THE SCARLET LETTERby Nathaniel HawthorneINTRODUCTORYTHE CUSTOM-HOUSE.INTRODUCTORY TO "THE SCARLET LETTER".IT is a little remarkable, that- though disinclined to talk overmuchof myself and my affairs at the fireside, and to my personalfriends- an autobiographical impulse should twice in my life havetaken possession of me, in addressing the public. The first time wasthree or four years since, when I favoured the reader- inexcusably,and for no earthly reason, that either the indulgent reader or theintrusive author could imagine- with a description of my way of life...　

The Large Catechismby Dr. Martin LutherTranslated by F. Bente and W. H. T. DauPrefaceA Christian, Profitable, and Necessary Preface and Faithful, EarnestExhortation of Dr. Martin Luther to All Christians, but Especially toAll Pastors and Preachers, that They Should Daily Exercise Themselvesin the Catechism, which is a Short Summary and Epitome of the EntireHoly Scriptures, and that they May Always Teach the Same.We have no slight reasons for treating the Catechism so constantly [inSermons] and for both desiring and beseeching others to teach it, sincewe see to our sorrow that many pastors and preachers are very negligentin this, and slight both their office and this teaching; some from...　

Alfred Tennysonby Andrew LangINTRODUCTIONIn writing this brief sketch of the Life of Tennyson, and thisattempt to appreciate his work, I have rested almost entirely on theBiography by Lord Tennyson (with his kind permission) and on the textof the Poems. As to the Life, doubtless current anecdotes, not givenin the Biography, are known to me, and to most people. But as theymust also be familiar to the author of the Biography, I have notthought it desirable to include what he rejected. The works of the"localisers" I have not read: Tennyson disliked these researches, asa rule, and they appear to be unessential, and often hazardous. Theprofessed commentators I have not consulted. It appear　

Men of Invention and Industryby Samuel Smiles"Men there have been, ignorant of letters; without art, withouteloquence; who yet had the wisdom to devise and the courage toperform that which they lacked language to explain. Such menhave worked the deliverance of nations and their own greatness.Their hearts are their books; events are their tutors; greatactions are their eloquence."MACAULAY.Contents.PrefaceCHAPTER I Phineas Pett:Beginings of English ShipbuildingCHAPTER II Francis Pettit Smith:Practical introducer of the Screw PropellerCHAPTER III John Harrison:Inventor of the Marine Chronometer...　

Beautiful Stories from Shakespeareby E. Nesbit"It may be said of Shakespeare, that from his works may be collected a system of civil and economical prudence. He has been imitated by all succeeding writers; and it may be doubted whether from all his successors more maxims of theoretical knowledge, or more rules of practical prudence can be collected than he alone has given to his country."Dr. SAMUEL JOHNSON.PREFACEThe writings of Shakespeare have been justly termed "the richest, the purest, the fairest, that genius uninspired ever penned."Shakespeare instructed by delighting. His plays alone (leaving mere science out of the question), contain more actual wisdom than the whole body of Engli　

SHERLOCK HOLMESTHE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BANDby Sir Arthur Conan DoyleOn glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I haveduring the last eight years studied the methods of my friendSherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number merelystrange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did rather for thelove of his art than for the acquirement of wealth, he refused toassociate himself with any investigation which did not tend towardsthe unusual, and even the fantastic. Of all these varied cases,however, I cannot recall any which presented more singular features...　

Villa Rubein and Other Storiesby John GalsworthyContents:Villa RubeinA Man of DevonA KnightSalvation of a ForsyteThe SilencePREFACEWriting not long ago to my oldest literary friend, I expressed in amoment of heedless sentiment the wish that we might have again one ofour talks of long-past days, over the purposes and methods of ourart. And my friend, wiser than I, as he has always been, repliedwith this doubting phrase "Could we recapture the zest of that oldtime?"I would not like to believe that our faith in the value ofimaginative art has diminished, that we think it less worth while to...　

THE ILIADby Homertranslated by Samuel ButlerBOOK ISing, O goddess, the anger of Achilles son of Peleus, that broughtcountless ills upon the Achaeans. Many a brave soul did it sendhurrying down to Hades, and many a hero did it yield a prey to dogsand vultures, for so were the counsels of Jove fulfilled from theday on which the son of Atreus, king of men, and great Achilles, firstfell out with one another.And which of the gods was it that set them on to quarrel? It was theson of Jove and Leto; for he was angry with the king and sent apestilence upon the host to plague the people, because the son of...　

400 BCON FRACTURESby HippocratesTranslated by Francis AdamsIN TREATING fractures and dislocations, the physician must makethe extension as straight as possible, for this is the most naturaldirection. But if it incline to either side, it should rather turnto that of pronation, for there is thus less harm than if it be towardsupination. Those, then, who act in such cases without deliberation,for the most part do not fall into any great mistake, for the personwho is to have his arm bound, presents it in the proper position...　

The Civilization of the Renaissance in Italyby Jacob BurckhardtTable of ContentsPart One: The State as a Work of Art1-1 Introduction1-2 Despots of the Fourteenth Century1-3 Despots of the Fifteenth Century1-4 The Smaller Despotisms1-5 The Greater Dynasties1-6 The Opponents of the Despots1-7 The Republics: Venice and Florence1-8 Foreign Policy1-9 War as a Work of Art1-10 The Papacy1-11 PatriotismPart Two: The Development of the Individual2-1 Personality2-2 Glory2-3 Ridicule and WitPart Three: The Revival of Antiquity3-1 Introductory3-2 The Ruins of Rome3-3 The Classics3-4 The Humanists3-5 Universities and Schools3-6 Propagators of Antiquity...　

THE KREUTZER SONATA.CHAPTER I.Travellers left and entered our car at every stopping of thetrain. Three persons, however, remained, bound, like myself, forthe farthest station: a lady neither young nor pretty, smokingcigarettes, with a thin face, a cap on her head, and wearing asemi-masculine outer garment; then her companion, a veryloquacious gentleman of about forty years, with baggage entirelynew and arranged in an orderly manner; then a gentleman who heldhimself entirely aloof, short in stature, very nervous, ofuncertain age, with bright eyes, not pronounced in color, butextremely attractive,eyes that darted with rapidity from one...　

Vanity Fairby William Makepeace ThackerayBEFORE THE CURTAINAs the manager of the Performance sits before the curtainon the boards and looks into the Fair, a feeling of profoundmelancholy comes over him in his survey of the bustling place.There is a great quantity of eating and drinking, making loveand jilting, laughing and the contrary, smoking, cheating,fighting, dancing and fiddling; there are bullies pushing about,bucks ogling the women, knaves picking pockets, policemenon the look-out, quacks (OTHER quacks, plague take them!)bawling in front of their booths, and yokels looking up atthe tinselled dancers and poor old rouged tumblers, while thelight-fingered folk are operating upon their