but is at his best when he forgets his theories. There is much humor in American writings. Of the lesser humorists, Browne, Locke, and Shaw depended in part upon incorrect spelling, and Shillaber upon a comical misuse of words. Our best humorist is Clemens. He is not only a wit, but also a man of much literary talent. His fun is always founded upon common sense. Most of our historians have chosen American history as their theme. Many volumes of biographies and reminiscences have been published. The magazine article has taken the place of the lecture platform and the magazines form a progressive encyclopædia of the advancement of the world. Great numbers of children's books have appeared. Among those authors that have written for children alone are Abbott and Miss Alcott. Many juvenile magazines and papers have been founded. The Youth's Companion is the oldest of all. Many literary influences are at work. What the resultant will be is still unknown.

Writers who are remembered by a single work:

SELECTIONS FROM COLONIAL AND

REVOLUTIONARY WRITERS

GEORGE SANDYS, COLONIAL TREASURER OF VIRGINIA

1577-1644

STRICTLY speaking, both Sandys and Smith are entitled to rank among the builders of American colonies rather than of American literature. Americans, however, cannot well help feeling a claim to Sandys's translation of Ovid's Metamorphoses as being the first piece of literary English written in what is now the United States.

From "Ovid's Metamorphosis, Englished by G. S." London, 1626. Book VIII.

Baucis and Philemon

On Phrygian hils there growes

An Oke by a Line-tree, which old walls inclose.
My selfe this saw, while I in Phrygia staid;
By Pittheus sent: where erst his father swaid.
Hard by, a lake, once habitable ground:
Where Coots and fishing Cormorants abound.
Ioue, in a humane shape; with Mercurie;
(His heeles vnwing'd) that way their steps apply.
Who guest-rites at a thousand Houses craue;
A thousand shut their doores: One only gaue.
A small thatch'd Cottage: where, a pious wife
Old Baucis, and Philemon, led their life.
Both equall-ag'd. In this, their youth they spent ;
In this grew old: rich onely in content.
Who pouertie, by bearing it, declind:
And made it easie with a chearfull mind.

None Master, nor none Seruant, could you call:
They who command, obay; for two were all.

Ioue hither came, with his Cyllenian mate;
And stooping, enters at the humble gate.
Sit downe, and take your ease, Philemon said.
While busie Baucis straw-stuft cushions layd:
Who stir'd abroad the glowing coles, that lay
In smothering ashes; rak't vp yester-day.

Dry bark, and withered leaues, thereon she throwes: Whose feeble breath to flame the cinders blowes. Then slender clefts, and broken branches gets :

And ouer all a little kettle sets.

Her husband gathers cole-flowrs, with their leaues;
Which from his gratefull garden he receiues:
Tooke down a flitch of bacon with a prung,
That long had in the smokie chimney hung:
Whereof a little quantitie he cuts:

And it into the boyling liquor puts.

This seething; they the time beguile with speech:
Vnsensible of stay. A bowle of beech,
There, by the handle hung vpon a pin :
This fils he with warme water; and therein
Washes their feete. A mosse-stuft bed and pillow
Lay on a homely bed-steed made of willow:
A couerlet, onely vs'd at feasts, they spred:
Though course, and old; yet fit for such a bed.
Downe lye the Gods. The palsie-shaken Dame
Sets forth a table with three legs; one lame,
And shorter than the rest, a pot-share reares:
This, now made leuell, with green mint she cleares.
Whereon they party-colour'd oliues set,

Autumnall Cornels, in tart pickle wet;

Coole endiffe, radish, new egs rosted reare,

And late-prest cheese; which earthen dishes beare.

A goblet, of the self same siluer wrought;

And bowles of beech, with waxe well varnisht, brought. Hot victuals from the fire were forthwith sent:

Then wine, not yet of perfect age, present.

This ta'ne away; the second Course now comes: