Dekker
THOMAS, an English dramatist; born in London, about 1570; died some time after 1637. He wrote a great number of plays, but only a few of them were published, among them the two comedies, "The Shoemak. er's Holiday," and "Old Fortunatus"; they are both specimens of whatever is best and most genuine in English humor, and the second in particular abounds in passages of consummate poetic beauty.
Of other writings of his we have "The Wonderful Year," a pamphlet describing graphically the horrors of the plague; an amusing tract, "The Bachelor's Banquet," a satire on henpecked husbands; and many other fugitive pieces lashing the vices and follies of the age. He also collaborated with other dramatists. DE KOVEN (HENRY LOUIS) REGI- NALD, an American composer born in Middletown, Conn., April 3, 1859. He was graduated at Oxford in 1879 and studied music in the leading cities of Europe. His operettas have had great success, notably "The Begum," "Don Quixote," "Robin Hood," "The Fencing Master," "The Three Dragoons," "Maid Marian," "Student King," etc. He composed some popular songs, as "Oh, Promise Me," and "Recessional." Died 1915.