"Der Trompeter von Säkkingen, Drittes Stuck,"--_Scheffel_.
JOSEPH VIKTOR VON SCHEFFEL, an eminent German poet and novelist, was
born at Karlsruhe, February 16, 1826, and died April 9, 1886. He wrote:
"Gaudeamus," "Ekkehard," "Mountain Psalms," and his famous epic poem,
"The Trumpeter of Säkkingen," which won for him great fame, and has
reached more than 250 editions.
It is probable that for many millions of years but one climate
prevailed over the whole earth, which very closely resembled, or
even surpassed the hottest tropical climate of the present day.
"Change of Climate and its Influence on Life," from "History of
Creation."--_Ernst Heinrich Haeckel_.
ERNST HAECKEL, a renowned German naturalist, was born at Potsdam,
February 16, 1834, and died in 1919. Among his most famous works are:
"On the Division of Labor in Nature and Human Life," "On the Origin and
Genealogy of the Human Race," "Life in the Great Marine Animals," "The
Arabian Corals," "The System of the Medusa," "A Visit to Ceylon,"
"Riddle of the Universe," "Natural History of Creation," "Souvenirs of
Algeria," "Monoism as Connected with Religion and Science," etc.
Darlings of the forest!
Blossoming alone
When Earth's grief is sorest
For her jewels gone--
Ere the last snow-drift melts, your tender buds are blown.
"Trailing Arbutus,"--_Rose Terry Cooke_.
MRS. ROSE (TERRY) COOKE, a noted American poet and short-story writer,
was born at West Hartford, Conn., February 17, 1827, and died at
Pittsfield, Mass., July 18, 1892. Her complete poems were published in
1888, and her stories were published in book form under the titles:
"Somebody's Neighbors," "Root-Bound," "The Sphinx's Children," "Happy
Dodd," "Huckleberries," "Steadfast," a novel, appeared in 1889.
He [Hampden] had a head to contrive, a tongue to persuade, and a
hand to execute any mischief.
"History of the Rebellion," Vol. iii, Book vii,--_Edward Hyde
Clarendon_.
EDWARD HYDE, EARL OF CLARENDON, a celebrated English historian and
statesman, was born at Dinton, Wiltshire, February 18, 1609, and died at
Rouen, France, December 9, 1674. His famous works are: "History of the
Civil War in Ireland," "History of the Rebellion and Civil Wars in
England," "Essay on an Active and Contemplative Life."
The earth is not the center of the universe.
--_Copernicus_.
NICOLAS COPERNICUS, a famous Polish astronomer, was born at Thorn,
Poland, February 19, 1473, and died at Frauenburg, Prussia, May 24,
1543. He wrote: "Revolutions of the Celestial Orbs (De Orbium
Coelestium Revolutionibus)."
I'm growing old, I'm sixty years;
I've labored all my life in vain.
In all that time of hopes and fears,
I've failed my dearest wish to gain.
I see full well that here below
Bliss unalloyed there is for none
My prayer would else fulfilment know--
Never have I seen Carcassonne!
"Carcassonne," Translated by John Reuben Thompson, Stanza
i,--_Gustave Nadaud_.
GUSTAVE NADAUD, a well-known French composer and song-writer, was born
in Roubaix, February 20, 1820, and died in Paris, April 28, 1893. He
wrote a novel, "An Idyll," and published "Songs," "More Songs,"
"Unpublished Songs," and "New Songs."
Lead, kindly Light, amid the encircling gloom,
Lead thou me on!
The night is dark, and I am far from home:
Lead thou me on:
Keep thou my feet; I do not ask to see
The distant scene: one step enough for me.
"The Pillar of the Cloud,"--_John Henry Newman_.
JOHN HENRY NEWMAN, a celebrated religious writer, first in the Church of
England, and later in the Roman Catholic Church, was born in London,
February 21, 1801, and died at Birmingham, August 11, 1890. His
principal works are: "Five Letters on Church Reform," "St. Bartholomew's
Eve," "Plain and Parochial Sermons," "Loss and Gain," "Verses on
Religious Subjects," "Essay in Aid of a Grammar of Assent," "Lectures on
Justification," "The Arians of the Fourth Century," "Tracts for the
Times," "Hymns for the Use of the Birmingham Oratory," and "Apologia pro
Vita Sua," his most celebrated work.
John Smith was the most picturesque figure in the early history of
America; and his writings are like him--bold, free, highly
colored.
"An Introduction to the Study of American Literature,"
(1896),--_Brander Matthews_.
(JAMES) BRANDER MATTHEWS, a famous American author, was born in New
Orleans, February 21, 1852. Among his works may be mentioned: "French
Dramatists of the Nineteenth Century," "With My Friends," "Studies of
the Stage," "Bookbindings, Old and New," "Introduction to the Study of
American Literature," "Aspects of Fiction," "A Confident To-morrow,"
"The Historical Novel," "Parts of Speech," "Essays in English,"
"Development of the Drama," "Recreations of an Anthologist," "Inquiries
and Opinions," "The American of the Future," "A Study of the Drama,"
"Molière," "Shakespeare as a Playwright," "These Many Years," etc.
To be prepared for war is one of the most effectual means of
preserving peace.
"Speech to both Houses of Congress," Jan. 8, 1790,--_George
Washington_.
GEORGE WASHINGTON, the illustrious American statesman and first
President of the United States, was born at Pope's Creek, Westmoreland
County, Va., February 22, 1732, and died at Mt. Vernon, Va., December
14, 1799.
Natural ability can almost compensate for the want of every kind
of cultivation; but no cultivation of the mind can make up for the
want of natural ability.
--_Schopenhauer_.
ARTHUR SCHOPENHAUER, a renowned German philosopher, was born at Dantzic,
February 22, 1788, and died at Frankfort-on-the-Main, September, 1860.
He wrote: "The Fourfold Root of the Principle of the Sufficient Cause,"
"The World as Will and Representation," "On Vision and Colors," "The Two
Fundamental Problems of Ethic," "Parerga and Paralipomena," etc.
And while the wicket falls behind
Her steps, I thought if I could find
A wife I need not blush to show
I've little further now to go.
--_William Barnes_.
WILLIAM BARNES, a celebrated English poet and philologist, was born in
Dorsetshire, February 22, 1800, and died in Winterbourne Came, in
October, 1886. He wrote many works on philology, and a series of "Poems
of Rural Life in Dorsetshire Dialect," "Poems of Rural Life," etc.
No man is born into the world whose work
Is not born with him. There is always work,
And tools to work withal, for those who will;
And blessed are the horny hands of toil.
"A Glance behind the Curtain,"--_James Russell Lowell_.
JAMES RUSSELL LOWELL, the great American poet and critic, was born at
Cambridge, Mass., February 22, 1819, and died there August 12, 1891.
Some of his works are: "The Bigelow Papers," "A Year's Life," "Poems,"
"Under the Willows and Other Poems," "My Study Windows," "Among My
Books," "Latest Literary Essays and Addresses," "Heartsease and Rue,"
"Political Essays," "Democracy, and Other Addresses."
Nearer, my God, to Thee!
Nearer to Thee!
E'en though it be a cross
That raiseth me.
Still all my song shall be,
Nearer, my God, to Thee!
Nearer to Thee!
"Nearer, my God, to Thee!"--_Sara Flower Adams_.
SARA FLOWER ADAMS, a noted English hymn-writer, was born at Great
Harlow, Essex, February 22, 1805, and died August, 1848. She wrote many
lyrics and hymns, the most popular of which is "Nearer, My God, to
Thee!"
Never yet was a springtime
Late though lingered the snow,
That the sap stirred not at the whisper
Of the southwind, sweet and low;
Never yet was a springtime,
When the buds forgot to blow.
"Awakening,"--_Margaret Elizabeth Sangster_.
MARGARET ELIZABETH (MUNSON) SANGSTER, a celebrated American poet and
prose-writer, was born in New Rochelle, N. Y., February 22, 1838, and
died in 1912. Among her writings are: "May Stanhope and her Friend,"
"Little Kingdom of Home," "Good Manners for all Occasions," "Radiant
Motherhood," "Easter Bells," "Little Knight and Ladies," "Lyrics of
Love," "Fairest Girlhood," "Eleanor Lee," "A Little Book of Homespun
Verse," "Women of the Bible," "The Story Bible," "From My Youth Up--an
Autobiography," "My Garden of Hearts," and her famous poems, "Our Own"
and "Are the Children at Home?"
To St. Paul's Church Yard to my book-sellers ... choose ...
"Hudibras," both parts, the book now in greatest fashion for
drollery, though I cannot, I confess, see enough where the wit
lies.
"_Diary_," Dec. 10, 1663,--_Samuel Pepys_.
SAMUEL PEPYS, a famous English diarist, was born in London, February 23,
1633, and died there May 26, 1703. His fame rests on the remarkable
"Diary" that bears his name.
Rocked in the cradle of the deep
I lay me down in peace to sleep;
Secure I rest upon the wave,
For Thou, O Lord! hast power to save.
I know Thou wilt not slight my call,
For Thou dost mark the sparrow's fall,
And calm and peaceful shall I sleep,
Rocked in the cradle of the deep.
"Rocked in the Cradle of the Deep," Stanza I,--_Emma (Hart)
Willard_.
EMMA (HART) WILLARD, a noted American educator, historian, and poet, was
born at New Berlin, Conn., February 23, 1787, and died at Troy, N. Y.,
April 15, 1870. She has written: "A History of the United States,"
"Universal History in Perspective," etc. She also wrote: "Rocked in the
Cradle of the Deep," and much other verse.
By one great Heart, the Universe is stirred:
By Its strong pulse, stars climb the darkening blue;
It throbs in each fresh sunset's changing hue,
And thrills through low sweet song of every bird.
"Life,"--_Margaret Deland_.
MARGARET WADE DELAND, a famous American author, was born at Allegheny,
Pa., February 23, 1857. She has written: "John Ward, Preacher," "The Old
Garden and Other Verses," "Old Chester Tales," "Dr. Lavendar's People,"
"The Common Way," "The Awakening of Helena Richie," "An Encore," "The
Iron Woman," "The Voice," "Partners," "The Hands of Esau," "Around Old
Chester," "The Rising Tide," etc.
While we read history we make history.
"The Call of Freedom,"--_George William Curtis_.
GEORGE WILLIAM CURTIS, a distinguished American author, was born in
Providence, R. I., February 24, 1824, and died at Staten Island, August
31, 1892. His works include: "The Howadji in Syria," "Nile Notes of a
Howadji," "Manners upon the Road," "Lotus Eating," "Prue and I,"
"Potiphar Papers," "Trumps," etc.
If Goldsmith had to struggle socially against the disadvantages of
poverty, intellectually it cannot be doubted that poverty very
amply compensated him. His circumstances forced him to be an
unwilling spectator of scenes, and the companion of men of whom
affluence or his laziness would have kept him ignorant. His
"Citizen of the World," indeed, is an epitome of London life as it
was exhibited to the observer of that age.
"Goldsmith and La Bruyère," _The Argosy_, p. 265,--_William
Clark Russell_.
WILLIAM CLARK RUSSELL, a noted English-American novelist, was born in
New York City, February 24, 1844, and died in 1911. Among his numerous
sea stories and novels are: "The Wreck of the Grosvenor," "A Sailor's
Sweetheart," "My Watch Below," "A Sea Queen," "Jack's Courtship," "A
Strange Voyage," "The Frozen Pirate," "The Death Ship," "Marooned," "The
Romance of Jenny Harlowe," "The Good Ship Mohock," "Overdue," "The
Ship's Adventure," "Abandoned," "Voyage at Anchor," "Yarn of Old Harbor
Town," etc.
All flowers, it would seem, were in their earliest form yellow;
then some of them became white; after that a few of them grew to
be red or purple; and finally, a comparatively small number
acquired various shades of violet, mauve, lilac, or blue.
"The Colors of Flowers,"--_Grant Allen_.
GRANT ALLEN (CHARLES GRANT BLAIRFINDIE ALLEN), a celebrated English
naturalist, essayist, and novelist, was born in Kingstone, Canada,
February 24, 1848, and died October 24, 1899. His most noted works are
"The Devil's Die," "Under Sealed Orders," "Recalled to Life," "The
Woman Who Did," "Strange Stories," "The British Barbarians," "Science in
Arcady," "Vignettes from Nature," "Colin Clout's Calendar," "The Color
Sense," "Colors of Flowers," "Flowers and Their Pedigrees," "Force and
Nature," etc.