Men of Ironby Ernie Howard PyleINTRODUCTIONThe year 1400 opened with more than usual peacefulness in England. Only a few months before, Richard IIweak, wicked, and treacherous had been dethroned, and Henry IV declared King in his stead. But it was only a seeming peacefulness, lasting but for a little while; for though King Henry proved himself a just and a merciful manas justice and mercy went with the men of iron of those daysand though he did not care to shed blood needlessly, there were many noble families who had been benefited by King Richard during his reign, and who had lost somewhat o
FAIRY TALES OF HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSENTHE TINDER-BOXby Hans Christian AndersenA SOLDIER came marching along the high road: "Left, right- left,right." He had his knapsack on his back, and a sword at his side; hehad been to the wars, and was now returning home.As he walked on, he met a very frightful-looking old witch inthe road. Her under-lip hung quite down on her breast, and she stoppedand said, "Good evening, soldier; you have a very fine sword, and alarge knapsack, and you are a real soldier; so you shall have as...
The Essays of Montaigne, V3by Michel de MontaigneTranslated by Charles CottonEdited by William Carew Hazilitt1877CONTENTS OF VOLUME 3.XIII. The ceremony of the interview of princes.XIV. That men are justly punished for being obstinate in the defenceof a fort that is not in reason to be defendedXV. Of the punishment of cowardice.XVI. A proceeding of some ambassadors.XVII. Of fear.XVIII. That men are not to judge of our happiness till after death.XIX. That to study philosophy is to learn to die....
THE YELLOW DWARFOnce upon a time there lived a queen who had been themother of a great many children, and of them all only onedaughter was left. But then SHE was worth at least a thousand.Her mother, who, since the death of the King, herfather, had nothing in the world she cared for so much asthis little Princess, was so terribly afraid of losing her thatshe quite spoiled her, and never tried to correct any of herfaults. The consequence was that this little person, whowas as pretty as possible, and was one day to wear a crown,grew up so proud and so much in love with her own beauty...
Novel Notesby Jerome K. JeromePROLOGUEYears ago, when I was very small, we lived in a great house in a long, straight, brown-coloured street, in the east end of London. It was a noisy, crowded street in the daytime; but a silent, lonesome street at night, when the gas-lights, few and far between, partook of the character of lighthouses rather than of illuminants, and the tramp, tramp of the policeman on his long beat seemed to be ever drawing nearer, or fading away, except for brief moments when the footsteps ceased, as he paused to rattle a door or window, or to flash his lantern into some d
The Soul of Manby Oscar WildeThe chief advantage that would result from the establishment ofSocialism is, undoubtedly, the fact that Socialism would relieve usfrom that sordid necessity of living for others which, in thepresent condition of things, presses so hardly upon almosteverybody. In fact, scarcely anyone at all escapes.Now and then, in the course of the century, a great man of science,like Darwin; a great poet, like Keats; a fine critical spirit, likeM. Renan; a supreme artist, like Flaubert, has been able to isolatehimself, to keep himself out of reach of the clamorous claims of...
FELICIA AND THE POT OF PINKSONCE upon a time there was a poor laborer who, feelingthat he had not much longer to live, wished to divide hispossessions between his son and daughter, whom he loveddearly.So he called them to him, and said: "Your motherbrought me as her dowry two stools and a straw bed; Ihave, besides, a hen, a pot of pinks, and a silver ring,which were given me by a noble lady who once lodged inmy poor cottage. When she went away she said to me:"`Be careful of my gifts, good man; see that you do notlose the ring or forget to water the pinks. As for your...
Life Is A Dreamby Pedro Calderon de la BarcaTranslated by Edward FitzgeraldINTRODUCTORY NOTEPedro Calderon de la Barca was born in Madrid, January 17, 1600, ofgood family. He was educated at the Jesuit College in Madrid and atthe University of Salamanca; and a doubtful tradition says that hebegan to write plays at the age of thirteen. His literary activity wasinterrupted for ten years, 1625-1635, by military service in Italy andthe Low Countries, and again for a year or more in Catalonia. In 1637he became a Knight of the Order of Santiago, and in 1651 he entered...
HERLANDHERLANDby Charlotte Perkins Stetson Gilman 1860-19351- Page 2-HERLANDCHAPTER 1A Not Unnatural EnterpriseThis is written from memory, unfortunately. If I could have broughtwith me the material I so carefully prepared, this would be a very differentstory. Whole books full of notes, carefully copied records, firsthand...
In the Cageby Henry JamesCHAPTER IIt had occurred to her early that in her positionthat of a youngperson spending, in framed and wired confinement, the life of aguinea-pig or a magpieshe should know a great many personswithout their recognising the acquaintance. That made it anemotion the more livelythough singularly rare and always, eventhen, with opportunity still very much smotheredto see any onecome in whom she knew outside, as she called it, any one who couldadd anything to the meanness of her function. Her function was to...
ARATUS271-213 B.C.by Plutarchtranslated by John DrydenTHE philosopher Chrysippus, O Polycrates, quotes an ancientproverb, not as really it should be, apprehending, I suppose, thatit sounded too harshly, but so as he thought it would run best, inthese words:-"Who praise their fathers but the generous sons?"But Dionysodorus the Troezenian proves him to be wrong, and restoresthe true reading, which is thus:-"Who praise their fathers but degenerate sons?"...
Rinkitink In Ozby L. Frank BaumWherein is recorded the Perilous Quest ofPrince Inga of Pingaree and KingRinkitink in the MagicalIsles that lie beyondthe Borderlandof OzIntroducing this StoryHere is a story with a boy hero, and a boy of whomyou have never before heard. There are girls in thestory, too, including our old friend Dorothy, and someof the characters wander a good way from the Land of Ozbefore they all assemble in the Emerald City to take...
The Choir Invisibleby James Lane Allen"O may I join the choir invisible Of those immortal dead who live again In minds made better by their presence. . . . . . feed pure love, Beget the smiles that have no cruelty, Be the sweet presence of a good diffused And in diffusion evermore intense. So shall I join the choir invisible Whose music is the gladness of the world."GEORGE ELIOTTHE middle of a fragrant afternoon of May in the green wilderness of Kentucky: the year 1795.High overhead ridges of many-peaked cloudthe gleaming, wandering Alps of the blue ether; outstretched far below, the warming
THE LOST PRINCESS OF OZby L. FRANK BAUMThis Book is DedicatedTo My GranddaughterOZMA BAUMTo My ReadersSome of my youthful readers are developing wonderfulimaginations. This pleases me. Imagination has broughtmankind through the Dark Ages to its present state ofcivilization. Imagination led Columbus to discoverAmerica. Imagination led Franklin to discoverelectricity. Imagination has given us the steam engine,the telephone, the talking-machine and the automobile,...
THE HAUNTED HOTELA Mystery of Modern Veniceby Wilkie CollinsTHE FIRST PARTCHAPTER IIn the year 1860, the reputation of Doctor Wybrow as a Londonphysician reached its highest point. It was reported on goodauthority that he was in receipt of one of the largest incomesderived from the practice of medicine in modern times.One afternoon, towards the close of the London season, the Doctor...
Daisy Millerby Henry JamesIN TWO PARTSPART IAt the little town of Vevey, in Switzerland, there is aparticularly comfortable hotel. There are, indeed, many hotels,for the entertainment of tourists is the business of the place,which, as many travelers will remember, is seated upon the edgeof a remarkably blue lakea lake that it behooves every touristto visit. The shore of the lake presents an unbroken arrayof establishments of this order, of every category, from the"grand hotel" of the newest fashion, with a chalk-white front,...