DAMODAR 255 DAMSON nificant sjrmbol of the fear in which tyrants may live. DAMODAR, a river of Bengal, vi^hich after a S. E. course, falls into the Hugli, just above the James and Mary Sands. A little below the mouth of its chief tributary, the Barakhar, which it re- ceives from the N . the Damodar be- comes navigable, i'lie valleys of these two streams contain the coal-fields which produce about four-fifths of the whole amount of coal mined in British India. Length about 350 miles. DAMON, a Pythagorean philosopher, niemorable for his friendship with Pyth- ias, or Phintias. Dionysius of Syracuse having condemned Damon to death, he ob- tained leave of absence to go home and settle his affairs, Pythias pledging him- self to endure the punishment in his stead if he did not return at the ap- pointed time. Damon was punctual; and this instance of friendship so pleased the king, that he pardoned him, and begged, but in vain, to be admitted to their friendship. DAMPIER, the name of several places in Australasia: (1) Dampier Archi- pelago, a cluster of about 20 small rocky isli'nds off the N. W. coast of Australia, in 21° S. lat.., and 117° E. Ion., divided by the Mermaid Strait in two groups; in the E. is Rosemary, the largest island. (2) Dampier Island, off the N. E. coast of New Guinea, with a volcano about 5,250 feet high. (3) Dampier's Land, a peninsula of Western Australia, fertile and well watered, lying between King Sound and the Indian Ocean. (4) Dam- pier Strait, between New Guinea and the archipelago of New Britain, forming, with Goshen Strait to the S. E., the shortest route from eastern Australia to China by some 300 miles. (5) Dampier Strait, separating the island of Way- giou from the N. W. extremity of New Guinea, the safest and easiest passage between the Indian and Pacific Oceans. DAMPIER, WILLIAM (dam'per), an English navigator; born in East Coker, Somersetshire, in 1652; became a mariner at an early age. During many years of active service in privateers and trading-vessels, he several times visited the South seas; and the results of his obsei'vations were given to the public in a work entitled "A Voyage Round the World," which for accuracy and interest, as well a^ for professional knowledge, possesses considerable merit. He died about 1715. DAMROSCH. FRANK HEINO (dam'- rosh), an American musician; bom in Breslau, Germany, June 22, 1859. He was trained by his father, Leopold (q.v.), and in 1882 became conductor of the Denver Chorus Club and supervisor of music in the public schools of that city. He was chorus master at the Metropolitan Opera House, New York, from 1885 to 1891, and in 1892 organized the People's Singing Class. From 1897 to 1905 he was director of music in the public schools of New York City. In 1893 he established the Musical Art So- ciety and in 1898 the SjTnphony Con- certs for Young People. Beginning with 1886, he was director of various choral and orchestral societies in Newark, N. J., Philadelphia, and New York. In 1905 he organized the Institute of Musical Art, New York. DAMROSCH, LEOPOLD, a German musician; bom in Posen, Prussia, Oct. 22, 1832; graduated with high honors from the University of Berlin, and began the practice of medicine; but his love for music predominated, and in 1864 he gave up his medical profession and started on a tour as violinist. He met with great success and on his return to Posen was appointed musical director at the Stadt-Theater. He subsequently held a similar post in Breslau. Coming to the United States, he was made leader of the Arion Society in New York, and subse- quently founded the Oratorio and Sym- phony societies of that city. He died Feb. 15, 1885. DAMROSCH, WALTER JOHANNES, an American musician; born in Breslau, Prussia, in 1862; son of DR. Leopold Damrosch {q. v.). He became a citizen of the United States in 1871. He inherited the musical talent of his father, and suc- ceeded him in his enterprises. He was the special exponent of the Wagnerian school of music, and conducted operatic performances in all the large cities, proving himself a most acceptable leader. He also composed an opera founded on Hawthorne's tale of "The Scarlet Letter," besides other excellent music. He married in 1890 Margaret, daughter of James G. Blaine. In 1903 he reorganized as a permanent orchestra the New York Symphony Orchestra to the leadership of which he devoted him- self exclusively since then and which he put in the forefront of symphony orches- tras. The entire orchestra made a highly succes.sful tour of France and England in 1920. During the World War he re- jformed the military bands of the A. E. F. and founded a school for bandmasters at General Headquarters, Chaumont, France. DAMSON, a variety of the common plum (Pruniis do^nestica). The fruit is rather small and oval, and its numerous sub-varieties are of different colors:
