Through the Year With Famous Authors Part 19

Not much talk--a great, sweet silence.

"A Bundle of Letters," Letter IV,--_Henry James_.

HENRY JAMES, a distinguished American novelist and miscellaneous prose-writer, was born in New York, April 15, 1843, and died in February, 1916. Among his numerous works may be mentioned: "Roderick Hudson," "A Pa.s.sionate Pilgrim and Other Tales," "The American," "French Poets and Novelists," "Daisy Miller: a Study," "A Bundle of Letters,"

"The Diary of a Man of Fifty," "Washington Square," "A Little Tour in France," "The Portrait of a Lady," "The Bostonians," "The Tragic Muse,"

"Partial Portraits," "The Real Thing and Other Tales," "The Private Life," "The Wheel of Time," "The Princess Casama.s.sima," "Essays in London and Elsewhere," etc.

There paused to shut the door, A fellow called the Wind, With mystery before, And reticence behind.

"At the Granite Gate,"--_Bliss Carman_.

BLISS CARMAN, a celebrated Canadian poet, was born at Fredericton, N.

B., April 15, 1861. He has written: "Low Tide on Grand Pre: A Book of Lyrics," "Songs from Vagabondia," "Behind the Arras: A Book of the Unseen," "A Winter Holiday," "Christmas Eve at St. Kavin's," "Ode for the Coronation," "Pipes of Pan No. I," "Pipes of Pan No. II," "The Kinship of Nature," "The Friendship of Art," "The Poetry of Life," "The Making of Personality," "Sappho," "Daughters of Dawn," "Oxford Book of American Verse," "Earth Deities," "April Airs," etc.

Le roi regne et ne gouverne pas.[3]

"In the National Newspaper," July 1st, 1830.

LOUIS ADOLPHE THIERS, a renowned French statesman and author, was born at Ma.r.s.eilles, April 16, 1797, and died at St. Germain, September 3, 1877. He wrote: "History of John Law," "Man and Matter," "On Property,"

"History of the Consulate and the Empire," and his most famous work, "History of the French Revolution."

To be frank, the critics should say: "Gentlemen, I intend to speak of myself apropos of Shakespeare, Racine, Pascal, or Goethe."

--_Anatole France_.

ANATOLE FRANCE (JACQUES ANATOLE THIBAULT), a celebrated French critic, poet and novelist, was born at Paris, April 16, 1844. He has written: "The Yule Log," "Our Children: Scenes in Town and in the Fields," "The Garden of Epicurus," "Abeille," "Poems," "The Crime of Sylvester Bonnard," "The Wishes of Jean Servien," "Balthazar," "Thais," "My Friend's Book," "Le Jongleur de Notre Dame," "Histoire de Jeanne d'Arc,"

"La Revolte des Anges," etc.

When that my mood is sad, and in the noise And bustle of the crowd I feel rebuke, I turn my footsteps from its hollow joys, And sit me down beside the little brook; The waters have a music to mine ear It glads me much to hear.

"The Shaded Water,"--_William Gilmore Simms_.

WILLIAM GILMORE SIMMS, a distinguished American poet and novelist, was born in Charleston, S. C., April 17, 1806, and died there June 11, 1870.

His publications include: "The Wigwam and the Cabin; or, Tales of the South," "Atalantis: A Tale of the Sea," "Castle Dismal," "The Maroon, and Other Tales," "The Yema.s.see," and "War Poetry of the South."

Many a genius has been slow of growth, Oaks that flourish for a thousand years Do not spring up into beauty like a reed.

"The Spanish Drama: Life of Lope De Vega." Ch. II,--_Geo.

Henry Lewes_.

GEORGE HENRY LEWES, a celebrated English historical and miscellaneous writer, was born at London, April 18, 1817, and died there November 28, 1878. Among his writings are: "The Life and Works of Goethe," "History of Philosophy from Thales to Comte," "The Physiology of Common Life,"

"Seaside Studies," "Studies in Animal Life," "Aristotle: A Chapter from the History of Science," "Problems of Life and Mind," "The Physical Basis of Mind," "Ranthorpe," "The n.o.ble Heart," etc.

Friendship! mysterious cement of the soul!

Sweetener of life, and solder of society.

"The Grave,"--_Robert Blair_.

ROBERT BLAIR, a noted Scottish poet, was born at Edinburgh, April 19 (?), 1699, and died February 4, 1746. His reputation as a poet rests solely on his famous poem, "The Grave," written in blank verse.

If any man can convince me and bring home to me that I do not think or act aright, gladly will I change; for I search after truth, by which man never yet was harmed. But he is harmed who abideth on still in his deception and ignorance.

"Meditations," VI, 21,--_Marcus Aurelius_.

MARCUS AURELIUS, the great Roman emperor, was born in Rome, April 20, A.D., 121, and died in Pannonia, March 17, 180. His "Meditations" have been handed down to posterity.

Immortality alone could teach this mortal how to die.

"Looking Death in the Face,"--_Dinah Maria Mulock Craik_.

DINAH MARIA MULOCK CRAIK, a famous English novelist, was born in Stoke-upon-Trent, April 20, 1826, and died at London, October, 1887. The best known of her works are: "The Ogilvies," "John Halifax, Gentleman,"

"Two Marriages," "A Brave Lady," and "A n.o.ble Life."

No maid is near, I have no wife; But here's my pipe And, on my life; With it to smoke, And woo the Muse, To be a king, I would not choose.

--_William H. Davies_.

WILLIAM HENRY DAVIES, a noted Welsh poet, was born in Monmouthshire, April 20, 1870. He has written: "The Soul's Destroyer," "New Poems,"

"Nature Poems," "Farewell to Poesy," "Songs of Joy," "Foliage," "The Bird of Paradise," "Child Lovers," "Collected Poems," "The Autobiography of a Super-Tramp," "A Pilgrim in Wales," "A Poet's Pilgrimage."

The first groundwork of religious life is love--love to G.o.d and man--in the bosom of the family.

"Aphorisms,"--_Friedrich Froebel_.

FRIEDRICH FROEBEL, an eminent German educator, was born at Oberweissbach, April 21, 1782, and died at Marienthal, June 21, 1852. He won fame by his celebrated work, "The Education of Man."

From Greenland's icy mountains, From India's coral strand, Where Afric's sunny fountains, Roll down their golden sand.

"Missionary Hymn."--_Reginald Heber_.

REGINALD HEBER, a famous English hymn-writer and clergyman, was born in Cheshire, April 21, 1783, and died at Trichinopoly, India, April 2, 1826. His prose writings include the Bampton lectures on "The Personality and Office of the Christian Comforter," "Life of Jeremy Taylor," "Journey Through India," etc. His fame rests, however, on his hymns, "From Greenland's Icy Mountains," and "Holy, Holy, Holy! Lord G.o.d Almighty!"

Life, believe, is not a dream, So dark as sages say; Oft a little morning rain Foretells a pleasant day!

"Life,"--_Charlotte Bronte_.