Donizetti, Gaetano

& celebrated Italian musical composer, B. at Bergamo, 1798. He was educated under Mayer and Mattei, and before he had completed his 20th year he had produced Enrico di Borgogna, an opera in which Madame Catalani sustained the principal character. This was rapidly succeeded by others; and his fertility of invention may be gathered from the fact, that, besides other musical compositions, he produced Don'nelsville, in Ohio, a post-village of Clarke co., in all 63 operas, many of which, such as Anna Bolena, Elisir d'Amore, Lucia di Lammer moor, La Figlia del Reggimento, and Don Pasquale, have taken permanent po e ion of the stage. His mind gave way in 1844; and after four years' residence in a maison de santé near Paris, he was removed to Bergamo, where he D. in 1848. Don'jon, Dungeon, n. [Fr. donjon.] The central building, or IMG:content-0665.jpg:[blocks in formation] cum stance the word, which is now written dungeon , has been taken to expre any dark and dreary prison-cell; but more particularly one which is partially or entirely below the surface of the ground. Don Ju'an. ( Lit. ) A legendary or mythical character prevalent in Southern Europe, and intended as a representative embodiment of sensuality and want of faith. It stands in contrast to Goethe's Faust , which represents rather a crafty and subtle rationalism tending towards the same ends. The legend of D. J. represents the hero as a profligate man, who gives himself up entirely to his own selfish pleasures, especially to that of love. The versions are numerous, but bear a close resemblance to one another. The principal events are as follows: The scene is laid at Seville, and D. J. is represented as belonging to a high and celebrated family. His chief object is the seduction of the daughter of a governor at Seville. Finding that the father opposes his designs, he stabs him in a duel. Afterwards, forcing his way into the family tomb of the murdered man, he orders a feast to be laid out, and sneeringly invites the marble statne which had been raised to his victim to join him at the banquet. The statue does appear, and, seizing D. J., both of them sink together into hell. The genuine legend of D. J. was first put into form by Gabriel Tellez (Tirso de Molina), in El Burlador de Sevilla y Convivad de Piedra. This drama was transplanted to the Italian stage about 1620, and soon found its way to Paris, where numerous versions of it, among others Molière's Festin de Pierre, (1669,) made their Don'nellson, in Illinois , a P. O. of Montgomery co. a few m. W. of Springfield. Don'ner Lake, in California , a P. O. of Nevada co. Don'nington, a village of England, near Newbury, in Berks hire. It is celebrated for the remains of its noble Norman castle, the birthplace of Chaucer, the Fig . 849. DONNING TON CASTLE. (From a drawing by Buck.) "father of English poetry," and which sustained vigorous sieges both during the wars of the Roses, and the great civil war between Charles I. and the Parliament. Don'nism, n . [See DoN.] A term used colloquially at the English universities, expre ive of lofty carriage, a umption of dignity, or self-importance. Don'nybrook, or ST. MARY'S, a parish of Ireland, co. Dublin, containing the towns of Irish town, Ring send, and Sandy mount; once notorious for the festival, held annually, known as Donnybrook Fair ; pop . 10,000. Do'nor, n. [Fr. donneur , from Lat. do no.] One who presents, grants, gives, or bestows; a benefactor; one who confers a gift or favor gratuitously; as, a donor to the poor. (Law.) He who makes a donation. Don Pedro's Bar, in California , a village of Tuolumne co., on the Tuolumne River, abt. 20 m. S.W. of Sonora; pop . abt. 300. Don Quixote. See CERVANTES. Don's hip, n . [See DON.] Degree, condition, or quality of a person of gentle blood or social importance. Dont'lin, in Montana , a village of Mi oula co., on Hell Gate River, abt. 130 m. N. of Bannock City.