Lectures on Evolutionby Thomas Henry HuxleyITHE THREE HYPOTHESES RESPECTING THE HISTORY OF NATUREWe live in and form part of a system of things of immensediversity and perplexity, which we call Nature; and it is amatter of the deepest interest to all of us that we should formjust conceptions of the constitution of that system and of itspast history. With relation to this universe, man is, in extent,little more than a mathematical point; in duration but afleeting shadow; he is a mere reed shaken in the winds of force.But as Pascal long ago remarked, although a mere reed, he is athinking reed; and in virtue of that wonderful capacity of...　

The Mystery of the Yellow Roomby Gaston LerouxCHAPTER IIn Which We Begin Not to UnderstandIt is not without a certain emotion that I begin to recount herethe extraordinary adventures of Joseph Rouletabille. Down to thepresent time he had so firmly opposed my doing it that I had cometo despair of ever publishing the most curious of police storiesof the past fifteen years. I had even imagined that the publicwould never know the whole truth of the prodigious case known asthat of The Yellow Room, out of which grew so many mysterious,cruel, and sensational dramas, with which my friend was so closelymixed up, if, propos of a recent nomination of the illustrious...　

The Age of Invention, A Chronicle of Mechanical Conquestby Holland ThompsonPREFATORY NOTEThis volume is not intended to be a complete record of inventive genius and mechanical progress in the United States. A bare catalogue of notable American inventions in the nineteenth century alone could not be compressed into these pages. Nor is it any part of the purpose of this book to trespass on the ground of the many mechanical works and encyclopedias which give technical descriptions and explain in detail the principle of every invention. All this book seeks to do is to outline the personalities of some of the outstanding American inventors and indicate the significance of their achievements....　

THE TRAGEDY OF HAMLET, PRINCE OF DENMARKHAMLET, PRINCE OFDENMARKWilliam Shakespeare16041- Page 2-THE TRAGEDY OF HAMLET, PRINCE OF DENMARKDramatis PersonaeClaudius, King of Denmark. Marcellus, Officer. Hamlet, son to theformer, and nephew to the present king. Polonius, Lord Chamberlain.Horatio, friend to Hamlet. Laertes, son to Polonius. Voltemand, courtier.Cornelius, courtier. Rosencrantz, courtier. Guildenstern, courtier. Osric,...　

FAIRY TALES OF HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSENTHE MONEY-BOXby Hans Christian AndersenIN a nursery where a number of toys lay scattered about, amoney-box stood on the top of a very high wardrobe. It was made ofclay in the shape of a pig, and had been bought of the potter. Inthe back of the pig was a slit, and this slit had been enlarged with aknife, so that dollars, or crown pieces, might slip through; and,indeed there were two in the box, besides a number of pence. Themoney-pig was stuffed so full that it could no longer rattle, which isthe highest state of perfection to which a money-pig can attain. There...　

BY SHORE AND SEDGEBY SHORE ANDSEDGEBRET HARTE1- Page 2-BY SHORE AND SEDGEAN APOSTLE OF THE TULESIOn October 10, 1856, about four hundred people were camped inTasajara Valley, California. It could not have been for the prospect, since amore barren, dreary, monotonous, and uninviting landscape neverstretched before human eye; it could not have been for convenience or...　

390 BCTHE ECCLESIAZUSAEby Aristophanesanonymous translatorCHARACTERS IN THE PLAYPRAXAGORABLEPYRUS, husband of PraxagoraWOMENA MANCHREMESA CITIZENHERALDA GIRLA YOUNG MANTHREE OLD WOMENA SERVANT MAID to PRAXAGORACHORUS OF WOMENECCLESIAZUSAE(SCENE:-The Orchestra represents a public square in Athens; in thebackground are two houses with an alley between them.)PRAXAGORA(swinging the lantern, which is to be a signal for the other...　

THE ADVENTURES OF GERARDTHE ADVENTURES OFGERARDBY A. CONAN DOYLE1- Page 2-THE ADVENTURES OF GERARDPREFACEI hope that some readers may possibly be interested in these little talesof the Napoleonic soldiers to the extent of following them up to thesprings from which they flow. The age was rich in military material,some of it the most human and the most picturesque that I have ever read.Setting aside historical works or the biographies of the leaders there is a...　

Letters to His Son, 1752by The Earl of ChesterfieldLETTERS TO HIS SONBy the EARL OF CHESTERFIELDon the Fine Art of becoming aMAN OF THE WORLDand aGENTLEMANLETTER CLVLONDON, January 2, O. S. 1752.MY DEAR FRIEND: Laziness of mind, or inattention, are as great enemies to knowledge as incapacity; for, in truth, what difference is there between a man who will not, and a man who cannot be informed? This difference only, that the former is justly to be blamed, the latter to be pitied. And yet how many there are, very capable of receiving knowledge, who from laziness, inattention, and incuriousness, will not so much as ask for it, much less take the least pains to acquire it!...　

"In Darkest England and The Way Out"by General William BoothTo the memory of the companion, counsellor, and comrade ofnearly 40 years. The sharer of my every ambition for thewelfare of mankind, my loving, faithful, and devoted wifethis book is dedicated.PREFACEThe progress of The Salvation Army in its work amongst the poor and lost of many lands has compelled me to face the problems which an more or less hopefully considered in the following pages. The grim necessities of a huge Campaign carried on for many years against the evils which lie at the root of all the miseries of modern life, attacked in a thousand and one forms by a thousand and one lieutenants, have led me step by step　

Letters of George Borrow to the British and Foreign Bible SocietyLETTER: February 10th, 1833To the Rev. J. JowettWILLOW LANE, ST. GILES, NORWICH,FEB. 10TH, 1833.REVD. AND DEAR SIR, - I have just received your communication, and notwithstanding it is Sunday morning, and the bells with their loud and clear voices are calling me to church, I have sat down to answer it by return of post. It is scarcely necessary for me to say that I was rejoiced to see the Chrestomathie Mandchou, which will be of no slight assistance in learning the Tartar dialect, on which ever since I left London I have been almost incessantly occupied. It is, then, your opinion, that from the lack of anything in th　

THE MASTER THIEFTHERE was once upon a time a husbandman who had three sons.He had no property to bequeath to them, and no means of puttingthem in the way of getting a living, and did not know what todo, so he said that they had his leave to take to anything they mostfancied, and go to any place they best liked. He would gladlyaccompany them for some part of their way, he said, and that he did.He went with them till they came to a place where three roadsmet, and there each of them took his own way, and the father badethem farewell and returned to his own home again. What becameof the two elder I have never been able to discover, but the youngest...