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...¡¡

Study of the King James BibleStudy of the King JamesBibleBY CLELAND BOYD McAFEE, D.D.1- Page 2-Study of the King James BiblePREFACETHE lectures included in this volume were prepared at the request ofthe Brooklyn Institute of Arts and Sciences, and were delivered in theearly part of 1912, under its auspices. They were suggested by thetercentenary of the King James version of the Bible. The plan adopted led...¡¡

Theodore Roosevelt; An Intimate Biography,by William Roscoe Thayer1919PREFACEIn finishing the correction of the last proofs of this sketch, I perceive that some of those who read it may suppose that I planned to write a deliberate eulogy of Theodore Roosevelt. This is not true. I knew him for forty years, but I never followed his political leadership. Our political differences, however, never lessened our personal friendship. Sometimes long intervals elapsed between our meetings, but when we met it was always with the same intimacy, and when we wrote it was with the same candor. I count it fortunate for me that during the last ten years of his life, I was thrown more with Roosevelt than dur¡¡

Ernest HemingwayWith a variety of themes and moods, dynamic action scenes andunexpectedlya rich and ribald sense of humor, ISLANDS IN THE STREAM tells a story closely resembling Hemingway¡¦s life.¡@Thomas Hudson is ¡§a good painter.¡¨ His solitary life of artistic self-discipline on the lush Caribbean island of Bimini is interrupted by a visit from his three lively sons. In a thrilling descriptive scene, David, the middle boy, shows his courage when attacked by a shark and his endurance while fighting a thousand-pound swordfish. It is an initiation into manhood.¡@Years later, Hudson is in Cuba mourning the death of his oldest son. A chance encounter with his first wife renews their passionate co¡¡

North American Species of CactusNorth American Speciesof Cactusby John M. Coulter.1- Page 2-North American Species of CactusU.S. Department of AgricultureDivision of BotanyCONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE U. S. NATIONAL HERBARIUM Vol.IIINo. 2 Issued June 10, 1894 Preliminary Revision of the NorthAmerican Species of Cactus, Anhalonium, and Lophophora.byJohn M.Coulter. Published by Authority of the Secretary of Agriculture...¡¡

Alcibiades IIby Platonic ImitatorTranslated by Benjamin JowettAPPENDIX II.The two dialogues which are translated in the second appendix are notmentioned by Aristotle, or by any early authority, and have no claim to beascribed to Plato. They are examples of Platonic dialogues to be assignedprobably to the second or third generation after Plato, when his writingswere well known at Athens and Alexandria. They exhibit considerableoriginality, and are remarkable for containing several thoughts of the sortwhich we suppose to be modern rather than ancient, and which therefore havea peculiar interest for us. The Second Alcibiades shows that the...¡¡

Wessex Talesby Thomas HardyContents:PrefaceAn Imaginative WomanThe Three StrangersThe Withered ArmFellow-TownsmenInterlopers at the KnapThe Distracted PreacherPREFACEAn apology is perhaps needed for the neglect of contrast which isshown by presenting two consecutive stories of hangmen in such asmall collection as the following. But in the neighbourhood ofcounty-towns tales of executions used to form a large proportion ofthe local traditions; and though never personally acquainted withany chief operator at such scenes, the writer of these pages had asa boy the privilege of being on speaking terms with a man who...¡¡

KWAIDAN: Stories and Studies of Strange ThingsKWAIDAN: Stories andStudies of Strange ThingsBy Lafcadio Hearn1- Page 2-KWAIDAN: Stories and Studies of Strange ThingsTABLE OF CONTENTSTHE STORY OF MIMI-NASHI-HOICHI OSHIDORITHE STORY OF O-TEI UBAZAKURA DIPLOMACY OF AMIRROR AND A BELL JIKININKI MUJINA ROKURO-KUBI A DEADSECRET YUKI-ONNA THE STORY OF AOYAGI JIU-ROKU-ZAKURA THE DREAM OF AKINOSUKE RIKI-BAKA HI-MAWARIHORAI...¡¡

The Moon and SixpenceThe Moon and Sixpenceby W. Somerset MaughamAuthor of "Of Human Bondage"1- Page 2-The Moon and SixpenceChapter II confess that when first I made acquaintance with Charles StricklandI never for a moment discerned that there was in him anything out of theordinary. Yet now few will be found to deny his greatness. I do notspeak of that greatness which is achieved by the fortunate politician or thesuccessful soldier; that is a quality which belongs to the place he occupies...¡¡

THE LITTLE GOOD MOUSEONCE upon a time there lived a King and Queen who loved eachother so much that they were never happy unless they weretogether. Day after day they went out hunting or fishing; nightafter night they went to balls or to the opera; they sang, and danced,and ate sugar-plums, and were the gayest of the gay, and all theirsubjects followed their example so that the kingdom was called theJoyous Land. Now in the next kingdom everything was as differentas it could possibly be. The King was sulky and savage, and neverenjoyed himself at all. He looked so ugly and cross that all hissubjects feared him, and he hated the very sight of a cheerful face;...¡¡

The Pond in WinterAfter a still winter night I awoke with the impression that somequestion had been put to me, which I had been endeavoring in vain toanswer in my sleep, as what how when where? But there wasdawning Nature, in whom all creatures live, looking in at my broadwindows with serene and satisfied face, and no question on her lips.I awoke to an answered question, to Nature and daylight. The snowlying deep on the earth dotted with young pines, and the very slopeof the hill on which my house is placed, seemed to say, Forward!Nature puts no question and answers none which we mortals ask. Shehas long ago taken her resolution. "O Prince, our eyes contemplate...¡¡

Selected Prose of Oscar Wildeby Oscar WildeContents:Preface by Robert RossHow They Struck a ContemporaryThe Quality of George MeredithLife in the Fallacious ModelLife the DiscipleLife the PlagiaristThe Indispensable EastThe Influence of the Impressionists on ClimateAn Exposure to NaturalismThomas Griffiths WainewrightWainewright at Hobart TownCardinal Newman and the AutobiographiersRobert BrowningThe Two Supreme and Highest ArtsThe Secrets of ImmortalityThe Critic and his MaterialDante the Living GuideThe Limitations of GeniusWanted A New BackgroundWithout FrontiersThe Poetry of Archaeology...¡¡