Through the Year With Famous Authors Part 29

HARRIET MARTINEAU, a notable English reformer and miscellaneous writer, was born at Norwich, June 12, 1802, and died at Ambleside, June 27, 1876. Among her most noted works are: "Society in America," "Deerbrook,"

"History of England During the Thirty Years' Peace," "Philosophy of Comte," "British Rule in India," "Biographical Sketches," etc.

I am reading again, the "History of England," that of Smollett....

I have to the reign of George the Second, and, in spite of the dislike I have of Smollett's language and style of writing, I am much entertained.--Burney, Frances, 1770.

"Early Diary," ed. Ellis, Vol. I, p. 94,--_Frances Burney_.

FRANCES BURNEY--MADAME D'ARBLAY, a celebrated English novelist, was born in King's Lynn, Norfolk, June 13, 1752, and died in Bath, January 6, 1840. Among her noted works are: "Evelina, or a Young Lady's Entrance into the World," "Cecilia," "Camilla," and "The Wanderer, or Female Difficulties."

Be good, sweet maid, and let who will be clever; Do n.o.ble things, not dream them, all day long: And so make life, death, and that vast forever One grand sweet song.

"A Farewell,"--_Charles Kingsley_.

CHARLES KINGSLEY, the distinguished English novelist, poet, and philanthropist, was born at Holne, near Dartmoor, Devonshire, June 13, 1819, and died at Eversley, Hampshire, January 23, 1875. He wrote many novels, among them: "Hypatia," "The Saint's Tragedy," (a drama in verse), "Alton Locke, Tailor and Poet," "Westward, Ho!" "Yeast," "The Water Babies," (a fairy tale). Also "Lectures Delivered in America,"

"Poems," "Andromeda and Other Poems," etc.

Land of Heart's Desire, Where beauty has no ebb, decay no flood, But joy is wisdom, Time and endless song.

"Land of Heart's Desire,"--_William Butler Yeats_.

WILLIAM BUTLER YEATS, a famous Irish poet and writer of romance, was born in Dublin, June 13, 1865. He has written: "The Wanderings of Oisin," "Celtic Twilight," "Poems," "The Secret Rose," "Irish Folk Lore," "Fairy Tales," "Irish Stories," "The Wind Among the Reeds," "The Countess Kathleen," "The Shadowy Waters," "Ideas of Good and Evil," "In the Seven Woods," "Hour Gla.s.s and Other Plays," "The King's Threshold,"

"Deirdre," "The Green Helmet and Other Poems," "Plays for an Irish Theatre," etc.

It lies around us like a cloud-- A world we do not see; Yet the sweet closing of an eye May bring us there to be.

"The Other World,"--_Harriet Beecher Stowe_.

HARRIET BEECHER STOWE, a renowned American novelist, was born at Litchfield, Conn., June 14, 1811, and died at Hartford, Conn., July 1, 1896. Among her numerous works are: "Sunny Memories of Foreign Lands,"

"First Geography for Children," "The Minister's Wooing," "Religious Poems," "Agnes of Sorrento," "Men of Our Times," "Earthly Care a Heavenly Discipline," "House and Home Papers," "Palmetto Leaves," "The Ravages of a Carpet," "The Chimney Corner," "Little Foxes," "Lives and Deeds of Our Self-Made Men," etc., etc. Also her famous works: "Uncle Tom's Cabin; or, Life Among the Lowly," "Key to Uncle Tom's Cabin," and "Uncle Tom's Emanc.i.p.ation."

Justice, like lightning, ever should appear; To few men ruin, but to all men fear.

--_Thomas Randolph_.

THOMAS RANDOLPH, a noted English poet and dramatist, was born near Daventry in Northamptonshire, and was baptized June 15, 1605, and died in 1635. Among his plays are: "The Jealous Lovers," "The Muses'

Looking-Gla.s.se," etc.

Smiling always with a never fading serenity of countenance, and flourishing in an immortal youth.

"Duty of Thanksgiving," "Works," Vol. I, p. 66,--_Isaac Barrow_.

ISAAC BARROW, a distinguished English theologian, cla.s.sical scholar and mathematician, was born at London, June 16, 1630, and died at London, April, 1677. The best edition of his theological works is that of Rev.

A. Napier (1859).

Though I am always in haste, I am never in a hurry.

--_John Wesley_.

JOHN WESLEY, a celebrated English divine and writer, was born at Epworth, June 17, 1703, and died March 2, 1791. He wrote: "Doctrine of Original Sin," "Explanatory Notes on the New Testament," "Preservative Against Unsettled Notions in Religion," "A Calm Address to Our American Colonies," "Survey of the Wisdom of G.o.d in Creation," "Notes on the Old and New Testaments," etc.

The violet thinks, with her timid blue eye, To pa.s.s for a blossom enchantingly shy.

"Garden Gossip,"--_Mrs. Osgood_.

MRS. FRANCES SARGENT (LOCKE) OSGOOD, a well-known American poet, was born in Boston, June 18, 1811, and died in Hingham, Ma.s.s., May 12, 1850.

She published: "Wreath of Wild Flowers," "Poetry of Flowers," "Poems,"

etc.

Whilst twilight's curtain spreading far, Was pinned with a single star.

"Death in Disguise," Line 227 (Boston edition, 1833).--_McDonald Clarke_.

MCDONALD CLARKE, a noted American poet, was born in Bath, Maine, June 18, 1778, and died in New York, March 5, 1842. His works include: "Poetic Sketches," "The Belles of Broadway," etc.

Learning hath gained most by those books by which the printers have lost.

"Of Books,"--_Thomas Fuller_.

THOMAS FULLER, a famous English divine and historian, was baptized on June 19, 1608, and died in 1661. Among his famous works are: "David's Heinous Sin," "History of the Holy War," "Church History of Britain,"

etc. "The Worthies of England," is the work for which he is now esteemed.

Montaigne is wrong in declaring that custom ought to be followed simply because it is custom, and not because it is reasonable or just.

"Thoughts," Chap. IV, 6,--_Blaise Pascal_.

BLAISE PASCAL, a renowned French philosopher and mathematician, was born at Clermont Ferrand, in Auvergne, June 19, 1623, and died at Paris, August 19, 1662. His writings include: "Letters Written by Louis Montalte to a Friend in the Provinces," more widely known as the "Provincial Letters," and his "Thoughts on Religion" (Pensees), which was published after his death.

Child of mortality, whence comest thou? Why is thy countenance sad, and why are thine eyes red with weeping?

"Hymns in Prose," xiii,--_Mrs. Barbauld_. 1743-1825.

ANNA Laet.i.tIA BARBAULD, a celebrated English poet and essayist, was born in Kibworth-Harcourt, Leicestershire, June 20, 1743, and died in Stoke Newington, March 9, 1825. She wrote: "Early Lessons for Children,"

"Devotional Pieces," "Hymns in Prose for Children," "Eighteen Hundred and Eleven," etc.

The summer day was spoiled with fitful storm; At night the wind died and the soft rain dropped; With lulling murmur, and the air was warm, And all the tumult and the trouble stopped.