Through the Year With Famous Authors Part 17

"The Story of the Flower,"--_Harriet P. Spofford_.

HARRIET ELIZABETH (PRESCOTT) SPOFFORD, a noted American poet and novelist, was born in Calais, Me., April 3, 1835, and died August 15, 1921. Among her noted works are: "New England Legends," "Poems,"

"Ballads about Authors," "The Marquis of Carabas," "A Master Spirit,"

"In t.i.tian's Garden," "The Thief in the Night," "The Amber G.o.ds, and Other Stories," "In a Cellar," etc.

No surer does the Auldgarth bridge, that his father helped to build, carry the traveller over the turbulent water beneath it, than Carlyle's books convey the reader over chasms and confusions, where before there was no way, or only an inadequate one.

--_John Burroughs_.

JOHN BURROUGHS, a famous American essayist, was born in Roxbury, N. Y., April 3, 1837, and died in 1921. He has written: "Winter Sunshine,"

"Fresh Fields," "Wake-Robin," "Birds and Poets," "Locusts and Wild Honey," "Sharp Eyes," "Signs and Seasons," "Riverely," "The Light of Day," "Ways of Nature," "Camping and Tramping with Roosevelt," "Under the Apple Trees," etc.

There must always be, we presume, however age and experience may modify nature, a certain inability on the part of a woman to appreciate the more riotous forms of mirth, and that robust freedom in morals which bolder minds admire. It is a disability which nothing can abolish.

--_Mrs. Oliphant_.

MARGARET WILSON OLIPHANT, a well-known Scotch novelist, was born April 4, 1828, and died in 1897. Among her numerous works may be mentioned: "Zaidee," "The Story of Valentine and His Brother," "In Trust," "A House Divided Against Itself," "Sir Tom," "The Cuckoo in the Nest," "English Literature at the End of the Eighteenth and Beginning of the Nineteenth Century," "Victorian Age of English Literature," "Makers of Florence, Venice, and Rome," "The Reign of Queen Anne," "The Makers of Modern Rome," "William Blackwood and His Sons," etc.

For words are wise men's counters,--they do but reckon by them; but they are the money of fools.

"The Leviathan," Part i, Chap. iv,--_Thomas Hobbes_.

THOMAS HOBBES, a renowned English philosopher, was born in Malmesbury, April 5, 1588, and died at Hardwick Hall, Derbyshire, December 4, 1679.

A few of his many works are: "De Cive," "Human Nature," "De Corpore Politico," and "Leviathan, or the Matter, Form, and Power of a Commonwealth," considered his masterpiece.

For blessings ever wait on virtuous deeds, And though a late, a sure reward succeeds.

"The Mourning Bride," Act V, Sc. xii.--_Congreve_.

WILLIAM CONGREVE, an eminent English dramatist, was born in Bardsley, near Leeds, April 5, 1670, and died at London, January 19, 1729. Among his comedies are: "The Double Dealer," "The Mourning Bride," "The Old Bachelor," and "Love for Love."

It is a zealot's faith that blasts the shrines of the false G.o.d, but builds no temple to the true.

--_Sydney Dobell_.

SYDNEY THOMPSON DOBELL, a famous English poet, was born at Cranbrook, in Kent, April 5, 1824, and died in 1874. He wrote: "England in Time of War," and two noted poems, "The Roman" and "Balder." "Thoughts on Art, Philosophy and Religion," appeared after his death.

I think it will be generally conceded that, at the time of his death, Mr. Lowell occupied the position of the foremost American citizen. In public regard, at home and abroad, his name naturally headed the list of prominent Americans. Looked upon as a man of letters, as a representative of our country in foreign lands, or in any of the various positions in which he appeared before the public, there was no one to whom it was the custom to name James Russell Lowell as second. Without occupying the highest rank in any of his vocations, he stood in front of his fellow-citizens, because he held so high a rank in so many of them.

"Personal Tributes to Lowell, the Writer," Vol. 5, p. 187,--_Frank R. Stockton_.

FRANK RICHARD STOCKTON, a celebrated American author, was born in Philadelphia, April 5, 1834, and died April 20, 1902. Among his popular works may be mentioned: "Rudder Grange," "The Lady or the Tiger," "The Casting Away of Mrs. Leeks and Mrs. Aleshine," "The Dusantes," "Tales Out of School," "Adventures of Captain Horn," "The Great Stone of Sardis," "The Watchmaker's Wife and Other Stories," "Pomona's Travels,"

"Mrs. Cliff's Yacht," "Kate Bonnett," etc.

Pleasure with pain for leaven, Summer with flowers that fell, Remembrance fallen from heaven, And Madness risen from h.e.l.l, Strength without hands to smite, Love that endures for a breath; Night, the shadow of light, And Life, the shadow of death.

"Atalanta in Calydon," Chorus,--_Swinburne_.

ALGERNON CHARLES SWINBURNE, an eminent English poet, was born in London, April 5, 1837; and died April 10, 1909. His publications include: "Poems and Ballads," "The Queen Mother and Rosamond," "Bothwell," "Songs of the Springtides," "A Century of Roundels," "The Sisters," "Studies in Song,"

"Songs of Two Nations," "Chastelard," "Ode on the Proclamation of the French Republic," "Songs Before Sunrise," "Atalanta in Calydon," "Under the Microscope," "Tristram of Lyonesse and Other Poems," "Marino Faliero," "A Midsummer Holiday and Other Poems," "Locrine," a tragedy, a third series of "Poems and Ballads," "Astrophel and Other Poems," "The Tale of Balen," "Rosamund, Queen of the Lombards," a tragedy, etc.

From every place below the skies The grateful song, the fervent prayer,-- The incense of the heart,--may rise To heaven, and find acceptance there.

"Every Place a Temple,"--_John Pierpont_.

JOHN PIERPONT, a well-known American clergyman and poet, was born in Litchfield, Conn., April 6, 1785, and died in Medford, Ma.s.s., August 27, 1866. He wrote: "Airs of Palestine, and Other Poems," also, his famous poem "Warren's Address at the Battle of Bunker Hill."

It came upon the midnight clear, That glorious song of old, From angels bending near the earth To touch their harps of gold: "Peace on the earth, good-will to men, From Heaven's all-gracious King!"

The world in solemn stillness lay To hear the angels sing.

"The Angels' Song,"--_Edmund Hamilton Sears_.

EDMUND HAMILTON SEARS, a noted American clergyman, religious writer and poet was born in Sandisfield, Ma.s.s., April 6, 1810, and died at Weston, Ma.s.s., January 14, 1876. He wrote: "Regeneration," "Pictures of the Olden Time," "Athanasia," "Christian Lyrics," "The Fourth Gospel: the Heart of Christ," "Sermons and Songs of the Christian Life," "Christ in the Life," etc.

Dreams, books, are each a world; and books, we know, Are a substantial world, both pure and good.

Bound these, with tendrils strong as flesh and blood, Our pastime and our happiness will grow.

"Personal Talk," Stanza 3,--_William Wordsworth_.

WILLIAM WORDSWORTH, the great English poet, was born at c.o.c.kermouth, c.u.mberland, April 7, 1770, and died at Rydal Mount, April 23, 1850.

Among his noted works are: "The Excursion," "Lyrical Ballads," "The Prelude," "Peter Bell," "The Waggoner," "Sonnets," "Yarrow Revisited and Other Poems," "Poems," "An Evening Walk," etc.

I sing New England, as she lights her fire In every Prairie's midst; and where the bright Enchanting stars shine pure through Southern night, She still is there, the guardian on the tower, To open for the world a purer hour.

"New England,"--_William E. Channing_.

WILLIAM ELLERY CHANNING, a distinguished American theologian, was born at Newport, R. I.; April 7, 1780, and died at Bennington, Vt.; April, 1842. His works were published in 1848, and comprise the following: "Youth of the Poet and Painter," "Th.o.r.eau the Poet-Naturalist,"

"Conversation in Rome Between an Artist and Catholic, and a Critic,"

etc.

There came a new poet who, to the science of rhythm, the resources of expression, the gift of epic narration, the deep feeling for nature, to all the caprices of a delightful fancy, to all the favorite ideas, n.o.ble or morbid, of modern thought, knew how to join the language of manly pa.s.sion. Thus, as it were summing up in himself all his forerunners, he touched all hearts; he linked together all admirations; he has remained the true representative, the last expression and final, of the poetic period to which he belongs. Tennyson reigns to-day almost alone in increasing and uncontested glory.

"Taine's History of English Literature," _Essays on English Literature_, tr. Saintsbury, p. 87,--_Edmond Scherer_.

EDMOND SCHERER, a celebrated French essayist and critic, was born in Paris, April 8, 1815, and died at Versailles, March 16, 1889. Among his writings are: "Miscellanies of Religious Criticism," "Letters to my Pastor," "Criticism and Belief," "Miscellanies of Religious History,"

etc.