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...　

Falkby Joseph ConradA REMINISCENCESeveral of us, all more or less connected with thesea, were dining in a small river-hostelry not morethan thirty miles from London, and less than twentyfrom that shallow and dangerous puddle to whichour coasting men give the grandiose name of "Ger-man Ocean." And through the wide windows wehad a view of the Thames; an enfilading view downthe Lower Hope Reach. But the dinner was exe-crable, and all the feast was for the eyes.That flavour of salt-water which for so many ofus had been the very water of life permeated ourtalk. He who hath known the bitterness of theOcean shall have its taste forever in his mouth. But...　

THAISTHAISby ANATOLE FRANCETranslated By Robert B. Douglas1- Page 2-THAISPART THE FIRSTTHE LOTUSIn those days there were many hermits living in the desert. On bothbanks of the Nile numerous huts, built by these solitary dwellers, ofbranches held together by clay, were scattered at a little distance from eachother, so that the inhabitants could live alone, and yet help one another in...　

THAISby ANATOLE FRANCETranslated by Robert B. DouglasCONTENTSPART I. THE LOTUSPART II. THE PAPYRUSTHE BANQUETTHE PAPYRUS (resumed)PART III. THE EUPHORBIATHAISPART THE FIRSTTHE LOTUSIn those days there were many hermits living in the desert. On bothbanks of the Nile numerous huts, built by these solitary dwellers, ofbranches held together by clay, were scattered at a little distancefrom each other, so that the inhabitants could live alone, and yethelp one another in case of need. Churches, each surmounted by across, stood here and there amongst the huts, and the monks flocked tothem at each festival to celebrate the services or to partake of the...　

The Unbearable Bassingtonby "Saki" [H. H. Munro]CHAPTER IFRANCESCA BASSINGTON sat in the drawing-room of her house in BlueStreet, W., regaling herself and her estimable brother Henry withChina tea and small cress sandwiches. The meal was of that elegantproportion which, while ministering sympathetically to the desiresof the moment, is happily reminiscent of a satisfactory luncheonand blessedly expectant of an elaborate dinner to come.In her younger days Francesca had been known as the beautiful MissGreech; at forty, although much of the original beauty remained,she was just dear Francesca Bassington. No one would have dreamed...　

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 ENEMY CONQUERED; OR, LOVE TRIUMPHANTSweet girl, thy smiles are full of charms,Thy voice is sweeter still,It fills the breast with fond alarms,Echoed by every rill.I begin this little work with an eulogy upon woman, who has everbeen distinguished for her perseverance, her constancy, and herdevoted attention to those upon whom she has been pleased to placeher AFFECTIONS. Many have been the themes upon which writers andpublic speakers have dwelt with intense and increasing interest.Among these delightful themes stands that of woman, the balmto all our sighs and disappointments, and the most pre-eminent...　

CLOTELLECLOTELLEBy William Wells Brown1- Page 2-CLOTELLECHAPTER ITHE SOUTHERN SOCIAL CIRCLEFOR many years the South has been noted for its beautiful Quadroonwomen. Bottles of ink, and reams of paper, have been used to portray the"finely-cut and well-moulded features," the "silken curls," the "dark andbrilliant eyes," the "splendid forms," the "fascinating smiles," and"accomplished manners" of these impassioned and voluptuous daughters...　

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,...