The Age of Invention, A Chronicle of Mechanical Conquestby Holland ThompsonPREFATORY NOTEThis volume is not intended to be a complete record of inventive genius and mechanical progress in the United States. A bare catalogue of notable American inventions in the nineteenth century alone could not be compressed into these pages. Nor is it any part of the purpose of this book to trespass on the ground of the many mechanical works and encyclopedias which give technical descriptions and explain in detail the principle of every invention. All this book seeks to do is to outline the personalities of　

The Duchesse de Langeaisby Honore de BalzacTHE DUCHESS OF LANGEAISIIn a Spanish city on an island in the Mediterranean, there stands a convent of the Order of Barefoot Carmelites, where the rule instituted by St. Theresa is still preserved with all the first rigour of the reformation brought about by that illustrious woman. Extraordinary as this may seem, it is none the less true.Almost every religious house in the Peninsula, or in Europe for that matter, was either destroyed or disorganised by the outbreak of the French Revolution and the Napoleonic wars; but as this island was protected th　

The Pharisee And The Publicanby John BunyanTwo men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a Publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself; God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this Publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. And the Publican, standing afar off would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. Luke, xviii. 10-13.In the beginning of this chapter you read of the reason of the parable　

Malvina of Brittanyby Jerome K. JeromeContents.MALVINA OF BRITTANY.The Preface.I. The Story.II. How it came about.III. How cousin Christopher became mixed up with it.IV. How it was kept from Mrs. Arlington.V. How it was told to Mrs. Marigold.VI. And how it was finished too soon.The Prologue.THE STREET OF THE BLANK WALL.HIS EVENING OUT.THE LESSON.SYLVIA OF THE LETTERS.THE FAWN GLOVES.MALVINA OF BRITTANY.THE PREFACE.The Doctor never did believe this story, but claims for it that, to...　

Seraphitaby Honore de BalzacTranslated by Katharine Prescott WormeleyDEDICATIONTo Madame Eveline de Hanska, nee Comtesse Rzewuska.Madame,Here is the work which you asked of me. I am happy, inthus dedicating it, to offer you a proof of the respectfulaffection you allow me to bear you. If I am reproached forimpotence in this attempt to draw from the depths of mysticism abook which seeks to give, in the lucid transparency of ourbeautiful language, the luminous poesy of the Orient, to you theblame! Did you not command this struggle (resembling that of...　

Autobiography of a Pocket-Handkerchiefby James Fenimore CoopoerCHAPTER I.Certain moral philosophers, with a due disdain of the flimsy foundationsof human pride, have shown that every man is equally descended from amillion of ancestors, within a given number of generations; therebydemonstrating that no prince exists who does not participate in theblood of some beggar, or any beggar who does not share in the bloodof princes. Although favored by a strictly vegetable descent myself, thelaws of nature have not permitted me to escape from the influence ofthis common rule. The earliest accounts I po　

Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners In a faithful account of the life and death of John Bunyan Or A brief relation of the exceeding mercy of God in Christ to him Namely In His taking him out of the dunghill, and converting him to the faith of His blessed son Jesus Christ. Here is also particularly shewed, what sight of, and what troubles he had for sin; and also, what various temptations he hath met with, and how God hath carried him through them.A PREFACEOR, BRIEF ACCOUNT OF THE PUBLISHING THIS WORK. WRITTEN BY THE AUTHOR THEREOF, AND DEDICATED TO THOSE WHOM GOD HATH COUNTED HIM 　

The Little Lame PrinceThe Little Lame PrinceBy MISS MULOCK1- Page 2-The Little Lame PrinceCHAPTER IYes, he was the most beautiful Prince that ever was born.Of course, being a prince, people said this; but it was true besides.When he looked at the candle, his eyes had an expression of earnestinquiry quite startling in a new born baby. His nosethere was not much...　

TOM SWIFT IN THE LAND OF WONDERSTOM SWIFT IN THELAND OF WONDERSBY VICTOR APPLETON1- Page 2-TOM SWIFT IN THE LAND OF WONDERSCHAPTER IA WONDERFUL STORYTom Swift, who had been slowly looking through the pages of amagazine, in the contents of which he seemed to be deeply interested,turned the final folio, ruffled the sheets back again to look at a certain map...　

1690CONCERNING CIVIL GOVERNMENT, SECOND ESSAYAN ESSAY CONCERNING THE TRUE ORIGINAL EXTENT ANDEND OF CIVIL GOVERNMENTby John LockeChapter IOf Political Power1. It having been shown in the foregoing discourse:** An Essay Concerning Certain False Principles.Firstly. That Adam had not, either by natural right of fatherhood orby positive donation from God, any such authority over his children,...　

Essays and Lecturesby Oscar WildeContentsThe Rise of Historical CriticismThe English Renaissance of ArtHouse DecorationArt and the HandicraftmanLecture to Art StudentsLondon ModelsPoems in ProseTHE RISE OF HISTORICAL CRITICISMCHAPTER IHISTORICAL criticism nowhere occurs as an isolated fact in thecivilisation or literature of any people. It is part of thatcomplex working towards freedom which may be described as therevolt against authority. It is merely one facet of that...　

Castle RackrentCastle RackrentBy Maria Edgeworth1- Page 2-Castle RackrentINTRODUCTIONIThe story of the Edgeworth Family, if it were properly told, should beas long as the ARABIAN NIGHTS themselves; the thousand and onecheerful intelligent members of the circle, the amusing friends and...　

TOM SWIFT AND HIS BIG TUNNELTOM SWIFT AND HISBIG TUNNEL(or The Hidden City of the Andes)Victor Appleton1- Page 2-TOM SWIFT AND HIS BIG TUNNELCHAPTER IAn Appeal for AidTom Swift, seated in his laboratory engaged in trying to solve apuzzling question that had arisen over one of his inventions, was startled...　

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 Night-Bornby Jack LondonCONTENTS:THE NIGHT-BORNTHE MADNESS OF JOHN HARNEDWHEN THE WORLD WAS YOUNGTHE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBTWINGED BLACKMAILBUNCHES OF KNUCKLESWARUNDER THE DECK AWNINGSTO KILL A MANTHE MEXICANTHE NIGHT-BORNIt was in the old Alta-Inyo Cluba warm night for SanFranciscoand through the open windows, hushed and far, camethe brawl of the streets. The talk had led on from the GraftProsecution and the latest signs that the town was to be runwide open, down through all the grotesque sordidness and...　

ROUND THE MOONby JULES VERNEA SEQUEL TOFROM THE EARTH TO THE MOONPRELIMINARY CHAPTERTHE FIRST PART OF THIS WORK, AND SERVING AS A PREFACE TO THE SECONDDuring the year 186-, the whole world was greatly excited by ascientific experiment unprecedented in the annals of science.The members of the Gun Club, a circle of artillerymen formed atBaltimore after the American war, conceived the idea ofputting themselves in communication with the moon! yes, withthe moon by sending to her a projectile. Their president,Barbicane, the promoter of the enterprise, having consulted the...