Life — March 25, 1897 — page 22: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

‘LIFE: ses aSay SY i » & MASTERPIECES x § ee OF ee #2 LITERATURE. 3 Ye Mo SMe Ye. - DINAN ROR OR OR DR OR DR OR DR ROR ROR DR ORIOR = SSeS AS ASAT AS AS AS AS brary of the World's ~ erature repeat the excellence of those gone before. The crowning virtue of the work is that it delivers the master pieces of literature of every age and coun- try into the hands of the people, to whom they properly belong. he two volumes now before us range from Bion, the Greck poet, to James M. Barrie, whom only the other day in New York publishers and editors were jostling each other to banquet and placate, in the hope of securing the right to publish his next novel. Along with a remarkably in- telligentand sympathetic study of Mr. Bar- rie’s genius is given the best of his stori nd evena fine episod ‘Sentimental Tom- my,” which in a work of the magnitude and enduring quality of the Library, is keeping up to date with an em- phasis. One of the most in- teresting sections in this volume is that de- voted to Balzac, who died in 1850, with the world not yet half aware of his wonderful powers. But now the name one hears on very hand, not only in literary, but also in ethical and_ scientific discussion, is Balzac. For a person of gen- eral culture not to n interesting sketch of the latter's life, and a description of his qualities and power as a writer and preacher, While not often named as a man of letters, Mr. Beecher has left no small body of writ- ings, many of which, as revealed in the Library, will be interesting and inspiring to men for many a day to come. ‘* Masterpieces every one,” may truly be said of the varied and interesting contents of the Library, also of the special articles prepared by over three hundred literary celebrities of this country and Europe. In these exhaustive reviews, not only in- dividual authors but entire fields of liter- ature—of Assyria, for instance, Egypt, even South America—are covered, giving the reader a connect- ed, comprehensive and impressive idea of the history of the rise and progress of the litera- tures of the world from the earliest time until to-da With the aid of these thirty volumes one may acquire in a sea- son's easy reading a wider grasp of litera ture than could other- wise be obtained by the industrious study cf alifetime. The Li- brary really contains a well rounded literary education, The first edition is, of course, the most desirable, because printed from the fresh, <now somethi of his life and wri i what it would be for English readers not to know something of Shakespeare. Mr. Warner's Library makes it possible to get out of the great bulk of Balzac literature just what the general reader ought to have and to get it in an extremely pleasant way. Professor W. P. Trent, one of the few men who have read for themselves every line Balzac published, gives within a space of twenty pages an account of Balzac’s life, the scope and character of his work, and his place in literature, that contain the essen- parts of the hundreds of essays that have been written about him. Then fol- lows such a presentation of his writings that one can approach them, not as a task, butasa pastime—like going toa play. In the Beecher Section, which follows, Dr. Lyman Abbott. Mr. Beecher’s suc- cessor as pastor of Plymouth Church, fur- HAMILTON W. MABIE,” ASSOCIATE EDITOR OF THE LIBRARY. new plates. Usually a higher price is charged for this edition, but the publishers of the Library have actually reduced the price, and are making a special offer, so as to place a few sets in cach community for inspection. The buyer who acts promptly saves nearly half the list price, besides having the privilege of easy monthly payments. But it is possible to take advantage of this price through Har- ‘kly Club only, which offers a imited number of sets, to introduce and advertise the work. The demand for this most desirable first edition is so active and the number of sets allotted to be distributed so limited, it is safest for those who really covet this in- valuable Library of Mr. Warner's to write at once to Harper's Weekly Club, 9t Fifth Avenue, New York, for sample pages and cial prices offered to members of the lub now forming, and which closes the last day of the present month. HER OASIS. As round her graceful girdle he One arm with pressure placed, She, sighing, said: ‘* Life, after all, Is not a desert waist.” — Richmond Dispatch. “ANp how did he die?" asked the lady who had come West to inquire after the husband she had lost. “ Er—by request, ma’am," said the gentle cowboy, as mildly and regretfully as possible. — Indianapolis Journe! SEVERAL Ohio lawyers once gathered in Judge Wil- son's room after adjournment of court, and were discuss. ing the retirement of a member of the bar. Among them was one whose practice was worth twenty - five thou. sand dollars a year. He said: ‘I have been practicing several years, and am well fixed. I have thought I would like to retire and devote my remaining years to stud Thave neglected.” dy law,” put in Judge W Argonaut Os the suburban trains running out of Chicaxo, card playing is an acknowledged feature of transitory life. Some of the coaches are equipped with tables for devotees of the game. Coming in recently a suburbanite named George Affolter was called from his newspaper to make the fourth in a game of whist, which had been interrupted by the departure of one of the players. The hands had been dealt around, and Affolter noting there were Uhir- teen cards, said: ‘* What is it?) Hearts? It happened that hearts were trumps, and an afi tive answer was given, On the first play, Affolter fully threw away a king, followed it next with anot! high card, and was overjoyed to see that the man at his elbow was obliged to take the third trick, and the fourth and the fifth, and so on indefinitel On the second hand Affolter's partner led a king, and Affolter thought they would have to take it, but to his delight the opposition gathered in the trick, and proceeded to harvest all the other twelve as well Affolter was almost hysterical with joy. His partner looked strange. Things went on in the same way for two more deals, and the Affolter faction, owing to the new man’s headwork, hadn't taken a trick, when at length the suffering partner said: “Say, you'll excuse me, but you play the most idiotic, outrageous, infernal game of whist that ever occurred in my experience.” Affolter was dumfounded. ‘* Whist he cried, blankly. ‘* Why, heavens, man, I've been playing the game of hearts as hard as I knew how.” And nobody dared speak until the depot was reached.—Chicago Record. Iv County Sligo, among the hills, there is a small lake renowned in that region for its fabulous d The professor happened to be in that part of Irel last summer, and started out one day for a ramble among the mountains, accompanied by a native guile. As they climbed, Pat asked him if he would like to see this lake, “for it’s no bottom at all, sorr.”” “But how do you know that, Pat?" asked the professor. “Well, sorr, I'll tell ye; me own cousin was show in" the pond to a gentleman one day, sorr, and he looked incredulous like, just as you do, and me cousin couldn't stand it for him to doubt his worrd, sorr, and so he said, “*Begorra, I'll prove the truth of me words,’ and off with his clothes and in he jumped.” Phe professor’s face wore an amused and quizzival expression. “Yes, sorr, in he jumped, and didn't come up agai, at all, at all.” “But,” said the professor, “1 don't see that your cousin proved his point by recklessly drowning him- self.” “Sure, sorr, it wasn’t drowned at all he was; the next day comes a cable from him in Australia, ashia’ to send on his clothes." Harper's Bazar, “We drifted apart.” Did Miss Heavyweight come between you ?” “What! that great, fat thing? Oh, no; we dida’t drif: so far apart as that."—Detrott Journal.