by another priest. For 12 years Father Da-mien escaped the disease; but in 1885 the malady appeared in him; but, though his doom was sealed, he continued unabated his heroic labors. (Born 1840, died 1889.) Damocles (dam'd-klez), one of the courtiers and flatterers of the elder Dionysius, tyrant of Syracuse. As Cicero tells the story, Damocles, having extolled in the highest terms the grandeur and happiness of royalty, was reproved in a singular way by Dionysius. Damocles was placed at a magnificent banquet, surrounded by all the splendor of royalty, and in the midst of his enjoyment, suddenly looking upward, he saw a naked sword hanging by a single horsehair above his head. The lesson taught him the uncertain nature of the happiness of kings. Da'mon and Pyth'ias, two famous Pythagoreans of Syracuse, who lived early in the 4th century B. C., and whose names are always joined as the types of true and noble friendship. Pythias had been condemned to death by the elder Dionysius, tyrant of Syracuse, and was allowed to go home for the purpose of arranging his affairs* Damon pledging his own life for the appearance of his friend at the time appointed for his doom. True to his promise and in the midst of the greatest difficulties, Pythias returned just in time to save Damon from death. Struck by so noble an example of friendship, the tyrant pardoned Pythias and asked to be admitted into their sacred fellowship. It is said that not Pythias but Phintias, is the right name. Damrosch (ddm'rosh), Leopold, musical director, composer and solo violinist, was born at Posen, Prussia, Oct. 22, 1832; and died in New York city, Feb. 15, 1885. His professional career began in 1855, and by 1866 he had become musical director of a Breslau theatre, and in 1871, after coming to this country, leader of the Arion Society of New York. To him music-lovers are indebted for introducing German opera into America with great eclat, his concerts, operas and oratorios at the Metropolitan Opera House, New York, being hailed as musical events of the season. He also was director of the New York Oratorio and Symphony Societies of that city, both of which he founded and remained leader of until his death, at the comparatively early age of 53. Damrosch, Walter Johannes (1862), American musician (son of Leopold), was born at Breslau, Silesia, and studied under his father and other musical experts. Coming to this country, the youthful musician in 1881 became conductor of the Harmonic Society of Newark, N. J. During his father's fatal illness in 1885 young Walter succeeded him as conductor of the Oratorio and Symphony Societies and as conductor of German opera at the Metropolitan Opera House, New York. In 1894 he organized the Damrosch Company, and for a num-bej of years gave performances in German, French and Italian. Among his musical compositions are an opera founded on Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter, a Te Deum in honor of Admiral Dewey's victory at Manila and several minor pieces. Da'na, Charles Anderson, an American journalist, was born at Hinsdale, N.H., Aug. 8, 1819. From 1848 to 1862 he was managing editor of the New York Tribune, and from 1863 to the close of the Civil War, was assistant-secretary of war. In 1867 he founded the •.New York Sun, and -began the successful management of that reaper on Democratic lines. Together with George Ripley, he planned and edited the New American Cyclopedia and its revised edition, The

CHARLES A. DANA