Duse

Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)

ELEONORA (dö'sā), an Italian actress; born in Vigevano, Italy, in 1861. She inherited histrionic talent from her ancestors, and has gained a DÜSSELDORF great reputation in emotional rôles. She has played in all the principal countries of Europe and visited the United States in 1892-1893. Though her genius is undoubted, her disposition prevents her from becoming a popular favorite. She made her first appearance on the stage at the age of 7. At 20 she married the actor-journalist Signor Checci, but they soon separated. Her name was long associated with that of D'Annunzio, who wrote plays for her, and in which she continued to act after they quarrelled in 1899. Her most famous rôles are: "Marguerite," "Paula," Paula," "Magda," "Le Femme de Claude," and "Le Locandiere." She toured the United States in 1893, 1896, 1902 and 1903. DÜSSELDORF, a town of Prussia, in the Rhenish province, beautifully situated on the right bank of the Rhine, 22 miles N. N. W. of Cologne, one of the handsomest towns in the valley of the Rhine. It is a great focus of railway and steamboat communication, and has a number of handsome public buildings, and several remarkable churches. Among the public institutions particular notice is due to the Academy of Art, founded, 1767, by the Elector Theodore, and afterward directed by Cornelius, Schadow, Bendemann, etc. It has the honor of having founded a school of painting, which takes the name of Düsseldorf. The industries embrace iron, cotton, leather, tobacco, carpets and chemicals. The city was occupied by French troops on March 7, 1921. Pop. about 365,000.