The Virgin of the SunBy H. Rider HaggardDEDICATIONMy Dear Little,Some five-and-thirty years ago it was our custom to discuss manymatters, among them, I think, the history and romance of thevanished Empires of Central America.In memory of those far-off days will you accept a tale that dealswith one of them, that of the marvellous Incas of Peru; with thelegend also that, long before the Spanish Conquerors entered ontheir mission of robbery and ruin, there in that undiscovered landlived and died a White God risen from the sea?Ever sincerely yours,...　

THE HERACLEIDAEby Euripidestranslated by E. P. ColeridgeCHARACTERS IN THE PLAYIOLAUS, friend of HeraclesCOPREUS, herald of EURYSTHEUSDEMOPHON, King of AthensMACARIA, daughter of HeraclesSERVANT, of Hyllus, son of HeraclesALCMENA, mother of HeraclesMESSENGEREURYSTHEUS; King of ArgosCHORUS OF AGED ATHENIANSAcamas, the brother of DEMOPHON, younger sons of Heracles,attendants, guards, etc.HERACLEIDAETHE HERACLEIDAE(SCENE:-Before the altar and temple of Zeusat Marathon. IOLAUS, an old man, and thechildren of Heracles are seen on the steps of the altar.)...　

The Silverado Squattersby Robert Louis StevensonTHE scene of this little book is on a high mountain. Thereare, indeed, many higher; there are many of a nobler outline.It is no place of pilgrimage for the summary globe-trotter;but to one who lives upon its sides, Mount Saint Helena soonbecomes a centre of interest. It is the Mont Blanc of onesection of the Californian Coast Range, none of its nearneighbours rising to one-half its altitude. It looks down onmuch green, intricate country. It feeds in the spring-timemany splashing brooks. From its summit you must have anexcellent lesson of geography: seeing, to the south, San...　

Treatises on Friendship and Old Ageby Marcus Tullius CiceroTranslated by E S ShuckburghINTRODUCTORY NOTEMARCUS TULLIUS CICERO, the greatest of Roman orators andthe chief master of Latin prose style, was born at Arpinum, Jan.3,106 B.C. His father, who was a man of property and belongedto the class of the "Knights," moved to Rome when Cicero was achild; and the future statesman received an elaborate education inrhetoric, law, and philosophy, studying and practising under someof the most noted teachers of the time. He began his career as anadvocate at the age of twenty-five, and almost immediately cameto be recognized not only as a man of brilliant talents but also as a...　

A PERSONAL RECORDBY JOSEPH CONRADA FAMILIAR PREFACEAs a general rule we do not want much encouragement to talk aboutourselves; yet this little book is the result of a friendlysuggestion, and even of a little friendly pressure. I defendedmyself with some spirit; but, with characteristic tenacity, thefriendly voice insisted, "You know, you really must."It was not an argument, but I submitted at once. If one must! .. .You perceive the force of a word. He who wants to persuadeshould put his trust not in the right argument, but in the right...　

The Stokesley Secretby Charlotte M. YongeCHAPTER I."How can a pig pay the rent?"The question seemed to have been long under consideration, to judge by the manner in which it came out of the pouting lips of that sturdy young five-year-old gentleman, David Merrifield, as he sat on a volume of the great Latin Dictionary to raise him to a level with the tea-table.Long, however, as it had been considered, it was unheeded on account of one more interesting to the general public assembled round the table."I say!" hallooed out a tall lad of twelve holding aloft a slice taken from the dish in the centre of the table, "I say! what do you call this, Mary?"...　

Chronicle of the Conquest of Granadaby Washington IrvingCONTENTS.I..........Of the Kingdom of Granada, and the Tribute which it Paidto the Castilian Crown.II.........Of the Embassy of Don Juan de Vera to Demand Arrears ofTribute from the Moorish Monarch.III........Domestic Feuds in the AlhambraRival SultanasPredictionsconcerning Boabdil, the Heir to the ThroneHowFerdinand Meditates War against Granada, and how heis Anticipated.IV.........Expedition of the Muley Abul Hassan against the Fortressof Zahara.V..........Expedition of the Marques of Cadiz against Alhama....　

ITALIAN WITHOUT A MASTERIt is almost a fortnight now that I am domiciled in a medievalvilla in the country, a mile or two from Florence. I cannot speakthe language; I am too old not to learn how, also too busy when Iam busy, and too indolent when I am not; wherefore some willimagine that I am having a dull time of it. But it is not so.The "help" are all natives; they talk Italian to me, I answerin English; I do not understand them, they do not understand me,consequently no harm is done, and everybody is satisfied. In orderto be just and fair, I throw in an Italian word when I have one,and this has a good influence. I get the word out of the morning paper....　

A Theologico-Political TreatiseA Theologico-PoliticalTreatisePart IV of IV - Chapters XVI to XXBaruch Spinoza1- Page 2-A Theologico-Political TreatiseCHAPTER XVIOF THE FOUNDATIONS OF A STATE; OF THE NATURAL ANDCIVIL RIGHTS OF INDIVIDUALS; AND OF THE RIGHTS OF THESOVEREIGN POWER.(1) Hitherto our care has been to separate philosophy from theology,and to show the freedom of thought which such separation insures to both....　

The Magic Skinby Honore de BalzacTranslated by Ellen MarriageTo Monsieur Savary, Member of Le Academie des Sciences.ITHE TALISMANTowards the end of the month of October 1829 a young man entered thePalais-Royal just as the gaming-houses opened, agreeably to the lawwhich protects a passion by its very nature easily excisable. Hemounted the staircase of one of the gambling hells distinguished bythe number 36, without too much deliberation."Your hat, sir, if you please?" a thin, querulous voice called out. Alittle old man, crouching in the darkness behind a railing, suddenlyrose and exhibited his features, carved after a mean design.As you enter a gaming-house the law despoils you of your hat a　

A. V. LaiderA. V. LaiderBy MAX BEERBOHM1- Page 2-A. V. LaiderI UNPACKED my things and went down to await luncheon.It was good to be here again in this little old sleepy hostel by the sea.Hostel I say, though it spelt itself without an "s" and even placed acircumflex above the "o." It made no other pretension. It was very cozyindeed.I had been here just a year before, in mid-February, after an attack ofinfluenza. And now I had returned, after an attack of influenza. Nothing...　

SHERLOCK HOLMESTHE ADVENTURE OF THE DYING DETECTIVEby Sir Arthur Conan DoyleMrs. Hudson, the landlady of Sherlock Holmes, was a long-sufferingwoman. Not only was her first-floor flat invaded at all hours bythrongs of singular and often undesirable characters but herremarkable lodger showed an eccentricity and irregularity in hislife which must have sorely tried her patience. His incredibleuntidiness, his addiction to music at strange hours, his occasionalrevolver practice within doors, his weird and often malodorousscientific experiments, and the atmosphere of violence and danger...