Through the Year With Famous Authors Part 49

"On Mitford's History of Greece," (1824)--_Thomas B. Macaulay_.

THOMAS BABINGTON, LORD MACAULAY, a renowned English historian, essayist, poet and statesman, was born at Rothley Temple, Leicestershire, October 25, 1800, and died at Kensington, December 28, 1859. His most famous works are: "Lays of Ancient Rome," and the "History of England."

Behold! in Liberty's unclouded blaze We lift our heads, a race of other days.

"Centennial Ode," Stanza 22,--_Charles Sprague_.

CHARLES SPRAGUE, a noted American poet, was born in Boston, October 26, 1791, and died there, January 22, 1875. He wrote: "The Family Meeting,"

"The Winged Worshippers," and "Curiosity." A collection of his works ent.i.tled "Poetical and Prose Writings," was published in 1841.

Whence are thy beams, O sun! thy everlasting light? Thou comest forth, in thy awful beauty, the stars hide themselves in the sky; the moon, cold and pale, sinks in the western wave. But thou, thyself, movest alone.

"The Poems of Ossian," "Carthon Ossian's Address to the Sun,"--_James Macpherson_.

JAMES MACPHERSON, a famous Scottish author, known as the author of the "Ossian" poems, was born at Ruthven, Inverness-shire, October 27, 1736, and died February 17, 1796. He published the "Poems of Ossian,"

consisting of "Fingal, an Epic Poem in Six Books" (1762), "Temora, an Epic Poem in Eight Books" (1764); he also wrote: "History of Great Britain" (1775).

No man is justified in doing evil on the ground of expediency.

"The Strenuous Life,"--_Theodore Roosevelt_.

THEODORE ROOSEVELT, a celebrated American politician and author, and twenty-sixth President of the United States, was born in New York City, October 27, 1858, and died January 6, 1918. He has written: "Essays on Practical Politics," "The Naval War of 1812," "Life of Thomas Hart Benton," "The Wilderness Hunter," "The Winning of the West," "Gouverneur Morris," "Ranch Life and Hunting Trail," "History of New York City,"

"Hunting Trips of a Ranchman," "The Outdoor Pastimes of an American Hunter," "African Game Trails," "Theodore Roosevelt: an Autobiography,"

"History as Literature," "Life History of African Big Game," "A Hunter Naturalist in the Brazilian Wilderness," "Fear G.o.d and Take Your Own Part," "A Book Lover's Holiday in the Open," "The Foes of Our Own Household," etc.

Life is mostly froth and bubble; Two things stand like stone:-- Kindness in another's trouble, Courage in our own.

Ye Weary Wayfarer. Finis Exoptatus.--_Adam Lindsay Gordon_ (Lionel Gordon).

ADAM LINDSAY GORDON (LIONEL GORDON), a noted Australian poet, was born October 28, 1833, and died June 24, 1870. His volumes of verse include: "Sea Spray and Smoke Drift," "Ashtaroth: A Dramatic Lyric," "Bush Ballads and Galloping Rhymes."

A man ought to read just as inclination leads him; for what he reads as a task will do him little good.

"Life of Johnson," Vol. II, Chap. VI (1763),--_Boswell_.

JAMES BOSWELL, a famous Scottish biographer, was born in Edinburgh, October 29, 1740, and died in London, May 19, 1795. He wrote: "An Account of Corsica and Memoirs of Pascal Paoli," "Journal of a Tour to the Hebrides with Samuel Johnson," etc. His "Life of Dr. Samuel Johnson"

is considered the most interesting biography that has ever been written.

N'est-on jamais tyran qu'avec un diademe?[1]

"Caius Gracchus,"--_Chenier_.

ANDRe MARIE DE CHeNIER, a renowned French poet, was born at Constantinople, October 30, 1762, and died July 25, 1794. Among his writings were: "Liberty," "Invention," "Dithyrambic on the Tennis Play,"

and a beautiful elegy, "The Girl Captive."

Moan, O ye Autumn Winds!

Summer has fled, The flowers have closed their tender leaves and die; The lily's gracious head All low must lie, Because the gentle Summer now is dead.

--_Adelaide A. Procter_.

ADELAIDE ANNE PROCTER, an English poetess of great fame, was born at London, October 30, 1825, and died February 3, 1864. Her celebrated "Legends and Lyrics," went through many editions.

A studious decliner of honours and t.i.tles.

"Diary," Introduction,--_John Evelyn_.

JOHN EVELYN, a renowned English diarist, was born at Wotton, in Surrey, October 31, 1620, and died February 27, 1706. His writings are: "A Parallel of Ancient and Modern Architecture," "Sculptura, or the History and Art of Chalcography and Engraving on Copper," "Sylva," etc.; also his famous "Diary."

A thing of beauty is a joy forever; Its loveliness increases; it will never Pa.s.s into nothingness.

"Endymion," Book i,--_John Keats_.

JOHN KEATS, an eminent English poet, was born in London, October 31, 1795, and died in Rome, 1821. He wrote: "Endymion, a Poetic Romance,"

"Lamia, Isabella, the Eve of St. Agnes, and Other Poems," including, also, the unfinished epic, "Hyperion." "The Letters of John Keats to f.a.n.n.y Brawne" appeared in 1878, and the "Letters to His Family and Friends" in 1891.

O Mother dear, Jerusalem, When shall I come to Thee?

When shall my sorrows have an end?

Thy joys when shall I see?

--_William Cowper Prime_.

WILLIAM COWPER PRIME, a distinguished American man of letters, was born at Cambridge, N. Y., October 31, 1825, and died in 1905. He wrote: "Owl Creek Letters," "The Old House by the River," "Later Years," "Tent Life in the Holy Land," "Boat Life in Egypt and Nubia," "The Holy Cross,"

"Pottery and Porcelain of All Times and Nations," etc. He also wrote the famous hymn, "O, Mother Dear, Jerusalem."

FOOTNOTES:

[1] Is there no tyrant but the crowned one?

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