The History of Caliph Vathekby William BeckfordINTRODUCTIONWilliam Beckford, born in 1759, the year before the accession of King George the Third, was the son of an Alderman who became twice Lord Mayor of London. His family, originally of Gloucestershire, had thriven by the plantations in Jamaica; and his father, sent to school in England, and forming a school friendship at Westminster with Lord Mansfield, began the world in this country as a merchant, with inheritance of an enormous West India fortune. William Beckford the elder became Magistrate, Member of Parliament, Alderman. Four year　

New Yorkby James Fenimore CooperTHE increase of the towns of Manhattan, as, for the sake ofconvenience, we shall term New York and her adjuncts, in all thatcontributes to the importance of a great commercial mart, rendersthem one of the most remarkable places of the present age. Withinthe distinct recollections of living men, they have grown from acity of the fifth or sixth class to be near the head of all thepurely trading places of the known world. That there aresufficient causes for this unparalleled prosperity, will appear...　

LADY SUSANby Jane AustenILADY SUSAN VERNON TO MR. VERNONLangford, Dec.MY DEAR BROTHER,I can no longer refuse myself the pleasure ofprofiting by your kind invitation when we last parted of spending someweeks with you at Churchhill, and, therefore, if quite convenient to youand Mrs. Vernon to receive me at present, I shall hope within a few days tobe introduced to a sister whom I have so long desired to be acquaintedwith. My kind friends here are most affectionately urgent with me to...　

Preface To The First Volume.Diligence and accuracy are the only merits which anhistorical writer may ascribe to himself; if any merit, indeed,can be assumed from the performance of an indispensable duty. Imay therefore be allowed to say, that I have carefully examinedall the original materials that could illustrate the subjectwhich I had undertaken to treat. Should I ever complete theextensive design which has been sketched out in the Preface, Imight perhaps conclude it with a critical account of the authorsconsulted during the progress of the whole work; and however such...　

Fraternityby John GalsworthyCHAPTER ITHE SHADOWIn the afternoon of the last day of April, 190-, a billowy sea of little broken clouds crowned the thin air above High Street, Kensington. This soft tumult of vapours, covering nearly all the firmament, was in onslaught round a patch of blue sky, shaped somewhat like a star, which still gleameda single gentian flower amongst innumerable grass. Each of these small clouds seemed fitted with a pair of unseen wings, and, as insects flight on their too constant journeys, they were setting forth all ways round this starry blossom which burned so clea　

A LETTER TO THE SECRETARY OF THE TREASURYRiverdale-on-the-Hudson, OCTOBER 15, 1902.THE HON. THE SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY, WASHINGTON, D. C.:Sir,Prices for the customary kinds of winter fuel having reachedan altitude which puts them out of the reach of literary persons instraitened circumstances, I desire to place with you the following order:Forty-five tons best old dry government bonds, suitable for furnace,gold 7 per cents., 1864, preferred.Twelve tons early greenbacks, range size, suitable for cooking.Eight barrels seasoned 25 and 50 cent postal currency, vintage of 1866,...　

Michael Strogoffby Jules VerneorThe Courier of the CzarMichael StrogoffBOOK ICHAPTER I A FETE AT THE NEW PALACE"SIRE, a fresh dispatch.""Whence?""From Tomsk?""Is the wire cut beyond that city?""Yes, sire, since yesterday.""Telegraph hourly to Tomsk, General, and keep me informedof all that occurs.""Sire, it shall be done," answered General Kissoff.These words were exchanged about two hours after midnight,at the moment when the fete given at the New Palace was atthe height of its splendor.During the whole evening the bands of the Preobra-jensky and Paulowsky...　

SHERLOCK HOLMESTHE ADVENTURE OF THE BLANCHED SOLDIERby Sir Arthur Conan DoyleThe ideas of my friend Watson, though limited, are exceedinglypertinacious. For a long time he has worried me to write an experienceof my own. Perhaps I have rather invited this persecution, since Ihave often had occasion to point out to him how superficial are hisown accounts and to accuse him of pandering to popular taste insteadof confining himself rigidly to facts and figures. "Try it yourself,Holmes!" he has retorted, and I am compelled to admit that, having...　

John Bull on the Guadalquivirby Anthony TrollopeI am an Englishman, living, as all Englishman should do, in England,and my wife would not, I think, be well pleased were any one toinsinuate that she were other than an Englishwoman; but in thecircumstances of my marriage I became connected with the south ofSpain, and the narrative which I am to tell requires that I shouldrefer to some of those details.The Pomfrets and Daguilars have long been in trade together in thiscountry, and one of the partners has usually resided at Seville forthe sake of the works which the firm there possesses. My fath　

The Cruise of the Jasper B.by Don MarquisTO ALL THE COPYREADERS ON ALL THE NEWSPAPERS OF AMERICACHAPTER IA BRIGHT BLADE LEAPS FROM A RUSTY SCABBARDOn an evening in April, 191-, Clement J. Cleggett walked sedatelyinto the news room of the New York Enterprise with a drab-coloredwalking-stick in his hand. He stood the cane in a corner,changed his sober street coat for a more sober office jacket,adjusted a green eyeshade below his primly brushed grayish hair,unostentatiously sat down at the copy desk, and unobtrusively...　

Songs From The Mountainsby Henry KendallCONTENTSPAGEDEDICATION-TO A MOUNTAIN...3MARY RIVERS...8...　

Fourth BookThe PoliticsChapter 33The Insular Supremacy and the Continental Powers North Americaand FranceIn all ages there have been cities or countries which have beenpre-eminent above all others in industry, commerce, and navigation;but a supremacy such as that which exists in our days, the worldhas never before witnessed. In all ages, nations and powers havestriven to attain to the dominion of the world, but hitherto notone of them has erected its power on so broad a foundation. How...　

ScaramoucheA Romance of the French Revolutionby Rafael SabatiniCONTENTSBOOK ITHE ROBEI. THE REPUBLICANII. THE ARISTOCRATIII. THE ELOQUENCE OF M. DE VILMORINIV. THE HERITAGEV. THE LORD OF GAVRILLACVI. THE WINDMILLVII. THE WINDVIII. OMNES OMNIBUSIX. THE AFTERMATHBOOK IITHE BUSKINI. THE TRESPASSERSII. THE SERVICE OF THESPISIII. THE COMIC MUSEIV. EXIT MONSIEUR PARVISSIMUSV. ENTER SCARAMOUCHEVI. CLIMENEVII. THE CONQUEST OF NANTES...　

A MOONLIGHT FABLEThere was once a little man whose mother made him a beautiful suitof clothes. It was green and gold and woven so that I cannotdescribe how delicate and fine it was, and there was a tie oforange fluffiness that tied up under his chin. And the buttonsin their newness shone like stars. He was proud and pleased by hissuit beyond measure, and stood before the long looking-glass whenfirst he put it on, so astonished and delighted with it that hecould hardly turn himself away.He wanted to wear it everywhere and show it to all sorts of...　

Dr. Faustusby Christopher MarloweTHE TRAGICAL HISTORY OF DOCTOR FAUSTUSBY CHRISTOPHER MARLOWEFROM THE QUARTO OF 1616.EDITED BY THE REV. ALEXANDER DYCE.The Tragicall History of the Life and Death of Doctor Faustus.Written by Ch. Mar. London, Printed for John Wright, and areto be sold at his shop without Newgate, at the signe of theBible, 1616, 4to.The Tragicall History of the Life and Death of Doctor Faustus.With new Additions. Written by Ch. Mar. Printed at London forJohn Wright, and are to be sold at his shop without Newgate,...　

Roundabout to Bostonby William Dean HowellsDuring the four years of my life in Venice the literary intention waspresent with me at all times and in all places. I wrote many things inverse, which I sent to the magazines in every part of the English-speaking world, but they came unerringly back to me, except in threeinstances only, when they were kept by the editors who finally printedthem. One of these pieces was published in the Atlantic Monthly; anotherin Harpers Magazine; the third was got into the New York Ledger throughthe kindness of Doctor Edward Everett Hale, who used I know not what