Through the Year With Famous Authors Part 20

CHARLOTTE BRONTe, a famous English novelist, was born in Thornton, April 21, 1816, and died in Haworth, March 31, 1855. She wrote: "Shirley,"

"Villette," "The Professor," and "Jane Eyre," her most famous work.

There are four varieties in society,--the lovers, the ambitious, observers, and fools. The fools are the happiest.

--_Taine_.

ADOLPHE HIPPOLYTE TAINE, an ill.u.s.trious French historian and critic, was born at Vouziers (Ardennes), April 21, 1828, and died at Paris, March 5, 1893. Among his publications are: "Essay on La Fontaine's Fables,"

"Essay on Livy," "Journey to the Pyrenees," "French Philosophers in the Nineteenth Century," "Essays in Criticism and History," "Notes on England," "Contemporary English Writers," "History of English Literature," "English Idealism," "New Essays in Criticism and History,"

"Philosophy of Art," "Philosophy of Art in Italy," "Tour in Italy, Naples, Rome, Florence, and Venice," "Notes on Paris," "The Ideal in Art," "Philosophy of Art in Greece," "On the Understanding," "The Old Regime," "The Revolutionary Governments," etc.

When I'm not thank'd at all, I'm thank'd enough; I've done my duty, and I've done no more.

"Tom Thumb the Great," Act. i, Sc. 3,--_Henry Fielding_.

HENRY FIELDING, a celebrated English novelist, was born at Sharpham Park, Somersetshire, April 22, 1707, and died at Lisbon, October 8, 1754. His most famous works are: "Tom Jones, or the History of a Foundling," "The Adventures of Joseph Andrews," "Amelia," and "The History of Jonathan Wild."

Sincerity is the indispensable ground of all conscientiousness, and by consequence of all heartfelt religion.

--_Emmanuel Kant_.

EMMANUEL KANT, an eminent German philosopher, was born at Konigsberg, April 22, 1724, and died there, February 12, 1804. His three famous works are: "Critique of the Practical Reason," "Critique of Pure Reason," and "Critique of the Power of Judgment."

And all the bustle of departure--sometimes sad, sometimes intoxicating--just as fear or hope may be inspired by the new chances of coming destiny.

"Corinne," Book X, Chap. VI,--_Madame De Stael_.

ANNE LOUISE GERMAINE (NECKER), BARONESS DE STAeL-HOLSTEIN, a celebrated French writer, was born in Paris, April 22, 1766, and died there July 14, 1817. She wrote: "Letters on the Character and Writings of J. J.

Rousseau," "Corinne," "Delphine," "Literature in Relation to Social Inst.i.tutions," etc.

We live in deeds, not years; in thoughts, not breaths; In feelings, not in figures on a dial.

We should count time by heart-throbs. He most lives Who thinks most, feels the n.o.blest, acts the best.

Life's but a means unto an end; that end Beginning, mean, and end to all things,--G.o.d.

"Festus," Scene V, A Country Town,--_Philip James Bailey_.

PHILIP JAMES BAILEY, a noted English poet, was born in Basford, Nottinghamshire, April 22, 1816, and died in 1902. He wrote: "The Universal Hymn," "The Age," "The Mystic," "The Angel World," and his great poem, "Festus."

Friendship is constant in all other things Save in the office and affairs of love: Therefore all hearts in love use their own tongues; Let every eye negotiate for itself And trust no agent.

"Much Ado about Nothing," Act ii, Sc. i.--_William Shakespeare_.

WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE, the great English poet, was born at Stratford-on-Avon, April 23, 1564, and he died there April 23, 1616.

Among his famous works may be mentioned: "Henry VI," "Richard III,"

"Taming of the Shrew," "Love's Labour's Lost," "Comedy of Errors," "Two Gentlemen of Verona," "Romeo and Juliet," "The Merchant of Venice," "A Midsummer Night's Dream," "Henry V," "All's Well That Ends Well," "The Merry Wives of Windsor," "As You Like It," "Julius Caesar," "Much Ado About Nothing," "Twelfth Night," "Hamlet," "Oth.e.l.lo," "King Lear,"

"Macbeth," "Measure for Measure," "Antony and Cleopatra," "Cymbeline,"

"A Winter's Tale," "The Tempest," etc., etc.

Our thoughts and our conduct are our own.

"Short Studies on Great Subjects: Education,"--_James A.

Froude_.

JAMES ANTHONY FROUDE, a celebrated English historian, was born at Dartington in Devonshire, April 23, 1818, and died in London, October 20, 1894. Among his works are: "Luther: A Short Biography," "Shadows of a Cloud," "Nemesis of Faith," "History of England from the Fall of Wolsey to the Death of Elizabeth," "The English in Ireland in the Eighteenth Century," "Influence of the Reformation on the Scottish Character," "Thomas Carlyle," "Short Studies on Great Subjects,"

"Spanish Story of the Armada," etc.

Bowed by the weight of centuries, he leans Upon his hoe and gazes on the ground, The emptiness of ages in his face, And on his back the burden of the world.

"The Man with the Hoe,"--_Edwin Markham_.

EDWIN MARKHAM, a noted American poet, was born at Oregon City, Oregon, April 23, 1852. He is best known by his famous poem, "The Man with the Hoe."

But as some muskets so contrive it As oft to miss the mark they drive at, And though well aimed at duck or plover, Bear wide, and kick their owners over.

"McFingal," Canto i, Line 93,--_John Trumbull_.

JOHN TRUMBULL, a famous American lawyer, poet, and wit, was born in Westbury, Conn., April 24, 1750, and died at Detroit, Mich., May 10, 1831. He wrote: "The Progress of Dullness," "McFingal," which won for him his greatest fame, and several other works. His "Poetical Works"

were published in 1820.

Whatever Thackeray says, the reader cannot fail to understand; and whatever Thackeray attempts to communicate, he succeeds in conveying.

"Life of Thackeray,"--_Anthony Trollope_.

ANTHONY TROLLOPE, an ill.u.s.trious English novelist, was born in London, April 24, 1815, and died there, December 6, 1882. Among his numerous publications may be mentioned: "The Kellys and the O'Kellys," "La Vendee," "The Warden," "Barchester Towers," "Doctor Thorne," "The Bertrams," "Castle Richmond," "Orley Farm," "Tales of All Countries,"

"The Struggles of Brown, Jones and Robinson," "North America," "Rachel Ray," "Hunting Sketches," "Traveling Sketches," "The Claverings,"

"British Sports and Pastimes," "He Knew He Was Right," "Mary Gresley,"

"Ralph the Heir," "The Golden Lion of Granpere," "Phineas Redux," "South Australia and Western Australia," "Lady Anna," "The Prime Minister,"

"The American Senator," "South Africa," "John Caldigate," "Cousin Henry," "The Duke's Children," "Life of Cicero," "Ayala's Angel,"

"Marion Fay," "The Fixed Period," "Kept in the Dark," etc. His "Autobiography" appeared in 1883.

Come and see her as she stands.

Crimson roses in her hands; And her eyes Are as dark as Southern night, Yet than Southern dawn more bright.

And a soft, alluring light, In them lies.

"f.a.n.n.y, A Southern Blossom," St. I,--_Anne Reeve Aldrich_.

ANNE REEVE ALDRICH, a noted American poet and novelist, was born in New York, April 25, 1866, and died there June 22, 1892. She wrote: "The Rose of Flame," "The Feet of Love," "Songs About Life, Love and Death," etc.