The Altruist in Politicsby Benjamin CardozoThere comes not seldom a crisis in the life of men, of nations,and of worlds, when the old forms seem ready to decay, and theold rules of action have lost their binding force. The evils ofexisting systems obscure the blessings that attend them; and,where reform is needed, the cry is raised for subversion. Thecause of such phenomena is not far to seek. "It used to appearto me," writes Count Tolstoi, in a significant passage, "it usedto appear to me that the small number of cultivated, rich and...　

Aeroplanes and Dirigibles of Warby Frederick A. TalbotPREFACEEver since the earliest days of the great conquest of the air,first by the dirigible balloon and then by the aeroplane, theiruse in time of war has been a fruitful theme for discussion. Buttheir arrival was of too recent a date, their many utilities toounexplored to provide anything other than theories, manyobviously untenable, others avowedly problematical.Yet the part airships have played in the Greatest War has come asa surprise even to their most convinced advocates. For every...　

BLUE BEARDTHERE was a man who had fine houses, both in townand country, a deal of silver and gold plate, embroideredfurniture, and coaches gilded all over with gold. Butthis man was so unlucky as to have a blue beard, whichmade him so frightfully ugly that all the women andgirls ran away from him.One of his neighbors, a lady of quality, had twodaughters who were perfect beauties. He desired ofher one of them in marriage, leaving to her choice whichof the two she would bestow on him. They wouldneither of them have him, and sent him backward and...　

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...　

Ivanoffby Anton CheckovA PLAYCHARACTERSNICHOLAS IVANOFF, perpetual member of the Council of PeasantAffairsANNA, his wife. Nee Sarah AbramsonMATTHEW SHABELSKI, a count, uncle of IvanoffPAUL LEBEDIEFF, President of the Board of the ZemstvoZINAIDA, his wifeSASHA, their daughter, twenty years oldLVOFF, a young government doctorMARTHA BABAKINA, a young widow, owner of an estate and daughterof a rich merchantKOSICH, an excisemanMICHAEL BORKIN, a distant relative of Ivanoff, and manager of hisestateAVDOTIA NAZAROVNA, an old woman...　

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...　

Painted Windowsby Elia W. PeattieWill you come with me into the chamber of memoryand lift your eyes to the painted windows where the figuresand scenes of childhood appear? Perhaps by looking withkindly eyes at those from out my past, long wished-forvisions of your own youth will appear to heal the woundsfrom which you suffer, and to quiet your stormy andrestless heart.CONTENTSI NIGHTII SOLITUDEIII FRIENDSHIPIV FAMEV REMORSEVI TRAVELPAINTED WINDOWSINIGHTYOUNG people believe very littlethat they hear about the compen-...　

ACRES OF DIAMONDSBY RUSSELL H. CONWELLFOUNDER OF TEMPLE UNIVERSITYPHILADELPHIAHIS LIFE AND ACHIEVEMENTSBY ROBERT SHACKLETONWith an Autobiographical NoteACRES OF DIAMONDSCONTENTSACRES OF DIAMONDSHIS LIFE AND ACHIEVEMENTSI. THE STORY OF THE SWORDII. THE BEGINNING AT OLD LEXINGTONIII. STORY OF THE FIFTY-SEVEN CENTSIV. HIS POWER AS ORATOR AND PREACHERV. GIFT FOR INSPIRING OTHERSVI. MILLIONS OF HEARERSVII. HOW A UNIVERSITY WAS FOUNDEDVIII. HIS SPLENDID EFFICIENCYIX. THE STORY OF ``ACRES OF DIAMONDS'FIFTY YEARS ON THE LECTURE PLATFORM...　

Before Adamby Jack London"These are our ancestors, and their history is ourhistory. Remember that as surely as we one day swungdown out of the trees and walked upright, just assurely, on a far earlier day, did we crawl up out ofthe sea and achieve our first adventure on land."CHAPTER IPictures! Pictures! Pictures! Often, before I learned,did I wonder whence came the multitudes of picturesthat thronged my dreams; for they were pictures thelike of which I had never seen in real wake-a-day life.They tormented my childhood, making of my dreams a...　

CAMILLUS445?-365 B.C.by Plutarchtranslated by John DrydenAMONG the many remarkable things that are related of FuriusCamillus, it seems singular and strange above all, that he, whocontinually was in the highest commands, and obtained the greatestsuccesses, was five times chosen dictator, triumphed four times, andwas styled a second founder of Rome, yet never was so much as onceconsul. The reason of which was the state and temper of the...　

THE IDLE THOUGHTS OF AN IDLE FELLOW.THE IDLE THOUGHTSOF AN IDLE FELLOW.by JEROME K. JEROME.1- Page 2-THE IDLE THOUGHTS OF AN IDLE FELLOW.PREFACEOne or two friends to whom I showed these papers in MS. havingobserved that they were not half bad, and some of my relations havingpromised to buy the book if it ever came out, I feel I have no right to...　

FAIRY TALES OF HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSENTHE DRYADby Hans Christian AndersenWE are travelling to Paris to the Exhibition.Now we are there. That was a journey, a flight without magic. Weflew on the wings of steam over the sea and across the land.Yes, our time is the time of fairy tales.We are in the midst of Paris, in a great hotel. Blooming flowersornament the staircases, and soft carpets the floors.Our room is a very cosy one, and through the open balcony doorwe have a view of a great square. Spring lives down there; it has come...　

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...　

An Historical Mysteryby Honore de BalzacTranslated by Katharine Prescott WormeleyDEDICATIONTo Monsieur de Margone.In grateful remembrance, from his guest at the Chateau de Sache.De Balzac.AN HISTORICAL MYSTERYPART ICHAPTER IJUDASThe autumn of the year 1803 was one of the finest in the early part ofthat period of the present century which we now call "Empire." Rainhad refreshed the earth during the month of October, so that the treeswere still green and leafy in November. The French people werebeginning to put faith in a secret understanding between the skies and...　

The Man Betweenby Amelia E. BarrPART FIRSTO LOVE WILL VENTURE IN!THE MAN BETWEENCHAPTER ITHE thing that I know least about is my beginning. For it is possible to introduce Ethel Rawdon in so many picturesque ways that the choice is embarrassing, and forces me to the conclusion that the actual circumstances, though commonplace, may be the most suitable. Certainly the events that shape our lives are seldom ushered in with pomp or ceremony; they steal upon us unannounced, and begin their work without giving any premonition of their importance.Consequently Ethel had no idea when she returned home　

Studies of Lowellby William Dean HowellsI have already spoken of my earliest meetings with Lowell at Cambridgewhen I came to New England on a literary pilgrimage from the West in1860. I saw him more and more after I went to live in Cambridge in 1866;and I now wish to record what I knew of him during the years that passedbetween this date and that of his death. If the portrait I shall try topaint does not seem a faithful likeness to others who knew him, I shallonly claim that so he looked to me, at this moment and at that. If I donot keep myself quite out of the picture, what painter ever d