The second day of July, 1776, will be the most memorable epocha in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to G.o.d Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward for evermore.
"Letter to Mrs. Adams," July 3, 1776.--_John Adams_.
JOHN ADAMS, an ill.u.s.trious American statesman and publicist, and second President of the United States, was born at Braintree (now Quincy), Ma.s.sachusetts, October 19, 1735, and died there, July 4, 1826. His most celebrated work was: "Defence of the Const.i.tution and Government of the United States."
With spots of sunny openings, and with nooks To lie and read in, sloping into brooks.
"The Story of Rimini,"--_Leigh Hunt_.
LEIGH HUNT, a famous English poet, critic, and essayist, was born in Southgate, October 19, 1784; and died at Putney, August 28, 1859. The most important of his works are: "The Story of Rimini," "Recollections of Byron," "A Legend of Florence," and "Sir Ralph Esher."
Most wondrous book! bright candle of the Lord!
Star of Eternity! The only star By which the bark of man could navigate The sea of life and gain the coast of bliss Securely.
"The Course of Time," Book ii, Line 270,--_Robert Pollok_.
ROBERT POLLOK, a noted Scottish poet, was born at North Moorhouse, Renfrewshire, October 19, 1798, and died September 17, 1827. He published "Tales of the Covenanters," and his famous poem, "The Course of Time."
It is no easy task for anyone who has been studying his life and works to set reasonable bounds to their reverence and enthusiasm, for the man.
"Alfred the Great,"--Ch. 24,--_Thomas Hughes_.
THOMAS HUGHES, a celebrated English essayist and story-writer, was born at Donnington Priory, near Newbury, October 20, 1823, and died in 1896.
He wrote: "Our Old Church: What Shall We Do With It?" "Rugby," "The Manliness of Christ," and his two celebrated works, "Tom Brown"s School Days," and "Tom Brown at Oxford."
On their own merits modest men are dumb.
"Epilogue" to the "Heir at Law,"--_George Colman, the Younger_.
GEORGE COLMAN, THE YOUNGER, a famous English dramatist and humorous poet, was born in London (?), October 21, 1762, and died there October 17, 1836. He wrote: "Broad Grins," "Poetic Vagaries," etc. Among his comedies are: "The Iron Chest," "John Bull," and "The Heir-at-Law."
A noise like of a hidden brook In the leafy month of June, That to the sleeping woods all night Singeth a quiet tune.
"The Ancient Mariner," Part V,--_Samuel Taylor Coleridge_.
SAMUEL TAYLOR COLERIDGE, a renowned English poet and philosopher, was born at Ottery, St. Mary, Devonshire, October 21, 1772, and died July 25, 1834. Among his famous works are: "Fall of Robespierre" (a play), "Moral and Political Lecture Delivered at Bristol," "Conciones ad Populum," "The Plot Discovered," "Poems on Various Subjects," "The Destiny of Nations," "Ode to the Departing Year," "Pears in Solitude,"
"Wallenstein," "Remorse, a Tragedy," "Biographia Literaria," "Aids to Reflection," etc. "The Ancient Mariner," was published in 1798, in a volume of "Lyrical Ballads," with Wordsworth.
If cruelty has its expiations and its remorses, generosity has its chances and its turns of good fortune; as if Providence reserved them for fitting occasions, that n.o.ble hearts may not be discouraged.
--_Lamartine_.
ALPHONSE MARIE LOUIS DE LAMARTINE, an eminent French poet, was born at Milly, near Macon, October 21, 1790, and died at Pa.s.sy, March 1, 1869.
His greatest works were: "Poetic and Religious Harmonies," "Jocelyn,"
"Poetical Meditations," "New Poetical Meditations," "History of the Girondins," "The Fall of an Angel," "Confidences," "New Confidences,"
and the "History of the Restoration."
My country, "tis of thee, Sweet land of liberty, Of thee I sing: Land where my fathers died, Land of the pilgrims" pride, From every mountain-side Let freedom ring.
--"America"--_Samuel Francis Smith_.
SAMUEL FRANCIS SMITH, a noted American clergyman and hymn-writer, was born in Boston, October 21, 1808, and died in 1895. He wrote: "Mythology and Early Greek History," "Knights and Sea Kings," "Poor Boys Who Became Great," and his famous hymn, "America."
Heart to conceive, the understanding to direct, or the hand to execute.
"Junius" Letter x.x.xVII.
SIR PHILIP FRANCIS, a celebrated Irish-English public man and writer, was born in Dublin, October 22, 1740, and died in London, December 23, 1818. He won celebrity by the "Letters" signed "Junius," which appeared in the Public Advertiser of London, from 1768 to 1772.
Scatter the clouds that hide The face of heaven, and show Where sweet peace doth abide.
Where Truth and Beauty grow.
"Morning Hymn,"--_Robert Bridges_.
ROBERT BRIDGES, a renowned English author and poet, was born October 23, 1844. He has been poet-laureate of England since 1913. He has written: "Essay on Milton"s Prosody," "Critical Essay on Keats," "The Growth of Love," "Eros and Psyche," "Prometheus the Firegiver," "Demeter, a Masque," "The Spirit of Man: An Anthology in English and French," "Ibant Obscuri," and some notable plays, among them: "Nero" (Parts I and II), "Palicio," "Ulysses," "Christian Captives," "Achilles in Scyros,"
"Humours of the Court," "Feast of Bacchus," etc.
... A Boswell and is not allowed to be, who has wild notions that he is really a greater man than Johnson and occasionally blasphemes against his idol, but who in the intervals is truly Boswellian.
"Essays in English Literature,"--_Saintsbury_.
GEORGE EDWARD BATEMAN SAINTSBURY, an eminent English critic and literary historian, was born at Southampton, October 23, 1845. Among his numerous works are: "Primer of French Literature," "Short History of French Literature," "Marlborough," "Elizabethan Literature," "Essays in English Literature," "Essays on French Novelists," "Nineteenth Century Literature," "Sir Walter Scott," "A Short History of English Literature," "Matthew Arnold," "History of Criticism and Literary Taste in Europe," "History of English Prosody," "History of English Criticism," "The English Novel," "First Book of English Literature," "A History of the French Novel," Vol. 1 (1917) and Vol. 2 (1919).
The frivolous work of polished idleness.
"Dissertation on Ethical Philosophy, Remarks on Thomas Brown,"--_Sir James Mackintosh_.
SIR JAMES MACKINTOSH, a distinguished Scottish lawyer, philosopher, and politician, was born at Aldourie, Inverness-shire, October 24, 1765, and died in London, May 30, 1832. Among his writings are: "History of England," "Life of Sir Thomas More," "Modern British Essayists," and "Dissertation on the Progress of Ethical Philosophy."
At the close of the day when the hamlet is still And mortals the sweets of forgetfulness prove, When naught but the torrent is heard on the hill, And naught but the nightingale"s song in the grove.
"The Hermit,"--_James Beattie_.
JAMES BEATTIE, a noted Scottish poet, was born in Laurencekirk, Kincardineshire, October 25, 1735, and died in Aberdeen, August 18, 1803. His writings include: "The Minstrel," "Dissertations Moral and Critical," "The Evidences of the Christian Religion Briefly and Plainly Stated," "The Elements of Moral Science," and his famous "Essay on Truth."
Wherever literature consoles sorrow or a.s.suages pain; wherever it brings gladness to eyes which fail with wakefulness and tears, and ache for the dark house and the long sleep, there is exhibited in its n.o.blest form the immortal influence of Athens.