Through the Year With Famous Authors Part 32

JULY

Moderation is the silken string running through the pearl chain of all virtues.

"Christian Moderation," Introduction,--_Bishop Hall_.

JOSEPH HALL (BISHOP HALL), a famous English bishop and satirist, was born at Bristow Park near Ashby de la Zouch, Leicestershire, July 1, 1574, and died in 1656. He wrote "Episcopacy by Divine Right," "An Humble Remonstrance to the High Court of Parliament," "Of Toothless Satyrs," "Christian Moderation," "Contemplations," etc.

Solitude holds a cup sparkling with bliss in her right hand, a raging dagger in her left. To the blest she offers her goblet, but stretches towards the wretched the ruthless steel.

--_Klopstock_.

FRIEDRICH GOTTLIEB KLOPSTOCK, a renowned German poet, was born at Quedlinburg, July 2, 1724, and died at Hamburg, 1803. He is best known by his great epic, "The Messiah," and his "Odes."

Discouragement seizes us only when we can no longer count on chance.

"Handsome Lawrence," Ch. II,--_George Sand_.

GEORGE SAND (BARONNE DUDEVANT), the great French novelist, was born in Paris, July 2, 1804, and died at Nohant, June 7, 1876. Among her numerous works may be mentioned: "Indiana," "Aldo the Poet," "The Private Secretary," "Andre," "A Winter at Majorca," "Gabriel,"

"Pauline," "Horace," "The Seven Strings of the Lyre," "Consuelo," "The Companion of a French Tour," "Isidora," "The Countess of Rudolstadt,"

"The Miller of Angibault," "The Castle of Solitude," "The Master Ringers," "Story of My Life," "The Snow Man," "Flavia," "Tamaris," "The Last Love," "Cadio," "A Rolling Stone," "The Little Daughter,"

"Narcissus," "Village Walks," "Loves of the Golden Age," "Journal of a Tourist During the War," etc., etc.

Silence is the speech of love, The music of the spheres above.

"Speech of Love,"--_Richard Henry Stoddard_.

RICHARD HENRY STODDARD, a distinguished American lyric poet, was born at Hingham, Ma.s.s., July 2, 1825, and died in 1903. His works include: "Abraham Lincoln: A Horatian Ode," "Poems," "The Lion's Cub," "Songs of Summer," etc.

Life is a voyage. The winds of life come strong From every point; yet each will speed thy course along, If thou with steady hand when tempests blow Canst keep thy course aright and never once let go.

"The Voyage of Life,"--_Theodore Chickering Williams_.

THEODORE CHICKERING WILLIAMS, a noted American clergyman, educator and author, was born at Brookline, Ma.s.s., July 2, 1855, and died in 1915. He has written: "Character Building," "Elegies of Tibullus," "Virgil's aeneid," "Poems of Belief," "Virgil's Georgics and Eclogues," etc.

At twenty years of age, the will reigns; at thirty, the wit; and at forty, the judgment.

--_Grattan_.

HENRY GRATTAN, a noted Irish orator and statesman, was born in Dublin, July 3, 1746, and died in London, June 4, 1820. He wrote: "Letters on the Irish Union," "Correspondence," and numerous speeches.

We do ourselves wrong, and too meanly estimate the holiness above us, when we deem that any act or enjoyment good in itself, is not good to do religiously.

"Marble Faun," Bk. II, Ch. VII,--_Nathaniel Hawthorne_.

NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE, a famous American novelist and short-story writer, was born in Salem, Ma.s.s., July 4, 1804, and died at Plymouth, N. H., May 19, 1864. He wrote: "The House of the Seven Gables," "Tanglewood Tales,"

"The Wonder Book," "Tales of the White Hills," "Twice-Told Tales,"

"Mosses from an Old Manse," "Fanshawe," "Our Old Home," "The Marble Faun," "The Scarlet Letter," etc.

Let travellers devote one entire morning to inspecting the Arcos and the Mai das agoas, after which they may repair to the English Church and cemetery, Pere-la-chaise in miniature, where, if they be of England, they may well be excused if they kiss the cold tomb, as I did, of the author of "Amelia," the most singular genius which their island ever produced, whose works it has long been the fashion to abuse in public and then read in secret.

"The Bible in Spain,"--_George Borrow_.

GEORGE BORROW, a distinguished English philologist, and traveler, was born in East Dereham, Norfolk, July 5, 1803, and died in Oulton, Suffolk, July 30, 1881. Among his writings are: "Romano Lavo Lil, or Word-Book of the Romany," "The Zincali, or Gipsies of Spain," "The Bible in Spain," "Lavengro," "The Romany Rye," and "Wild Wales."

The knowledge which we have acquired ought not to resemble a great shop without order, and without an inventory; we ought to know what we possess, and be able to make it serve us in need.

--_Leibnitz_.

GOTTFRIED WILHELM VON LEIBNITZ, a renowned German philosopher and scholar, was born at Leipsic, July 6, 1646, and died at Hanover, November 14, 1716. Among his writings are: "Essays on G.o.d's Goodness, Man's Freedom, and the Origin of Evil," "Principles of Nature and Grace," "New Essays on the Human Understanding," etc.

Alexander Wilson, in the Preface to his "American Ornithology,"

(1808), quotes these words, and relates the story of a boy who had been gathering flowers. On bringing them to his mother, he said, "Look, my dear Ma! What beautiful flowers I have found growing in our place! Why, all the woods are full of them!"

--_Alexander Wilson_.

ALEXANDER WILSON, a celebrated Scotch-American ornithologist, was born at Paisley, Scotland, July 6, 1766, and died in Philadelphia, August 23, 1813. His most important work, "American Ornithology," won for him great fame.

Awake thee, my Lady-Love!

Wake thee, and rise!

The sun through the bower peeps Into thine eyes.

"Waking Song,"--_George Darley_.

GEORGE DARLEY, a noted Irish poet and critic, was born in Dublin, July 7, 1795, and died near Rome, November 23, 1846. He wrote: "Sylvia, or the May Queen," "Nepenthe," "Errors of Extasie and Other Poems," and numerous studies of other men's work.

There's a hope for every woe, And a balm for every pain, But the first joys of our heart Come never back again!

"The Exile's Song,"--_Robert Gilfillan_.

ROBERT GILFILLAN, a renowned Scotch poet, was born in Dumfermline, July 7, 1798, and died at Leith, December 4, 1850. His "Original Songs" have made him famous, the best known of the collection being: "In the Days o'

Langsyne," "Peter McCraw," and "The Exile's Song."

The opinion of the strongest is always the best.