The Madonna of the Futureby Henry JamesWe had been talking about the masters who had achieved but a singlemasterpiecethe artists and poets who but once in their lives hadknown the divine afflatus and touched the high level of perfection.Our host had been showing us a charming little cabinet picture by apainter whose name we had never heard, and who, after this singlespasmodic bid for fame, had apparently relapsed into obscurity andmediocrity. There was some discussion as to the frequency of thisphenomenon; during which, I observed, H- sat silent, finishing hiscigar with a meditative air, and looking at the picture which was...　

ALEXANDER356-323 B.C.by Plutarchtranslated by John DrydenIT being my purpose to write the lives of Alexander the king, and of Caesar, by whom Pompey was destroyed, the multitude of their great actions affords so large a field that I were to blame if I should not by way of apology forewarn my reader that I have chosen rather to epitomize the most celebrated parts of their story, than to insist at large on every particular circumstance of it. It must be borne in mind that my design is not to write histories, but lives. And the most glorious exploits do not always furnish us with the clearest discoveries of virtue or vice in men; sometimes a matter of less mo　

410 BCLYSISTRATAby Aristophanesanonymous translatorCHARACTERS IN THE PLAYLYSISTRATACLEONICEMYRRHINELAMPITOMAGISTRATESCINESIASCHILD OF CINESIASHERALD OF THE LACEDAEMONIANSENVOYS OF THE LACEDAEMONIANSAN ATHENIAN CITIZENCHORUS OF OLD MENCHORUS OF WOMENLYSISTRATALYSISTRATA(SCENE:-At the base of the Orchestra are two buildings, the houseof LYSISTRATA and the entrance to the Acropolis; a winding and...　

TOM SWIFT AND HIS BIG TUNNELTOM SWIFT AND HISBIG TUNNEL(or The Hidden City of the Andes)Victor Appleton1- Page 2-TOM SWIFT AND HIS BIG TUNNELCHAPTER IAn Appeal for AidTom Swift, seated in his laboratory engaged in trying to solve apuzzling question that had arisen over one of his inventions, was startledby a loud knock on the door. So emphatic, in fact, was the summons that...　

The Children of the Nightby Edwin Arlington RobinsonA Book of PoemsTo the Memory of my Father and MotherContentsThe Children of the NightThree QuatrainsThe WorldAn Old StoryBallade of a ShipBallade by the FireBallade of Broken FlutesBallade of Dead FriendsHer EyesTwo MenVillanelle of ChangeJohn EvereldownLuke HavergalThe House on the HillRichard CoryTwo OctavesCalvaryDear FriendsThe Story of the Ashes and the FlameFor Some Poems by Matthew ArnoldAmaryllisKosmosZolaThe Pity of the LeavesAaron Stark...　

APPENDIX CThe College PrisonIt seems that the student may break a good many of the publiclaws without having to answer to the public authorities.His case must come before the University for trialand punishment. If a policeman catches him in an unlawfulact and proceeds to arrest him, the offender proclaims thathe is a student, and perhaps shows his matriculation card,whereupon the officer asks for his address, then goeshis way, and reports the matter at headquarters. If theoffense is one over which the city has no jurisdiction,the authorities report the case officially to the University,and give themselves no further concern about it....　

380 BCMENOby Platotranslated by Benjamin JowettMENOPERSONS OF THE DIALOGUE MENO; SOCRATES; A SLAVE OF MENO;ANYTUSMeno. Can you tell me, Socrates, whether virtue is acquired byteaching or by practice; or if neither by teaching nor practice,then whether it comes to man by nature, or in what other way?Socrates. O Meno, there was a time when the Thessalians werefamous among the other Hellenes only for their riches and theirriding; but now, if I am not mistaken, they are equally famous for...　

The Way of All Fleshby Samuel ButlerCHAPTER IWhen I was a small boy at the beginning of the century I remember anold man who wore knee-breeches and worsted stockings, and who usedto hobble about the street of our village with the help of a stick.He must have been getting on for eighty in the year 1807, earlierthan which date I suppose I can hardly remember him, for I was bornin 1802. A few white locks hung about his ears, his shoulders werebent and his knees feeble, but he was still hale, and was muchrespected in our little world of Paleham. His name was Pontifex.His wife was said to be his master; I have been told she brought hima little money, but it cannot have been much. She was a ta　

A MOONLIGHT FABLEThere was once a little man whose mother made him a beautiful suitof clothes. It was green and gold and woven so that I cannotdescribe how delicate and fine it was, and there was a tie oforange fluffiness that tied up under his chin. And the buttonsin their newness shone like stars. He was proud and pleased by hissuit beyond measure, and stood before the long looking-glass whenfirst he put it on, so astonished and delighted with it that hecould hardly turn himself away.He wanted to wear it everywhere and show it to all sorts ofpeople. He thought over all the places he had ever visited and allthe scenes he had ever heard described, and tried to imagine what...　

Ernest HemingwayIt was very late and everyone had left the cafe except an old man who sat in the shadow the leaves of the tree made against the electric light. In the day time the street was dusty, but at night the dew settled the dust and the old man liked to sit late because he was deaf and now at night it was quiet and he felt the difference. The two waiters inside the cafe knew that the old man was a little drunk, and while he was a good client they knew that if he became too drunk he would leave without paying, so they kept watch on him."Last week he tried to commit suicide," one waiter said."Why?""He was in despair.""What about?""Nothing.""How do you know it was nothing?"...　

Sketches New and Oldby Mark TwainSKETCHES NEW AND OLDCONTENTS:PREFACEMY WATCHPOLITICAL ECONOMYTHE JUMPING FROGJOURNALISM IN TENNESSEETHE STORY OF THE BAD LITTLE BOYTHE STORY OF THE GOOD LITTLE BOYA COUPLE OF POEMS BY TWAIN AND MOORENIAGARAANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTSTO RAISE POULTRYEXPERIENCE OF THE MCWILLIAMSES WITH MEMBRANOUS CROUPMY FIRST LITERARY VENTUREHOW THE AUTHOR WAS SOLD IN NEWARKTHE OFFICE BOREJOHNNY GREERTHE FACTS IN THE CASE OF THE GREAT BEEF CONTRACTTHE CASE OF GEORGE FISHERDISGRACEFUL PERSECUTION OF A BOYTHE JUDGES "SPIRITED WOMAN"INFORMATION WANTEDSOME LEARNED FABLES, FOR GOOD OLD BOYS AND GIRLSMY LATE SENATORIAL SECRETARYSHIP...　

The Man BetweenThe Man BetweenAN INTERNATIONAL ROMANCEBy AMELIA E. BARR1- Page 2-The Man BetweenPART FIRSTO LOVE WILL VENTURE IN!CHAPTER ITHE thing that I know least about is my beginning. For it is possible tointroduce Ethel Rawdon in so many picturesque ways that the choice isembarrassing, and forces me to the conclusion that the actual...