Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume IV.djvu/529

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CHORAGUS CHORLEY 517 S. extremity of Talbot co. spreads into an estuary several miles wide and nearly 20 m. long, through which it flows into Chesapeake bay ; total course, 100 m. It is navigable for sloops to the mouth of Tuckahoe river, a dis- tance of about 50 m. CHORAGUS (Gr. xp6$, chorus, dance, and ayeiv, to lead), a functionary among the ancient Athenians who paid the expenses attendant on the equipment and instruction of a chorus. Originally, the chorus in dramatic representa- tions was selected from the citizens of the state ; but, as music and dancing became more artistic, there arose the distinction between spectators and performers. Salaried artists were employed, and at length the entire su- perintendence of all the details of a theatrical representation was intrusted to a single indi- vidual, called the choragus, who was selected by the state, and upon whom rested all the expenses incurred in bringing out the show. Each of the ten tribes furnished a chorus of dancers and musicians, and chose a citizen to fulfil the duties of choragus. The person thus elected immediately assembled the performers, gave them an instructor, furnished them with costumes, and, during the time of their train- ing, supported them at his own expense, pro- viding them only with such food and drink as would strengthen or improve the voice. The choragi drew lots for the choice of teachers; for, as their credit depended upon the success of their chorus in the dramatic or lyrical con- tests, the selection of the instructor became a matter of great importance. The office of cho- ragus was one of high dignity ; for religion and art, and the rivalry between tribes and states, exalted the Athenian imagination ; and the choragus who was adjudged to have exhibited the best entertainment received as a prize a tripod, which was ceremoniously consecrated in the temples, and on which was inscribed the name of the victorious choragus and of his tribe. There was a whole street at Athens formed by the line of these tripod temples. The term choragus came in time to signify a person who supplied the costs for any purpose. CHOREA. See ST. VITUS'S DANCE. CHORIS, Louis, a Russian painter and travel- ler, born of German parents at Yekaterinoslav, March 22, 1795, died at Jalapa, Mexico, March 22, 1828. He accompanied Biberstein to the Caucasus in 1813, and sketched the most beautiful plants of that region. In 1814 he joined Kotzebue in his voyage of circum- navigation. In 1819 he went to Paris, and engaged in the publication of the Voyage pit- toresque autour du monde (Paris, 1821-'3), of which his drawings formed the most valuable part, the text being by Cuvier and Chamisso, with phrenological dissertations by Gall. His Vues et paysages des regions equinoxiales {Paris, 1826) was the complement of this work. He also studied historical painting in the studios of Gerard and Regnault, and as- sisted the former upon his " Consecration of Charles X." Having undertaken a new ex- ploration of Mexico and Central America with an Englishman named Henderson, he was mur- dered by highwaymen near Jalapa. CHORLEY, a town of Lancashire, England, on the Cham, near its confluence with the Yar- row, 20 m. N. W. of Manchester ; pop. in 1871, 19,824. It is situated on rising ground, is well built, and has been considerably improved within the present generation, an extensive system of sewerage having been in operation since 1857. The ancient parish church of St. Lawrence has been enlarged and renovated. There are numerous schools, a lyceum, and va- rious educational and charitable institutions. A new cemetery, covering 13 acres, is provi- ded with Gothic chapels for. the use of Prot- estants and Roman Catholics. The population has risen from about 4,000 in 1801, owing to the remarkable progress of industry. Besides the staple manufactures of cotton fabrics, mus- lins, jaconets, fancy articles, and yarns, there are printing and bleaching, dyeing and chemi- cal, boiler and engineering works, and iron and brass founderies. In the vicinity are mines of coal, lead, and iron, and quarries of slate and grit stone. Weekly markets are held on Tues- day, and annual fairs for cattle and horses, and for general purposes of trade. The Liverpool and Leeds canal passes within half a mile of the town, and is joined at a short distance by that from Lancaster and Preston. CHORLEY, Henry Fothergill, an English musical critic and author, born near Billinge, Lancashire, Dec. 15, 1808, died in London, Feb. 16, 1872. In his boyhood he entered a mercantile establish- ment in Liverpool, but soon went to London to try a literary life. He had acquired a slight knowledge of music from Zengheer Hermann, the conductor of the Liverpool philharmonic society, and after a hard struggle attracted the notice of the editors of the "Athenaeum," who gave him a position on that journal, of which he conducted the musical department for 35 years, with an honesty and candor never impeached even by those who differed with his judgment. When Gounod vainly sought a hearing in Lon- don, Chorley pleaded his merits so persistently that the composer was given a trial, and " Faust " met with a splendid success. During his long connection with the " Athenaeum" Chorley found time to do much other literary work. Besides his books, he wrote a number of opera- tic librettos ; among which were the " Amber Witch," for Wallace's music ; the " May Queen," set by Sir Sterndale Bennett; "St. Cecilia," set by Sir Julius Benedict ; " Kenilworth " and the " Sapphire Necklace," written for Arthur Sullivan ; and " Faust " translated from and adapted to the music of the French score. His songs, which are numerous, all exhibit culture and refinement. In his translations he was generally remarkable for original treat- ment rather than fidelity. A short time be- fore his death he nominally closed his connec- tion with the " Athenaeum," but continued to