Dana, James Dwight
James Dwight (1813-1895), an eminent American geologist. He was born at Utica, New York . He was graduated at Yale in 1833. In 1838 the United States government sent an expedition under Lieutenant Wilkes to explore and survey the southern seas. Mr. Dana was fortunate enough to be appointed the official mineralogist and geologist. Later he became Silliman professor of natural history and geology at Yale. Professor Dana contributed many articles to scientific journals. He was the author, also, of a number of textbooks, including a Manual of Geology, Textbook of Geology, The Geological Story Briefly Told, and Manual of Mineralogy. He also wrote a volume on Coral Reefs and Islands. He applied the term "Archaean" to the oldest rocks and proposed that the Archaean Age be recognized as the earliest geologic period. His classification has been adopted very generally by American geologists.
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Danaans, The
The people of the goddess Dana, often mentioned in Irish medieval romance. They were one of the three Nemedian families who survived the Fomorian victory, and returned to Ireland at a later period. By some it was said that they came out of heaven," and by others that they sprang from four cities, in which they learned science and craftsmanship, and from each of which they brought away a magical treasure. From Falias they brought the Stone of Destiny (Lia Fail) (q.v.); from Gorias an invincible sword; from Finias a magical spear; and from Murias the Cauldron of the Dagda. They were believed to have been wafted to Ireland on a magic cloud, carrying their treasures with them. After a victorious battle they took possession of the whole of Ireland, except Connacht which was given to the vanquished. The Danaans were the representatives of power and beauty, of science and poetry, to the writer of the myth; to the common people they were gods of earth. In their battles they were subject to death, but it was by magical powers that they conquered their mortal foes. 66 E
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Danakil
(singular Dankali), the Arabic and now general name for the numerous nomad and fisher tribes inhabiting the coast of N. E. Africa, from Massowah S. to Tajurrah Bay, and from there S. W. to Shoa. They belong to the Ethiopic Hamites, and are well built and slender, with features indicating an intermixture of Arab blood. In a country of waterless plains, they are generally nomads, living partly by caravan traffic and the slave-trade, but mostly on the milk of their flocks.
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Danaus
dan'a-us, in Greek legend, a grandson of Poseidon. He was the founder and king of Argos. According to the legend, he was a native of Chemnis in Upper Egypt. Fearing that his brother Aegyptus and his sons were in league against him, Danaus with his fifty daughters left his native land and, after various adventures, settled in Greece, becoming king of Argos. See Danaides
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Danbury
a city and one of the county-seats of Fairfield co., Conn.; on the New York, New Haven and Hartford railroad; 62 miles N. E. of New York. It is the greatest hat-making city in the United States. It has also extensive manufactures of iron, brass, and silverplated ware, bicycles, paper, foundry and machine shop products, etc. There are a court house, public library, State normal school, high school, public parks, electric street railways and lights, Soldiers' Monument, 2 National banks, daily and weekly newspapers, etc. A temporary settlement was made here in 1684, a meeting-house was erected in 1696, and for many years the place was known by the Indian name of Paliquioque. In 1776 the place was made a depository for army stores, and when General Tryon, the British governor of New York, was informed of the fact he headed a force of over 2,000 men, landed at Norwalk, marched immediately upon Danbury, and set fire to the town and stores. Pop. (1910) 20,234; (1920) 18,943.
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Danbury News Man, The
The, a sobriquet of James Montgomery Bailey, an American humorist and editor. He was born in Albany, New York , in 1841, and died in Danbury, Connecticut, 1894. He founded the Danbury News and was its editor for years. His jests and humorous articles were widely quoted. He wrote Life in Danbury, Danbury News Man's Almanac, They All Do It, and The Danbury Boom.
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Danby
FRANK (MRS. JULIA FRANKAU), a British authoress; born in 1864, she was educated largely by the daughter of Karl Marx, and in 1883 was married to Arthur Frankau. Most of her writings are novels, although she has contributed not a little to the "Saturday Review." Among her works "The Heart of a Child" (1908); are: "Sebastian" (1909); "The Story of Emma" (1910); "Joseph in Jeopardy" (1912); "Concert Pitch" (1913); "Full Swing" (1914). She died in 1916.
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Dancourt
properly FLORENT CARTON, a French playwright and dramatic artist; born in Fontainebleau in 1661. His best low comedies or farces were: "The Fashionable Chevalier"; "The Winsome Gardener." He presented village life with perfect truth, and was master of village patois. He died in 1725. Voltaire ranked him next after Molière for low comedy.
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Dandolo
ENRICO, Doge of Venice, to which high office he was chosen in 1192, when in his 87th year. He carried on the war with the Pisans and closed it by an advantageous peace. In 1201 the Crusaders applied to him for assistance, and on their promise to reduce the town of Zara, which had revolted, he agreed to help them. He accordingly undertook with them, in 1203, the siege of Constantinople, at which he greatly distinguished himself, and was the first who leaped on shore. It is said that he had the offer of the imperial crown, and refused it. He was created despot of Rumania, and died 1205, at the age of 97.
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Dandolo
a patrician family of Venice, which traced its origin to the Roman era. Its most illustrious member was:
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Danebrog
the name of the second in dignity of the Danish orders instituted by King Waldemar in 1219.
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Danelagh
the portion of England allotted to the Danes by the Treaty of Wedmore in 878 A. D. It extended from the E. coast to a line which ran from the Thames a little below London to Chester on the Dee. DANES. See DENMARK.
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