Through the Year With Famous Authors Part 54

LOPE DE VEGA, "TOME BURGUILLOS," a renowned Spanish dramatist, was born in Madrid, November 25, 1562, and died August 21, 1635. Among his many works may be mentioned: "Jerusalem Conquered," "Angelica," "King and Peasant," "Circe," "Andromeda," "Philomela," "Orpheus," "Proserpine,"

"San Isidro," "The Dragon," "The Maid of Almudena," "Journey Through My Country," besides numerous sonnets, etc.

Oh for a lodge in some vast wilderness, Some boundless contiguity of shade, Where rumour of oppression and deceit, Of unsuccessful or successful war, Might never reach me more.

"The Task," Book ii: "The Timepiece," Line i,--_William Cowper_.

WILLIAM COWPER, an ill.u.s.trious English poet, was born in Great Berkhamstead, Hertfordshire, November 26, 1731, and died at East Dereham, Norfolk, April 25, 1800. His works include: "Homer's Iliad and Odyssey," "The Task," "Poems" (1798), etc.

What shall I do with all the days and hours That must be counted ere I see thy face?

How shall I charm the interval that lowers Between this time and that sweet time of grace?

"Absence,"--_Frances Anne Kemble_.

FRANCES ANNE KEMBLE, a noted English actress, was born in London, November 27, 1809, and died there, January 16, 1893. She wrote: "Recollections of a Girlhood," "Recollections of Later Life," "Journal of a Residence on a Georgia Plantation," and her "Journal."

I was angry with my friend; I told my wrath, my wrath did end.

I was angry with my foe; I told it not, my wrath did grow.

"Christian Forbearance,"--_Wm. Blake_.

WILLIAM BLAKE, a celebrated English poet and artist, was born in London, November 28, 1757, and died there, August 12, 1827. He has published: "Poetical Sketches," "Songs of Innocence," "Songs of Experience," etc.

His "Prophetic Books," including: "Book of Thel," "Marriage of Heaven and h.e.l.l," "Book of Urizen," "Book of Los," "Book of Ahania,"

"Jerusalem," and "Milton," are famous. His greatest artistic work is in "Ill.u.s.trations to the Book of Job."

What is philosophy? It is something that lightens up, that makes bright.

--_Victor Cousin_.

VICTOR COUSIN, a distinguished French philosopher, was born in Paris, November 28, 1792, and died at Cannes, January 2, 1867. He wrote: "Mme.

de Longueville," "Mme. de Hautefort," "Jacqueline Pascal," "French Society in the 17th Century," "History of Philosophy," etc. His translation of "Plato," also won for him great fame.

Of gifts, there seems none more becoming to offer a friend than a beautiful book.

"Concord Days" (June Books),--_Amos Bronson Alcott_.

AMOS BRONSON ALCOTT, a noted American philosophical writer, and educator, was born at Wolcott, Conn., November 29, 1799, and died at Boston, March 4, 1888. His princ.i.p.al works are: "Orphic Sayings,"

"Tablets," "Concord Days," "Table-Talk," "Sonnets and Canzonets," "Ralph Waldo Emerson: His Character and Genius," "New Connecticut," etc.

What the Puritans gave the world was not thought but action.

Speech, December 21, 1855,--_Wendell Phillips_.

WENDELL PHILLIPS, an American social and political reformer of great fame, was born at Boston, November 29, 1811, and died there, February 2, 1884. Among his writings are: "Can Abolitionists Vote or Take Office?"

"The Const.i.tution a Pro-Slavery Compact," "Defense of the Anti-Slavery Movement," "Review of Webster's Speech of March 7th," "Speeches, Lectures, and Letters," "Addresses," etc.

They are never alone that are accompanied with n.o.ble thoughts.

"Arcadia," Book I,--_Sir Philip Sidney_.

SIR PHILIP SIDNEY, a famous English courtier and man of letters, was born at Penshurst in Kent, November 30, 1554, and died at Arnheim, October 17, 1586. His best known works are: "Arcadia," "Sonnets,"

"Apology for Poetry," and a versified translation of the "Psalms."

I've often wish'd that I had clear, For life, six hundred pounds a year; A handsome house to lodge a friend; A river at my garden's end; A terrace walk, and half a rood Of land set out to plant a wood.

"Imitation of Horace," Book ii, Sat. 6,--_Jonathan Swift_.

JONATHAN SWIFT, the celebrated English prose satirist, was born in Dublin, November 30, 1667, and died there, October 19, 1745. He wrote: "Advice to the October Club," "Tale of a Tub," "Meditation upon a Broomstick," "Battle of the Books," "Project for the Advancement of Religion," "Public Spirit of the Whigs," "A Modest Proposal," "Drapier's Letters," "Remarks on the Barrier Treaty," "Sentiments of a Church of England Man," and "Gulliver's Travels," his most important work.

Forth we went, a gallant band-- Youth, Love, Gold and Pleasure.

"Last Song,"--_Mark Lemon_.

MARK LEMON, a noted English playwright, was born in London, November 30, 1809, and died at Crawley in Suss.e.x, May 23, 1870. Among his comedies and dramas are: "Hearts Are Trumps," "Lost and Won," "Arnold of Winkelried," "Domestic Economy," etc.

There are two times in a man's life when he should not speculate; when he can't afford it, and when he can.

--_Mark Twain_.

SAMUEL LANGHORNE CLEMENS, ("MARK TWAIN"), the distinguished American humorist, was born in Missouri, November 30, 1835, and died in 1910. He has written: "The Innocents Abroad," "Huckleberry Finn," "A Tramp Abroad," "The Jumping Frog," "Old Times on the Mississippi," "Roughing It," "Tom Sawyer," "The Prince and the Pauper," "The Gilded Age,"

"Pudd'nhead Wilson," "Following the Equator," "A Double-Barreled Detective Story," etc.

FOOTNOTES:

[1]

Man, think of thine end, whatever thou doest, That will be counted as wisdom the truest.

DECEMBER

DECEMBER