The Story of an African Farmby Olive Schreiner (Ralph Iron)Preface.I have to thank cordially the public and my critics for the reception theyhave given this little book.Dealing with a subject that is far removed from the round of English dailylife, it of necessity lacks the charm that hangs about the idealrepresentation of familiar things, and its reception has therefore been themore kindly.A word of explanation is necessary. Two strangers appear on the scene, andsome have fancied that in the second they have again the first, who returnsin a new guise. Why this should be we cannot tell; unless there is afeeling that a man should not appear upon the scene, and then disappear,...　

The Book of Snobsby William Makepeace ThackerayTHE BOOK OF SNOBSBY ONE OF THEMSELVESPREFATORY REMARKS(The necessity of a work on Snobs, demonstrated fromHistory, and proved by felicitous illustrations: I amthe individual destined to write that workMy vocationis announced in terms of great eloquenceI show that theworld has been gradually preparing itself for the WORKand the MANSnobs are to be studied like other objectsof Natural Science, and are a part of the Beautiful (witha large B). They pervade all classesAffecting instanceof Colonel Snobley.)We have all read a statement, (the authenticity of which...　

1872FAIRY TALES OF HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSENTHE THORNY ROAD OF HONORby Hans Christian AndersenAN old story yet lives of the "Thorny Road of Honor," of amarksman, who indeed attained to rank and office, but only after alifelong and weary strife against difficulties. Who has not, inreading this story, thought of his own strife, and of his own numerous"difficulties?" The story is very closely akin to reality; but stillit has its harmonious explanation here on earth, while reality oftenpoints beyond the confines of life to the regions of eternity. Thehistory of the world is like a magic lantern that displays to us, inlight pictures upon the dark ground of the present, how the...　

The Hungry Stones And Other Storiesby Rabindranath TagoreContents:The Hungry StonesThe VictoryOnce There Was A KingThe Home-comingMy Lord, The BabyThe Kingdom Of CardsThe DevoteeVisionThe Babus Of NayanjoreLiving Or Dead?"We Crown Thee King"The RenunciationThe Cabuliwallah[The Fruitseller from Cabul]THE HUNGRY STONESMy kinsman and myself were returning to Calcutta from our Puja trip when we met the man in a train. From his dress and bearing we took him at first for an up-country Mahomedan, but we were puzzled as we heard himtalk. He discoursed upon all subjects so confidently that you might think the Disposer of All Things consulted him at all times in all that He did. Hitherto we had be　

Chapter II of Volume IIAFTER a week spent in professions of love and schemes of felicity, Mr. Collins was called from his amiable Charlotte by the arrival of Saturday. The pain of separation, however, might be alleviated on his side, by preparations for the reception of his bride, as he had reason to hope that shortly after his next return into Hertfordshire, the day would be fixed that was to make him the happiest of men. He took leave of his relations at Longbourn with as much solemnity as before; wished his fair cousins health and happiness again, and promised their father another letter of thanks.On the following Monday, Mrs. Bennet had the pleasure of receiving her brother and his wife　

LADY SUSANby Jane AustenILADY SUSAN VERNON TO MR. VERNONLangford, Dec.MY DEAR BROTHER,I can no longer refuse myself the pleasure ofprofiting by your kind invitation when we last parted of spending someweeks with you at Churchhill, and, therefore, if quite convenient to youand Mrs. Vernon to receive me at present, I shall hope within a few days tobe introduced to a sister whom I have so long desired to be acquaintedwith. My kind friends here are most affectionately urgent with me toprolong my stay, but their hospitable and cheerful dispositions lead them...　

THE BEEIt was Maeterlinck who introduced me to the bee. I mean, inthe psychical and in the poetical way. I had had a businessintroduction earlier. It was when I was a boy. It is strangethat I should remember a formality like that so long; it must benearly sixty years.Bee scientists always speak of the bee as she. It isbecause all the important bees are of that sex. In the hivethere is one married bee, called the queen; she has fiftythousand children; of these, about one hundred are sons; the restare daughters. Some of the daughters are young maids, some areold maids, and all are virgins and remain so.Every spring the queen comes out of the hive and flies away...　

Droll Stories [V. 3]by Honore de BalzacCOLLECTED FROM THE ABBEYS OF TOURAINEVOLUME III: THE THIRD TEN TALESCONTENTSTHE THIRD TEN TALESPROLOGUEPERSEVERANCE IN LOVECONCERNING A PROVOST WHO DID NOT RECOGNISE THINGSABOUT THE MONK AMADOR, WHO WAS A GLORIOUS ABBOT OF TURPENAYBERTHA THE PENITENTHOW THE PRETTY MAID OF PORTILLON CONVINCED HER JUDGEIN WHICH IT IS DEMONSTRATED THAT FORTUNE IS ALWAYS FEMININECONCERNING A POOR MAN WHO WAS CALLED LE VIEUX PAR-CHEMINSODD SAYINGS OF THREE PILGRIMSINNOCENCETHE FAIR IMPERIA MARRIEDTHIRD TEN TALESPROLOGUE...　

The French Revolution, Volume 1.The Origins of Contemporary France, Volume 2by Hippolyte A. TaineCONTENTS:ANARCHYPREFACEBOOK FIRST. Spontaneous Anarchy.CHAPTER I. The Beginnings of AnarchyCHAPTER II. Paris up to the 14th of JulyCHAPTER III. Anarchy from July 14th to October 6th, 1789CHAPTER IV. PARISBOOK SECOND. The constituent Assembly, and the Result of its LaborsCHAPTER I. The Constituent AssemblyCHAPTER II. The DamageCHAPTER III. The Constructions - The Constitution of 1791....　

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　

AEMILIUS PAULUS229-160 B.C.by Plutarchtranslated by John DrydenALMOST all agree that the Aemilii were one of the ancient andpatrician houses in Rome; and those authors who affirm that KingNuma was pupil to Pythagoras tell us that the first who gave name tohis posterity was Mamercus, the son of Pythagoras, who, for hisgrace and address in speaking, was called Aemilius. Most of thisrace that have risen through their merit to reputation also enjoyedgood fortune: and even the misfortune to Lucius Paulus at the battleof Cannae gave testimony to his wisdom and valour. For not being...　

The Crowdby Gustave le BonTHE CROWD A STUDY OF THE POPULAR MINDBY GUSTAVE LE BONThe following work is devoted to an account of the characteristics of crowds.The whole of the common characteristics with which heredity endows the individuals of a race constitute the genius of the race. When, however, a certain number of these individuals are gathered together in a crowd for purposes of action, observation proves that, from the mere fact of their being assembled, there result certain new psychological characteristics, which are added to the racial characteristics and differ from them at times to a very considerable degree.Organised crowds have always played an important part in the life of pe