the product of mature years, he would probably now be acknowledged as one of the greatest men of all times.

Southey, Caroline Bowles (page 104), was born near Lymington, England, in 1787. Her first work, "Ellen Fitz-Arthur," a poem, was published in 1820; and for more than twenty years her writings were published anonymously. In 1839 she was married to Robert Southey, the poet. She died in 1854. Our extract first appeared in 1822 in a collection entitled, "The Widow's Tale, and other Poems.”

Stephens, Alexander H. (page 307), an American statesman, was born at Crawfordville, Georgia, in 1812. He was educated at the University of Georgia, and adopted the profession of law. In 1843 he was elected a member of Congress, and for sixteen years he retained his seat in that body. He was opposed to secession, but in 1861 was elected Vice President of the Confederate States. In 1873 he was again sent to Congress, and ten years later was elected governor of his native state. He died, however, in the same year, 1883. He was the author of a number of able speeches and political essays. Stevenson, Robert Louis (page 32), a Scottish essayist and novelist, was born at Edinburgh in 1850. He was educated at Edinburgh University, and studied law, but never practiced. He wrote a number of excellent stories and romances, the most popular of which are "Treasure Island," "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde,” and “David Balfour." He died at Apia, Samoa, in 1894.

Sumner, Charles (page 302), was born in Boston in 1811. He studied at the Latin school in his native city, graduated from Harvard University, studied law at the same institution, and was admitted to practice in 1834. In 1851, he was elected to the United States Senate, and continued in that position till his death in 1874.

Taine, Hippolyte A. (page 221), was born in France in 1828. His literary reputation dates from 1854, when his essay on "Livy" appeared. His best works are a His best works are a "History of English Literature," "The Philosophy of Art," and "The Origins of Contemporary France." He died in 1893.

Talmage, Thomas DeWitt (page 140), an American preacher, was born near Bound Brook, New Jersey, in 1832. He was educated at the University of the City of New York, and in 1869 became pastor of the Central Presbyterian Church in Brooklyn. In 1895 he removed to Washington, and assumed the pastorate of one of the large churches in that city. He was the author of a number of works on religious and social topics, besides several collections of sermons.

Taylor, Jane (page 44), an English writer, was born at London in 1783. She wrote numerous stories and poems for children—all now very old-fashioned and was the author of a volume of essays on morals and manners. She died in 1824.

Tennyson, Alfred (page 80), one of the greatest of English poets, was born at Somerby, Lincolnshire, in 1809. His first volume of poems appeared in 1830; it made little impression, and was severely treated by the critics. On the publication of his third series, in 1842, his poetic genius began to receive general recognition. On the death of Wordsworth he was made poet laureate, and he was then regarded as the foremost living poet of England. He died in 1892.

Thackeray, William Makepeace (page 320), a distinguished English novelist and essayist, was born at Calcutta, India, in 1811. While a boy he removed from India to England, where he was educated at the Charterhouse in London, and at Cambridge. His first novel under his own name, "Vanity Fair," appeared in monthly numbers during 1846-48, and is generally considered his finest production; although "Pendennis," "Henry Esmond," the "Virginians," and "The Newcomes" are also much admired. At the close of 1859 Thackeray became editor of the Cornhill Magazine, and made it one of the most successful serials ever published. He died in 1863.

Thompson, John R. (page 304), an American journalist and author, was born in Virginia in 1823; died at Richmond in 1873. He was editor of the Southern Literary Messenger from 1847 to 1859, and his poems are much admired for their lyrical quality.

Thoreau, Henry David (page 315). This eccentric American author and naturalist was born at Concord, Massachusetts, in 1817. He graduated at Harvard University in 1837 and afterwards supported himself mainly by teaching, lecturing, landsurveying, and carpentering. In 1845 he built himself a small wooden house near Concord, on the shore of Walden Pond, where he lived about two years. He died in 1862. In descriptive power Mr. Thoreau has few if any superiors.

Ticknor, Francis Orrery (page 325), was born in Baldwin County, Georgia, 1822. He died near Columbus, Georgia, 1874. His poems, many of which are highly meritorious, have been collected and published in a single volume.

Tyndall, John (page 223), one of the most celebrated of modern scientists, was born in Ireland in 1820; died in Surrey, England, in 1893. He was a pupil of the distinguished Faraday. In 1853 he was appointed Professor of Natural Philosophy in the Royal Institution of London. He is known chiefly for his brilliant experiments and clear writing respecting heat, light, and sound. He also wrote one or two interesting books concerning the Alps and their glaciers.

Van Dyke, Henry (page 69), a popular American author, was born in Pennsylvania in 1852. He was for many years a prominent Presbyterian clergyman in New York city, and later a professor in the University of Princeton. Among his bestknown works are "The Gospel for an Age of Doubt," "Fisherman's Luck," and "The Builders, and other Poems."

Webster, Daniel (page 250), an American statesman and orator, was born at Salisbury, New Hampshire, in 1782. He attended the common school, and graduated at Dartmouth in 1801. In 1812 he was elected to the United States House of Representatives, and at once took his place as one of the most prominent men of that body. In 1816 he removed to Boston; and in 1827 he was elected to the United States Senate, where he continued for twelve years. In 1841 he was made Secretary of State, and soon after negotiated the famous “Ashburton Treaty" with England, settling the northern boundary of the United States. In 1845 he returned to the Senate; and in

1850 he was reappointed Secretary of State, and continued in office till his death. He died at Marshfield, Massachusetts, in 1852.

Whitney, Adeline D. T. (page 228), was born in Boston in 1824. Her literary career began about 1856, since which time she has written several novels and poems.

Whittier, John Greenleaf (pages 39, 41, 137), one of the best loved of American poets, was born at Haverhill, Massachusetts, in 1807. He spent his boyhood on a farm, occasionally writing verses for the papers even then. In 1829 he edited a newspaper in Boston, and the next year assumed a similar position in Hartford. For two years he was a member of the Massachusetts legislature. In 1836 he edited an antislavery paper in Philadelphia. "Snow-Bound," published in 1865, is one of the longest and best of his poems. Several of his shorter pieces are marked by much smoothness and sweetness. He died in 1892.

Wirt, William (page 256), an American lawyer and author, was born at Bladensburg, Maryland, in 1772. He was educated privately, and in 1792 was admitted to the bar, and began the practice of law; he removed to Richmond in 1799. From 1817 to 1829 he was attorney general of the United States. His last years were spent in Baltimore. He died

in 1834.

Wolfe, Charles (page 309), an Irish clergyman and poet, was born in Dublin in 1791. "The Burial of Sir John Moore," one of the finest poems of its kind in the English language, was written in 1817, and first appeared in the Newry Telegraph. Byron said of this ballad that he would rather be the author of it than of any other ever written.

Yonge, Charlotte M. (page 49), was born in Hampshire, England in 1823. She wrote a large number of books, some historical and others works of fiction. Her best known novel is "The Heir of Redclyffe." She died in 1901.