Through the Year With Famous Authors Part 13

This new page opened in the book of our public expenditures, and this new departure taken, which leads into the bottomless gulf of civil pensions and family gratuities.

"Speech in the U. S. Senate against a Grant to President Harrison's Widow," April, 1841,--_Thomas Hart Benton_.

THOMAS HART BENTON, a distinguished American statesman and author, was born near Hillsborough, Orange County, N. C., March 14, 1782, and died in Was.h.i.+ngton, D. C., April 10, 1858. His chief publications are his "Abridgment of the Debates of Congress" and his "Thirty Years' View."

His form was of the manliest beauty, His heart was kind and soft; Faithful below he did his duty, But now he's gone aloft.

"Tom Bowling,"--_Charles Dibdin_.

CHARLES DIBDIN, a noted English lyric and dramatic poet, and actor, was born at Southampton, March 15, 1745, and died July 25, 1814. He wrote: "History of the Stage," "Sea Songs," and many plays and operettas.

Dulde, gedulde dich fein!

Uber ein Stundlein Ist deine Kammer voll Sonne![2]

"Gedichte," "Uber ein Stundlein,"--_P. Heyse_.

PAUL LUDWIG HEYSE, a famous German poet and novelist, was born in Berlin, March 15, 1830, and died in 1914. He has written: "The Sabines,"

"The Brothers," "Ourika," "Rafael," "Children of the World," etc.; also his celebrated tragedy "Francesca da Rimini."

The advice nearest to my heart and deepest in my convictions is that the union of the states be cherished and perpetuated. Let the open enemy to it be regarded as a Pandora with her box opened, and the disguised one as the serpent creeping with his deadly wiles into paradise.

--_James Madison_.

JAMES MADISON, the fourth President of the United States, was born at Port Conway, Va., March 16, 1751, and died at Montpelier, Vt., June 28, 1836. His "Complete Works" have been published in six volumes.

O Liberty! Liberty! how many crimes are committed in thy name.

--_Madame Roland_.

MADAME ROLAND, a noted French author and Republican politician, was born in Paris, March 17, 1754, and died November 8, 1793. Her "Letters" and "Memoirs," published after her death, have made her famous.

Even in the fiercest uproar of our stormy pa.s.sions, conscience, though in her softest whispers, gives to the supremacy of rect.i.tude the voice of an undying testimony.

--_Chalmers_.

THOMAS CHALMERS, a famous Scottish theologian, was born in Anstruther, Fifes.h.i.+re, March 17, 1780, and died in Edinburgh, May 30, 1847. His works were collected (23 vols., 1836-42), "Posthumous Works" (9 vols., 1847-49), "Select Works" (12 vols., 1854-79).

Man dwells apart, though not alone, He walks among his peers unread; The best of thoughts which he hath known For lack of listeners are not said.

"Afterthought,"--_Jean Ingelow_.

JEAN INGELOW, a celebrated English poet and novelist was born in Boston, Lincolns.h.i.+re, March 17, 1830, and died in London, July 19, 1897. Among her writings are: "A Rhyming Chronicle of Incidents and Feelings," "Home Thoughts and Home Scenes," "Round of Days," "A Story of Doom and Other Poems," "Mopsa the Fairy," "Little Wonder Horn," "Studies for Stories,"

"A Sister's Bye Hours," "Quite Another Story," "A Motto Changed," "Songs of Seven," etc.

We pardon infidelities, but we do not forget them.

--_Madame de Lafayette_.

MADAME DE LAFAYETTE, a noted French novelist, was baptized at Paris, March 18, 1634, and died there, May 25, 1693. She wrote: "The Princess de Montpensier," "Zaide," "History of Henrietta of England," "Memoirs of the Court of France for the Years 1688 and 1689," and "The Princess of Cleves," her most celebrated work.

The very essence of a free government consists in considering offices as public trusts, bestowed for the good of the country, and not for the benefit of an individual or a party.

"Speech," February 13, 1835.--_John C. Calhoun_.

JOHN CALDWELL CALHOUN, an ill.u.s.trious American statesman, was born in Abbeville Dist., S. C., March 18, 1782, and died in Was.h.i.+ngton, March 31, 1850. His works include his famous treatise: "On the Const.i.tution and Government of the United States," and a "Discourse on Government."

Though the people support the government the government should not support the people.

"Veto of Texas Seed Bill," February 16, 1887.--_Grover Cleveland_.

GROVER STEPHEN CLEVELAND, a distinguished American diplomat and President of the United States from 1885 to 1889, and again from 1893 to 1897, was born at Caldwell, Ess.e.x County, New Jersey, March 18, 1837, and died in 1908. He published: "Presidential Problems," "Fis.h.i.+ng and Hunting Sketches."

Oh, bring again my heart's content, Thou Spirit of the Summer-time!

"Song,"--_William Allingham_.

WILLIAM ALLINGHAM, a noted Irish poet, was born at Ballyshannon, March 19, 1828, and died at Hampstead, near London, November 18, 1889. His most celebrated work is: "Lawrence Bloomfield in Ireland."

It is the mind that makes the man, and our vigor is in our immortal soul.

"Metamorphoses," xiii,--_Ovid_.

OVID (PUBLIUS OVIDIUS NASO), the great Roman poet, was born at Sulmo, March 20, 43 B.C., and died at Tomi, A.D. 17. He wrote: "Heroids,"

"Metamorphoses," "Fasti," "Art of Love," "Epistles," "Amours," etc.

Only the spirit of rebellion craves for happiness in this life.

What right have we human beings to happiness?

"Ghosts,"--_Henrik Ibsen_.

HENRIK IBSEN, a famous Norwegian dramatist, was born in Skien, March 20, 1828, and died in 1906. His most noted plays are: "The Pillars of Society," "The Warriors at Helgeland," "Love's Comedy," "The Wild Duck,"

"An Enemy of the People," "Ghosts," "Hedda Gabler," and "A Doll's House."

Try it for a day, I beseech you, to preserve yourself in an easy and cheerful frame of mind. Compare the day in which you have rooted out the weed of dissatisfaction with that on which you have allowed it to grow up, and you will find your heart open to every good motive, your life strengthened and your breast armed with a panoply against every trick of fate, truly you will wonder at your own improvement.