Book i

, Stanza 1,--_Robert Southey_.

ROBERT SOUTHEY, an English poet and prose-writer, of great renown, was born in Bristol, August 12, 1774, and died March 21, 1843. He wrote: "A Vision of Judgment," "Joan of Arc," "Thalaba the Destroyer," "The Curse of Kehama," "Life of Nelson," "The Doctor," "Book of the Church," "Life of John Bunyan," "Life of John Wesley," "History of Brazil," etc.

One day thou didst desert me--when I learned How looks the world to men that lack thy grace, And toward the shadowy night sick-hearted turned,-- When, lo! the first star brought me back thy face!

"To Imagination,"--_Edith Matilda Thomas_.

EDITH MATILDA THOMAS, a famous American poet, was born in Chatham, Ohio, August 12, 1854. She has written: "A New Year's Masque," "The Round Year," "Children of the Seasons," "Babes of the Year," "Babes of the Nation," "Lyrics and Sonnets," "Heaven and Earth," "The Inverted Torch," "Fair Shadow Land," "In Sunshine Land," "In the Young World," "A Winter Swallow, and Other Verse," "The Dancers," "Cassia and Other Verse," "Children of Christmas," "The Guest of the Gate," "The White Messenger," "The Flower from the Ashes," etc.

Cruel is death? Nay, kind, he that is ta'en Was old in wisdom, though his years were few; Life's pleasure hath he lost--escaped life's pain, Nor wedded joys, nor wedded sorrows knew.

"On a Youth," Translated from Julianus,--_Goldwin Smith_.

GOLDWIN SMITH, a renowned English historian, essayist and educator, was born at Reading, Berkshire, August 13, 1823, and died June 7, 1910. He has written: "Irish History and Irish Character," "Foundation of the American Colonies," "England and America," "The Civil War in America," "Lectures on the Study of History," "Short History of England," "Life of Cowper," "Life of Jane Austen," "Guesses at the Riddle of Existence," "Reminiscences" (1910), "The Empire," "My Memory of Gladstone," etc.

Sweetest the strain when in the song The singer has been lost.

"The Poet and the Poem,"--_Elizabeth Stuart Phelps_.

ELIZABETH STUART PHELPS WARD, a celebrated American novelist, was born at Andover, Mass., August 13, 1844, and died in 1911. Among her many works are: "Ellen's Idol," "Gypsy Stories," "Men, Women and Ghosts," "Poetic Studies," "The Story of Avis," "Old Maid's Paradise," "Sealed Orders," "Beyond the Gates," "Songs of the Silent World," "The Gates Between," "A Struggle for Immortality," "The Life of Christ," "Trixy," "Walled In," and her most famous work, "Gates Ajar."

Flowers are Love's truest language.

"Sonnet,"--_Park Benjamin_.

PARK BENJAMIN, a noted American journalist, poet, and lecturer, was born at Demerara, British Guiana, August 14, 1809 and died in New York, September 12, 1864. Among his poetical pieces are: "The Old Sexton," "Poetry," "Infatuation," "The Nautilus," "To One Beloved," and "The Contemplation of Nature."

Among living authors Haggard is unquestionably first. I find two very remarkable qualities in Mr. Haggard's novels,--a power of imagination in which, for audacity and strength, he is unequalled since the Elizabethan dramatists. Secondly there is the mesmeric influence which he exercises over his readers.

--_Walter Besant_.

SIR WALTER BESANT, a distinguished English novelist, was born in Portsmouth, August 14, 1838, and died June 10, 1901. Among his noted works may be mentioned: "The Golden Butterfly," "Ready Money Mortiboy," "The Seamy Side," "Studies in Early French Poetry," "When George the Third Was King," "The French Humorists," "All Sorts and Conditions of Men," "Dorothy Foster," "All in a Garden Fair," "The Ivory Gate," "The Master Craftsman," "Beyond the Dreams of Avarice," "St. Katharine's by the Tower," "Armorel of Lyonnesse," "The Rebel Queen," etc. The first three works mentioned were written in collaboration with James Rice.

If on a Spring night, I went by And God were standing there, What is the prayer that I would cry To Him? This is the prayer: O Lord of Courage grave, O Master of this night of Spring Make firm in me a heart too brave To ask Thee anything!

"Moods, Songs and Doggerels," "The Prayer,"--_John Galsworthy_.

JOHN GALSWORTHY, a famous English author, was born at Combe in Surrey, August 14, 1867. His publications include: "The Man of Property," "A Motley," "Moods, Songs and Doggerels," "The Inn of Tranquillity," "A Sheaf," Vol. I; "Beyond," "A Sheaf," Vol. II; "Saint's Progress," "In Chancery," "Awakening," "To Let," etc. Plays: "The Silver Box," "The Pigeon," "The Eldest Son," "The Skin Game," "A Family Man," etc.

The sun reflecting upon the mud of strands and shores is unpolluted in his beam.

"Holy Living," Chap. i, 3,--_Jeremy Taylor_.

JEREMY TAYLOR, a renowned English theological writer, was born August 15, 1613, at Cambridge, and died at Lisburn, Ireland, August 13, 1667. His most celebrated works are: "The Great Exemplar of Sanctity and Holy Life," "Discourse on the Liberty of Prophesying," "The Rule and Exercise of Holy Living," and "The Rule and Exercise of Holy Dying."

The rose is fairest when 't is budding new, And hope is brightest when it dawns from fears, The rose is sweetest wash'd with morning dew, And love is loveliest when embalm'd in tears.

"Lady of the Lake," Canto iv, Stanza 1.--_Walter Scott_.

SIR WALTER SCOTT, a Scotch novelist and poet of great fame, was born in Edinburgh, August 15, 1771, and died at Abbotsford, September 21, 1832. Among his many works may be mentioned: "The Lay of the Last Minstrel," "Ballads and Lyrical Pieces," "Rokeby," "Marmion," "The Lady of the Lake," "Waverley," "Guy Mannering," "The Field of Waterloo," "The Lord of the Isles," "Rob Roy," "Harold the Dauntless," "Ivanhoe," "The Bride of Lammermoor: A Legend of Montrose," "Kenilworth," "The Abbot," "The Monastery," "The Pirate," "Tales of the Crusaders: The Betrothed, The Talisman," "History of Scotland," "Tales of a Grandfather," "Essays on Ballad Poetry," "The Eve of St. John: A Border Ballad," "Life of Dryden," "Life of Swift," etc., etc.

Shakespeare--that is, English tragedy--postulates the intense life of flesh and blood, of animal sensibility, of man and woman--breathing, waking, stirring, palpitating with the pulses of hope and fear. In Greek tragedy the very masks show the utter impossibility to these contests or conflicts.

"Leaders in Literature,"--_De Quincey_.

THOMAS DE QUINCEY, a celebrated English author, was born in Manchester, August 15, 1785, and died December 8, 1859. Besides his numerous essays and papers on historical literary and miscellaneous topics, he wrote: "Confessions of an English Opium Eater," "Letters to a Young Man Whose Education Has Been Neglected," "Logic of Political Economy," "Klosterheim," "Leaders in Literature," "Suspiria de Profundis: Essays on Style and Rhetoric," "Joan of Arc," "Autobiographic Sketches," "Literary Reminiscences," etc., etc.

Wee Willie Winkie rins through the toun, Upstairs and dounstairs, in his nicht-goun, Tirlin' at the window, cryin' at the lock, "Are the weans in their bed? for it's nou ten o'clock."

"Wee Willie Winkie,"--_William Miller_.

WILLIAM MILLER, a noted Scotch poet, was born in Bridgegate, Glasgow, August 16, 1810, and died at Glasgow, August 20, 1872. He wrote: "Scottish Nursery Songs and Other Poems," his best known poem being "Wee Willie Winkie."

Be sure you are right, then go ahead.

--_David Crockett_.

DAVID CROCKETT, a celebrated American politician, hunter and humorist, was born at Limestone, Tenn., August 17, 1786, and was killed at Fort Alamo, San Antonio, Texas, March 16, 1836. He wrote: "Sketches and Eccentricities," "Tour to the North and Down East," his "Autobiography," etc.

The greatest thing a man can do for his Heavenly Father is to be kind to some of His other children.

--_Henry Drummond_.

HENRY DRUMMOND, a distinguished Scotch geologist and religious writer, was born at Stirling, August 17, 1851, and died at Tunbridge Wells, England, March 11, 1897. His most famous works are: "Natural Law in the Spiritual World," "The Ascent of Man," "Tropical Africa," "Pax Vobiscum," "The Greatest Thing in the World," "The Programme of Christianity."

A proverb is one man's wit and all men's wisdom.

Quoted in "Memoirs of Mackintosh," Vol. II, p. 473,--_Lord John Russell_.

LORD JOHN RUSSELL, a famous English statesman, was born in London, August 18, 1792, and died at Pembroke Lodge, Richmond Park, May 28, 1878. He is best remembered by his historical works, "Life of William Lord Russell," "Memoirs of the Affairs of Europe" (2 vols.) "Correspondence of John, 4th Duke of Bedford," etc.

It would be superfluous in me to point out to your Lordship that this is war.

"Despatch to Earl Russell," Sept. 5, 1863.--_Charles Francis Adams_.

CHARLES FRANCIS ADAMS, an eminent American statesman, publicist, and miscellaneous writer, was born at Boston, August 18, 1807, and died at Boston, November 21, 1886. His best known work was: "Life and Works of John Adams."

Sorrow and scarlet leaf, Sad thoughts and sunny weather: Ah me, this glory and this grief Agree not well together!

"A Song for September,"--_Thomas William Parsons_.

THOMAS WILLIAM PARSONS, a distinguished American poet, was born at Boston, August 18, 1819, and died September 3, 1892. Among his writings are: "The Old House at Sudbury," "Ghetto di Roma," "The Magnolia," "The Shadow of the Obelisk," etc. He also made a metrical translation of Dante's "Inferno."

All that is beautiful shall abide, All that is base shall die.

"Balder the Beautiful,"--_Robert W. Buchanan_.

ROBERT WILLIAMS BUCHANAN, a celebrated English author, was born in Warwickshire, August 18, 1841, and died in 1901. He wrote: "Idylls and Legends of Inverburn," "Undertones," "London Poems," "North Coast Poems," "Ballads of Love, Life and Humor," "The City of Dreams," "A Child of Nature," "The Shadow of the Sword," "Foxglove Manor," etc.

Let's learn to temper our desires, Not harshly to constrain; And since excess makes pleasure less, Why, so much more refrain. Small table, cozy corner--here We well may be beguiled; Our worthy host old wine can boast; Drink, drink--but draw it mild!

"Les Petits Coups,"--translation of William Young,--_Pierre Jean de Béranger_.

PIERRE JEAN DE BÉRANGER, a famous French poet, was born in Paris, August 19, 1780, and died there July 16, 1857. Some of his noted songs are: "The Old Flag," "Les Petits Coups," "The Old Corporal," "Roger Bontemps," "Little Red Man," "Little Gray Man," "King of Yvetot," "My Grandmother," "The Marquis of Carabas," and his "Autobiography."

Attempt the end, and never stand to doubt; Nothing's so hard but search will find it out.

"Seek and Find,"--_Robert Herrick_.

ROBERT HERRICK, a renowned English poet and royalist clergyman, was born in London, August 20, 1591, and died at Dean Prior, Devonshire, October 15, 1674. He wrote: "Noble Numbers," and "Hesperides."

In the Confessions of St. Augustine, passion, nature, individuality only appear in order to be immolated to Divine grace. They are a history of a crisis of the soul, of a new birth, of a _Vita Nuova_; the Saint would have blushed to relate more than he has done of the life of the man, which he had quitted. With Rousseau the case is precisely the reverse; here grace is nothing, nature everything; nature dominant, triumphant, displaying herself with a daring freedom, which at times amounts to the distasteful--nay, to the disgusting.

"Life of Luther," (translation),--_Michelet_.

JULES MICHELET, a famous French historian, was born in Paris, August 21, 1798, and died at Hyères, February 9, 1874. His principal works are: "History of France," "History of the Revolution," "Abridgment of Modern History," "Of the Jesuits," "Of the Priest, the Wife, and the Family," "Of the People," "Poland and Russia," etc.

Who can blame me if I cherish the belief that the world is still young--that there are great possibilities in store for it?

--_John Tyndall_.

JOHN TYNDALL, an eminent British physicist and writer on science, was born at Leighlin Bridge, near Carlow, Ireland, August 21, 1820, and died at Haslemere, Surrey, England, December 4, 1893. He has written: "Philosophical Transactions in Glaciers of the Alps," "Mountaineering in 1861," "Dust and Disease," "Hours of Exercise in the Alps," "Sound: A Course of Eight Lectures," "Nine Lectures on Light," "Essays on the Use and Limit of the Imagination in Science," "The Forms of Water in Clouds and Rivers, Ice and Glaciers," "Essays on the Floating Matter of the Air," "New Fragments," etc.

Equality is one of the most consummate scoundrels that ever crept from the brain of a political juggler--a fellow who thrusts his hand into the pocket of honest industry or enterprising talent, and squanders their hard-earned profits on profligate idleness or indolent stupidity.

--_James Kirke Paulding_.

JAMES KIRKE PAULDING, a distinguished American novelist, was born in Dutchess County, N. Y., August 22, 1779, and died at Hyde Park, N. Y., April 6, 1860. Among his famous works may be mentioned: "The United States and England," "Lay of a Scotch Fiddle," "Letters on Slavery," "The Diverting History of John Bull and Brother Jonathan," "Koningsmarke," "John Bull in America," "Westward Ho!" "The Dutchman's Fireside," "Life of George Washington," etc.

It matters not how strait the gate, How charged with punishments the scroll, I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul.

"To R. T. H. B."--_William Ernest Henley_.

WILLIAM ERNEST HENLEY, a noted British poet, critic, and editor, was born at Gloucester, August 23, 1849, and died July 11, 1903. Among his works are: "Views and Reviews," "Poems," "London Voluntaries," "Hawthorn and Lavender," etc.

There is what I call the American idea.... This idea demands, as the proximate organization thereof, a democracy--that is, a government of all the people, by all the people, for all the people; of course, a government of the principles of eternal justice, the unchanging law of God: for shortness' sake I will call it the idea of Freedom.

"Speech at the N. E. Anti-slavery Convention, Boston," May 29, 1850.--_Theodore Parker_.

THEODORE PARKER, an American preacher and reformer of great celebrity, was born at Lexington, Mass., August 24, 1810, and died at Florence, May 10, 1860. He wrote: "Ten Sermons on Religion," "Theism, Atheism and the Popular Theology," and his most celebrated work: "Discourse on Matters Pertaining to Religion."

With the greatest possible solicitude avoid authorship. Too early or immoderately employed it makes the head waste and the heart empty.

Tr. by S. T. Coleridge.--_Herder_.

JOHN GOTTFRIED VON HERDER, a distinguished German philosopher and historian of literature, was born at Mohrungen, August 25, 1744, and died at Weimar, December 18, 1803. Among his works are: "Voices of Nations in Song," "Fragments on Recent German Literature," "The Cid," "Ideas for a Philosophy of the History of Mankind," "Spirit of Hebrew Poetry," etc.

Which I wish to remark,-- And my language is plain,-- That for ways that are dark And for tricks that are vain, The heathen Chinee is peculiar.

"Plain Language from Truthful James,"--_Francis Bret Harte_.

FRANCIS BRET HARTE, a celebrated American poet and short-story writer, was born in Albany, N. Y., August 25, 1839, and died in 1902. Among his many works are: "The Luck of Roaring Camp, and Other Sketches," "The Heathen Chinee," "Plain Language from Truthful James," "Poems," "East and West Poems," "Echoes of the Foot-Hills," "Poetical Works," "Thankful Blossom," "Drift from Two Shores," "Flip and Other Stories," "By Shore and Sedge," "The Queen of the Pirate Isle," "On the Frontier," "Snow Bound at Eagle's," "Tales of the Argonauts and Other Sketches," "A Waif of the Plains," "Three Partners," and "In the Hollow of the Hills."

It is even at the present day important to direct careful attention to an erroneous conception of wealth, which was universal until the appearance of Adam Smith's great work, in 1775.

"Manual of Political Economy,"--_Henry Fawcett_.

HENRY FAWCETT, a famous English political economist, was born at Salisbury, August 26, 1833, and died in Cambridge, November 6, 1884. His publications include: "Free Trade and Protection," "Indian Finance," etc. His celebrated work, "Manual of Political Economy," won for him great fame.

Roger Bacon treated more especially of physics, but remained without influence.

"Lectures on the History of Philosophy," tr., Haldane and Simpson, Vol. III. p. 92,--_Hegel_.

GEORG WILHELM FRIEDRICH HEGEL, an eminent German philosopher, was born at Stuttgart, August 27, 1770, and died at Berlin, November 14, 1831. Among his writings are: "On the Difference Between the Fichtean and Schellingian Systems," "The Orbits of the Planets," "Phenomenology of the Human Mind," "System of Science," "Principles of the Philosophy of Law, or the Law of Nature and Political Science," "Encyclopædia of the Philosophical Sciences," etc.

If we compare Daudet with Zola, we shall see that it is Daudet who is the naturalist novelist, not Zola. It is the author of Le Nabob who begins with observation of reality, and who is possessed by it, while the author of "L'Assommoir" only consults it when his seige is finished and then summarily with preconceived ideas.

"Les Contemporains,"--_Jules Lemaître_.

FRANÇOIS ELIE JULES LEMAÎTRE, a famous French literary critic and dramatist, was born in Vennecy (Loiret), August 27, 1853, and died in 1914. He is the author of five volumes of literary biographies, "Contemporaries: Being Literary Studies and Portraits." Among his plays are: "La Revoltée," "Deputy Leveau," "The Kings," "The Pardon," etc. Also: "Médallions" (poems), "Petites Orientales" (poems), "Corneille and Aristotle's Poetics," "Myrrha Stories."

The old prose writers wrote as if they were speaking to an audience; while, among us, prose is invariably written for the eye alone.

--_Niebuhr_.

BARTHOLD GEORG NIEBUHR, a great German historian, was born at Copenhagen, August 27, 1776, and died at Bonn, January 2, 1831. His writings include: "Roman History," "Lectures on the History of Rome," "Lectures on Ancient History," "Grecian Heroic History," "Minor Historical and Philological Writings," etc.

Who never ate his bread in sorrow, Who never spent the darksome hours Weeping, and watching for the morrow,-- He knows ye not, ye gloomy Powers.

"Wilhelm Meister,"