Book x

, Chap. i,--_Le Sage_.

ALAIN RENÉ LE SAGE, a famous French novelist and dramatist, was born at Sarzeau, near Cannes, May 8, 1668, and died at Boulogne-sur-Mer, November 17, 1747. His greatest works were: "The Bachelor of Salamanca," "Gil Blas," "The Life and Adventures of M. de Beauchène," "The Devil on Two Sticks," and two well-known comedies, "Crispin His Master's Rival," and "Turcaret."

Suffering is the surest means of making us truthful to ourselves.

--_Sismondi_.

JEAN CHARLES LÉONARD SIMON DE SISMONDI, an illustrious Swiss historian, was born at Geneva, May 9, 1773, and died there, June 25, 1842. His most noted works are: "History of the Italian Republics in the Middle Ages," "History of the New Birth of Liberty in Italy," "History of the Fall of the Roman Empire," "History of the French," "Julia Severa: or, the Year 492," and "Literature of the South of Europe."

Life is a long lesson in humility.

"The Little Minister," Chap. 3,--_J. M. Barrie_.

JAMES MATTHEW BARRIE, a noted Scottish author, was born in Kirriemuir, Forfarshire, May 9, 1860. He has written: "When a Man's Single," "Better Dead," "Auld Licht Idylls," "A Window in Thrums," "My Lady Nicotine," "Sentimental Tommy," "Margaret Ogilvy," "The Little Minister," "Tommy and Grizel," "The Little White Bird," "Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens," "Peter and Wendy," Dramatic works are: "The Professor's Love Story," "The Wedding Guest," "Little Mary," "Peter Pan," "Alice-Sit-by-the-Fire," "What Every Woman Knows," "The Legend of Leonora," "The Will," "The Adored One," "Half an Hour," "Der Tag," "Rosy Rapture," "A Kiss for Cinderella," "Seven Women," "Dear Brutus," "Echoes of the War," etc.

No country seems to owe more to its women than America does, nor to owe to them so much of what is best in social institutions and in the beliefs that govern conduct.

"The American Commonwealth,"--_James Bryce_.

JAMES BRYCE, a noted British statesman, diplomat, and historian, was born in Belfast, May 10, 1838, and died Jan. 22, 1922. His most important works are: "The Holy Roman Empire" and "The American Commonwealth."

By the waters of Life we sat together, Hand in hand, in the golden days Of the beautiful early summer weather, When skies were purple and breath was praise.

"An Old Man's Idyll,"--_Thomas Noel_.

THOMAS NOEL, a noted English poet, was born May 11, 1799, and died in 1861. Among his volumes of verse are: "Rhymes and Roundelayes," etc.

The congress of Vienna does not walk, but it dances.

--_Prince de Ligne_.

CHARLES JOSEPH, PRINCE DE LIGNE, a distinguished Belgian soldier and miscellaneous writer, was born at Brussels, May 12, 1735, and died December 13, 1814. He wrote: "Military, Literary and Sentimental Miscellanies," "Life of Prince Eugene of Savoy," etc.

Molto sa chi non sa, se tacer sa.[2]

"Gingillino,"