The Motor Boys, by Clarence Young. George Chaworth Musters. (Author) B00C6NHMMI File Size: 521 KB     BUY NOW Book Description :- The Motor Boys, by Clarence Young : (full image Illustrated) CONTENTS. An Encounter on Bicycles A Mean Plot The Day of the Races The Three Mile Race A Demand for Money At the Club House Noddy and the Square Box The Mill Mystery The Queer Bank Bill The Motor-Cycle Machines for Bob and Ned A Wild Night Ride Adventures on the Road A Fire and a Discovery Ned Under Suspicion Plans for a Motor-Cycle Race Caught in the Storm A Leap for Life Jerry and the Doctor Closing the Net Practice for the Race Jack Pender?s Trick The Ride to Boston Getting Back Home Noddy?s Queer Actions Noddy Nixon Cornered Noddy Nixon?s Move The Great Race A Trip Overland Proposed An Important Letter?Conclusion LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. ?HE?S KILLED. THEY?RE KILLED!? CRIED SCORES. IT WAS A JOLLY LITTLE PARTY THAT GATHERED ABOUT THE ICE-CREAM TABLES. HE FELT HIS MACHINE RISE UNDER HIM. ?HE?S RUNNING AWAY IN HIS FATHER?S AUTOMOBILE!? JERRY EXCLAIMED, SOFTLY. PREFACE. Dear Boys: Here is a brand-new line of stories for you, to be issued under the general title of ?The Motor Boys Series.? The motor-cycle of to-day is fast taking the place of the ordinary bicycle, and the automobile, or auto, as it is commonly called, is taking the place of our horses. This being so, it has occurred to the writer to prepare a line of stories, telling of the doings of a number of lively, up-to-date lads who at first own motor-cycles and later on become the proud possessors of a touring car. This tale before you, ?The Motor Boys,? is the first volume of the series, telling of the doings of Ned, Bob, Jerry and their chums in and around their home town. Some stirring races are mentioned, and also the wicked plots of some enemies to bring our heroes to grief. At the races some fine prizes were put up, and Ned, Bob and Jerry did their best to carry off the honors. In the meantime there was a mysterious robbery of a mill, and what the lads did to solve this riddle I leave to the chapters, which follow, to relate. This story of ?The Motor Boys? will be followed by a second volume, to be called ?The Motor Boys Overland,? and then by a third, ?The Motor Boys in Mexico.? I hope these volumes will please my boy readers. Clarence Young. January 9, 1906.   At Home with the Patagonians / A Year's Wanderings over Untrodden Ground from the Straits of Magellan to the Rio Negro by George Chaworth Musters. George Chaworth Musters. (Author) B00CAZFIEQ File Size: 1148 KB     BUY NOW Book Description :- INTRODUCTION. Three hundred and fifty years ago the great navigator Magellan anchored in a port on the eastern coast of an unknown shore, part of the seaboard of the vast continent of South America, to which he gave the name of St. Julian. Starting from this point, the pilot Serrano explored the coast to the southward, and discovered a river, which he named Santa Cruz. His ship was wrecked near the mouth, and left her timbers on the rocks, the first of the long list of vessels lost on that ironbound coast which, from the mouth of the Rio Negro to the Straits, offers but one or two safe harbours, while submerged reefs, fierce gales, strong tides, currents, and overfalls combine to render it nearly the most perilous known to navigators. Magellan remained at Port St. Julian and Santa Cruz from April till October of 1520, when he sailed southward, and discovered the Straits which bear his name. Two months after his arrival at Port St. Julian a man of gigantic stature appeared on the beach, ?larger and taller than the stoutest man of Castile.? Eighteen natives afterwards arrived, dressed in cloaks of skins and shoes of guanaco hide, which made huge footmarks, whence they were called Patagonés, or ?large feet,? by the Spaniards; and thus originated in a nickname the name of the country, Patagonia. These men used bows and arrows, and had with them four young guanacos, with which they decoyed the wild ones within shot. Two young men were treacherously seized and carried off, howling and calling on their god Setebos. The natives naturally resented this return for their ready friendliness, and, attacking a party sent after them, killed one Spaniard with their arrows. Enough, however, was seen of them to furnish Pigafetta with some details. ?Their tents were light movable frames, covered with skins; their faces were painted; they were very swift of foot, had tools of sharp-edged flints, and ate their meat nearly raw.? That the first knowledge of Patagonia was diffused in England by Pigafetta?s narrative is suggested by Caliban?s lines in the ?Tempest:? ?he could command my dam?s god Setebos;? but it was not till 1578 that the newly-discovered country was visited by Englishmen. CONTENTS CHAPTER I. FROM THE STRAITS TO SANTA CRUZ. CHAPTER II. SANTA CRUZ. CHAPTER III. THE RIO CHICO. CHAPTER IV. HENNOKAIK TO TECKEL. CHAPTER V. MANNERS AND CUSTOMS OF THE TEHUELCHES. CHAPTER VI. TECKEL TO GEYLUM. CHAPTER VII. LAS MANZANAS. CHAPTER VIII. GEYLUM TO PATAGONES. CHAPTER IX. THE RIO NEGRO SETTLEMENTS. LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. WÁKI KILLING A PUMA MAP OF PATAGONIA STATION ON PABON ISLAND, RIO SANTA CRUZ HUNTING GUANACO AND OSTRICH, VALLEY OF RIO CHICO START FROM THE CAMP AT MÔWAISH, OR WINDOW HILL CEREMONY OF WELCOME (TEHUELCHES AND ARAUCANIANS) A WILD BULL IN THE CORDILLERA SKETCH MAP FROM RIO SENGEL TO TECKEL TEHUELCHE ARMS AND IMPLEMENTS THE PRETTY HOUSE AND DANCE CROSSING THE RIO LIMAY   Tales Of Humour, Gallantry and Romance / Selected and Translated from the Italian by Anonymous : (full image Illustrated) Author: Anonymous, Illustrator: George Cruikshank B00HOFI5AQ File Size: 1170 KB.     BUY NOW Book Description :- tales, Humour, Gallantry, Romance, ITALIAN, children, TEACHER These tales are translated from a variety of authors. The translator has been chiefly led to the task by the hope of composing an entertaining volume out of materials not generally accessible. The works in which many of them are found, are by no means common, and the indelicacy with which almost all collections of Italian tales are polluted, deservedly excludes them from general perusal. Such care has, however, been employed in the following selection, and such liberties taken with the originals, when they appeared objectionable on this account, that it is hoped this little book will escape the censure too justly cast upon Italian works of humour, in general?a censure which falls heavily upon many of the otherwise admirable tales of Boccaccio. While, however, such trifling alterations have been made as appeared necessary, these tales may still justly be considered as fair specimens of the Italian Novella, and like the celebrated collection already alluded to, furnish us with a very lively idea of the early manners of the Italians. Those tales, from which our great dramatist borrowed parts of his plots, and some of his incidents, have a double interest, both from their own nature, and as they illustrate the process by which his genius, "by happy alchemy of mind," turned all the materials which fell in his way to gold. Two or three of this kind have been purposely selected. ITALIAN TALES. THE TEACHER TAUGHT. There dwelt in Rome two very intimate friends and relations of the family of Savelli, the one named Bacciuolo, and the other Pietro Paolo, both nobly bom and possessed of sufficient wealth. These young men determined to go and complete their studies at Bologna; one wished to study the common law, and the other the canon law. They accordingly took leave of their friends, and came to Bologna, and assiduously applied themselves to their respective pursuits, which they continued for some time. Now, as you no doubt know, the former improved himself much sooner than Pietro Paolo, for which reason, being now a licentiate, he determined to return to Rome, and said to Pietro Paolo?"Brother, since I am now a licentiate, I have resolved to return home." Peter Paul answered, "I prithee do not leave me here?oblige me by remaining the winter?then in the spring we will go together?thou in the mean time mayest learn some other science, by which means thou wilt not waste thy time." Bacciuolo willingly agreed to the proposal, promised to wait for him, and in order not to lose his time, went to the professor, and said, "Sir, having made up my mind to remain with my friend and relation, I would be glad if it pleased you to teach me some noble science during my stay." The professor answered, that he would most willingly do it. "Chuse which science you prefer, and I will teach it you with pleasure." Bacciuolo then replied, "Worthy Sir, I would learn how to make love, and to set about it." The professor, smiling, answered, "this is a good joke, thou couldst not have hit on a science in which I am a greater adept. Now then go thy ways on Sunday morning to the church of the minor friars?there thou wilt see numbers of fine women assembled, and wilt be able to pitch upon some one that may take thy fancy. When thou hast selected the one, follow her until you find out where she lives?then return to me. This is the first part of my instructions." Bacciuolo departed, and on the following Sunday, going to the church as he had been desired, and eyeing all the pretty women, for there were many, he saw one among them that pleased him much?she being very handsome and graceful. When she left the church, ... CONTENTS ITALIAN TALES. THE TEACHER TAUGHT. THE UNEXPECTED REPLY. WHO AM I? THE DEAD RIDER. THE SKILFUL PHYSICIAN THE POMEGRANATE SEED THE FATAL MISTAKE THE DEAD ALIVE THE FALSE CHAMPION THE MERCHANT OF VENICE THERE IS A SKELETON IN EVERY HOUSE. THE ELOPEMENT. THE FRIAR ENTRAPPED ANTONIO AND VERONICA. BELPHAGOR. THE SLEEPING DRAUGHT THE COUNTERPARTS   Three Courses and a Dessert Comprising Three Sets of Tales, West Country, Irish, and Legal, and a Melange : (full image Illustrated) Author: Anonymous, Illustrator: George Cruikshank B00HOLVCFK File Size: 3021 KB.     BUY NOW Book Description :- Tales, Dessert, Legal, Irish, FICTION, FIGHT, Country INDUCTION. The purveyor of the ensuing apology for a "feast of reason," takes leave to greet his guests with a hearty, but respectful, welcome. It would be in bad taste for him to dilate at his threshold upon what he has provided for their entertainment: his brief bill of fare will presently be laid before them. He ventures to indulge a hope, that his repast will prove obnoxious to none, and, in some degree, gratifying to many; that those who may discover nothing to their taste in one course, will meet with something piquant in another; that no one "Will drag, at each remove, a lengthening chain;" and, that even if the dishes be disliked, the plates, at least, will please: but he feels bound to state, that whatever faults the decorations may be chargeable with, on the score of invention, he, alone, is to blame, and not Mr. George Cruikshank; to whom he is deeply indebted for having embellished his rude sketches in their transfer to wood, and translated them into a proper pictorial state, to make their appearance in public. They have necessarily acquired a value, which they did not intrinsically possess, in passing through the hands of that distinguished artist; of whom it may truly, and on this occasion especially, be said, Quod tetigit, ornavit. Having thus, perhaps rashly, presented himself at the bar of public opinion, conscious as he feels of his own demerits, he can only throw himself on the liberality of his judges, and plead for a lenient sentence. INTRODUCTION. The true old English squire is now nearly extinct: a few admirable specimens of the class flourished a few years ago in the western counties; from the discourse and memoranda of one of the most excellent of these, the substance of the following narratives was gleaned. For my introduction to, and subsequent acquaintance with, the worthy old gentleman. I was indebted to the delinquency of a dog. Carlo was most exemplary in his punctuation; he would quarter and back in the finest style imaginable; no dog could be more staunch, steady, and obedient to hand and voice, while there was no living mutton at hand: but no sooner did he cross a sheep-track, break into view of a fleece, or even hear the tinkling bell (a dinner bell to him) of a distant flock, than he would bolt away, as rectilinearly as the crow flies, towards his favourite prey, in spite of the most peremptory commands, or the smack of a whip, with the flavour of which his back was intimately acquainted. I had been allowed a very fair trial of the dog; but, unfortunately, no opportunity occurred, previously to his becoming my property, of shooting over him near a sheep-walk. His behaviour was so excellent in Kent, that I never was more astonished in my life, than when I beheld him severely shaking a sheep by the haunch, the first time we went out together in Somerset. Unable to obtain a substitute, and hoping that his vice would not prove incurable, I was compelled, most indignantly and unwillingly, to put up with his offences for three days. On the morning of the fourth, he suddenly broke forward from heel, and went off at full speed before me: aware, by experience, CONTENTS INDUCTION. FIRST COURSE: WEST COUNTRY CHRONICLES. INTRODUCTION. SIR MATHEW ALE. THE COUNTERPART COUSINS. CADDY CUDDLE. THE BRAINTREES. THE SHAM FIGHT. THE BACHELOR'S DARLING. THE LOVES OF HABAKKUK BULLWRINKLE, GENTLEMAN. SECOND COURSE: THE NEIGHBOURS OF AN OLD IRISH BOY. INTRODUCTION. JIMMY FITZGERALD. THE NATIVE AND THE ODD FISH. TIMBERLEG TOE-TRAP. BAT BOROO. THE WITCH'S SWITCH. THE WEED WITNESS. ME AND MY GHOST-SHIP. THE NEST EGG. UNDER THE THUMB. OUR TOMMY. THE DENTIST. THE MUSHROOM. THE DILLOSK GIRL. THIRD COURSE: MY COUSIN'S CLIENTS. INTRODUCTION. ADAM BURDOCK. THE MATHEMATICIAN. THE LITTLE BLACK PORTER. THE DESSERT. INTRODUCTION. THE DEAF POSTILION. CONJUGATING A VERB. POSTHUMOUS PRAISE. THE DOS-A-DOS TETE-A-TETE. A TOAD IN A HOLE. THE PAIR OF PUMPS. WANTED A PARTNER. HANDSOME HANDS. MISLED BY A NAME.   Redskin and Cow-Boy / A Tale of the Western Plains by G. A. HENTY : (full image Illustrated) G. A. (George Alfred) Henty B00KB2J878 File Size: 1692 KB.     BUY NOW Book Description :- Tale, action, adventure, cow-boys, America, fiction, Indian My dear Lads, There are but few words of preface needed to a story that is not historical. The principal part of the tale is laid among the cow-boys of the Western States of America, a body of men unrivalled in point of hardihood and devotion to work, as well as in reckless courage and wild daring. Texas, which twenty-five years ago was the great ranching state, is no longer the home of the typical cow-boy, but he still exists and flourishes in New Mexico and the northern States and Territories. The picture I have given of their life can be relied upon, and its adventures and dangers are in no degree coloured, as I have taken them from the lips of a near relative of my own who was for some years working as a cow-boy in New Mexico. He was an actor in many of the scenes described, and so far from my having heightened or embellished them, I may say that I have given but a small proportion of the perilous adventures through which he went, for had I given them in full it would, I am sure, have seemed to you that the story was too improbable to be true. In treating of cow-boy life, indeed, it may well be said that truth is stranger than fiction. Yours sincerely, G. A. HENTY. CHAPTER I. AN ADVERTISEMENT. Cedar Gulch was, in 1851, a flourishing camp. There had been some good finds by the first prospectors, and a rush had of course followed. In many cases first discoveries proved illusive, but it was not so at Cedar Gulch. The ground turned out well, and although no extraordinary finds were made, the average was good all over the bottom, and there were few who were not doing fairly well. The scene was a busy one. Several hundreds of men were hard at work on the flat, which in winter was the bed of a wide stream, but which in summer was a mere thread of water among the rocks, scarce enough for washing purposes. Everywhere were piles of stones and rubbish that had been brought up from the shafts; men toiled at windlasses; others emptied the buckets as they came up into swinging troughs or cradles; others again kept these supplied with water, and swung or rocked them, taking off the large stones that the motion brought to the surface, while the slush and mud ran out at the lower end. New-comers moved about watching the work with eager eyes, wishing that they had had the luck to get there among the early arrivals, and to take up a claim, for every foot of ground far down the valley had already been occupied, and there was now no getting into a claim except by purchasing a share or altogether buying out the present holders. One of the claims that was doing best was held by three men who had worked in partnership for the last two years, and who had been among the first to arrive at Cedar Gulch. They were known among the others as English Bill, Sim Howlett, and Limping Frank. Sim Howlett was perhaps the leader of the party. He had been one of the earliest gold-diggers, and was a square, powerfully built man. He was a man of few words, but the words when spoken were forcible. He was by no means quarrelsome, but was one whom few cared to quarrel with, even in a place where serious quarrels were of constant occurrence, and where revolvers cracked so often that the sound of a fray excited but little attention. CONTENTS An Advertisement. Terrible News. The Wanderer's Return. An Explosion. Across the Sea. A Horse Deal. Among the Cow-boys. A Rattlesnake Diet. A Round-up. A Race. A Fire on the Plains. An Indian Raid. Rescued. Surrounded by Redskins. With the Waggon Teams. A Mining Expedition. Carried off. The Brigands' Haunt. A Fight and a Rescue. The Avenger. ILLUSTRATIONS The Meeting in the Inn Garden at El Paso Symonds and Bill Tunstall have a Talk Hugh practises shooting with his Revolver Hugh, seizing a poker, sprang at his Uncle When the Cow-boy fired, Hugh dropped on one knee The next jump threw him fairly over the horse's head Branding the Calves at the "Round-up" A couple of kicks sent out the planks, and then we bolted All safe, Father," cried Rosie The Cow-boys charged down upon the Indians Discovering the Body of the Bloodhound Besieged by Brigands   History of the Fan by George Woolliscroft Rhead : (full image Illustrated) George Woolliscroft Rhead B00LHH71PC File Size: 4940 KB.     BUY NOW Book Description :- FANS, ANCIENTS, History, CHINESE, Peacock-feather, ENGRAVED, PAINTED PREFACE IT is, perhaps, a little singular that up to the present no work making any pretension to completeness has appeared in English dealing with that little instrument so intimately associated with both civil and religious life of the past, the Fan. Even on the Continent the literature of the Fan is exceedingly scanty. M. Blondel?s work, Histoire des Éventails, published in 1875, is but sparsely illustrated, and is mainly based upon the researches of M. Natalis Rondot, whose Rapport sur les objets de Parure was undertaken at the instance of the French Government in 1854. An English translation of M. Octave Uzanne?s brilliant sketch appeared in 1884, and is unillustrated except by fanciful border designs; while Lady Charlotte Schreiber?s stately tomes and Mrs. Salwey?s Fans of Japan deal only with more or less isolated portions of the subject. These, together with Der Fächer, by Georg Buss, appearing in 1904, one or two illustrated catalogues and a few desultory magazine articles, form the sum-total of the Fan?s literature. This paucity of book material, and the general absence of information amongst individuals, is at once an advantage and a disadvantage. I have in dealing with this subject such benefits as the breaking of new ground gives; I have at the same time to contend with the difficulty of collecting information from sources so scattered, and in many instances so obscure. To the works above mentioned, which indeed have been most helpful, it is only justice to add the admirable article on ?Les Disques crucifères, le Flabellum, et l?Umbella,? in La Revue de l?Art Chrétien, by M. Charles de Linas; the sparkling and entertaining ?History on Fans? by Henri Bouchot in Art and Letters for 1883; an excellent article on Chinese Fans by H. A. Giles in Fraser?s Magazine for May 1879; articles in various publications by MM. Paul Mantz and Charles Blanc; all these I have freely used, and gladly acknowledge my indebtedness. But, since it is scarcely possible, in a subject covering such an extended area, to avoid inaccuracies of some sort, I must endeavour to forestall any possible criticism by saying that no pains have been spared to render the book as free from errors as may be. As to the line illustrations, they must be considered merely diagrammatic, and not in any sense realistic representations of the various objects. I welcome this opportunity of making what is an unusually long list of acknowledgments of help received. Firstly, to my Publishers for their enterprise, the admirable manner in which the book is produced, and for their uniform courtesy. Secondly, to the many owners of fans, these including the most exalted personages, who have so generously responded to my invitation to lend their fragile treasures. ... London, 1909. G. Woolliscroft Rhead. CONTENTS THE ORIGIN AND USES OF THE FAN FANS OF THE ANCIENTS FANS OF THE FAR EAST FANS OF PRIMITIVE PEOPLES THE FLABELLUM AND EARLY FEATHER-FAN PAINTED FANS OF THE SEVENTEENTH AND EIGHTEENTH CENTURIES (ITALIAN AND SPANISH) PAINTED FANS OF THE SEVENTEENTH AND EIGHTEENTH CENTURIES (FRENCH) PAINTED FANS OF THE SEVENTEENTH AND EIGHTEENTH CENTURIES (ENGLISH, DUTCH, FLEMISH, AND GERMAN) ENGRAVED FANS OF THE SEVENTEENTH AND EIGHTEENTH CENTURIES. PART I. ENGRAVED FANS OF THE SEVENTEENTH AND EIGHTEENTH CENTURIES. PART II. MODERN AND PRESENT-DAY FANS   English Coast Defences From Roman Times to the Early Years of the Nineteenth Century by George Clinch : (full image Illustrated) George Clinch B00KUGY1KE File Size: 2462 KB.     BUY NOW Book Description :- English, military, Europe, History, forces, Invasion, Roman The intricate coast-line of England, so difficult for an enemy to blockade, so difficult at every point for combined naval and military forces to defend against raiders, presents to the student of history an extremely interesting subject. It is to its insularity that England owes something of its greatness, and to the great length of its coast-line that its vulnerability is due. The present book represents the results of a study of the methods and means by which England, from Roman times down to the early years of the nineteenth century, has defended her shores against various over-sea enemies, who have attempted, sometimes successfully, to invade and conquer. The author wishes to return thanks for the loan of blocks used in illustration of this volume, particularly to the Society of Antiquaries for Figs. 3, 10, 11, 29, 31, 32; the Royal Archaeological Institute for Figs. 1, 4, 7, 13, 18; the Kent Archaeological Society for Figs. 37, 38, 39, 40, 42, 43; the proprietors of the ?Victoria History? and Professor Haverfield for Fig. 15; and the Technical Journals, Limited, and Mr. A. W. Clapham, F.S.A., for Fig. 24. The corrected proof-sheets of the book have been submitted to the proper authorities at the War Office, and that Department has sanctioned the publication of the volume. PREHISTORIC CAMPS Round the coast of England there are many prehistoric earthworks of great extent and strength. These fall generally under the heads of hill-top fortresses and promontory camps. The works comprised under the former head are so arranged as to take the greatest possible advantage of natural hill-tops, often of large size. On the line where the comparatively level top developed into a more or less precipitous slope a deep ditch was dug, and the earth so removed was in most cases thrown outwards so as to form a rampart which increased the original difficulties of the sloping hill-side. The latter type of earthwork, called promontory camps from their natural conformation, were strengthened by the digging of a deep ditch, so as to cut off the promontory from the main table-land from which it projected, and in some cases the sides of the camp were made more precipitous by artificial scarping.   George Eliot's Life, Vol. I (of 3) as related in her Letters and Journals by George Eliot Author: George Eliot, Editor: J. W. Cross B00DSA9AA0 File Size: 818 KB.     BUY NOW Book Description :- autobiography, correspondence, art critic, intellectual, Griff, letters, journals With the materials in my hands I have endeavored to form an autobiography (if the term may be permitted) of George Eliot. The life has been allowed to write itself in extracts from her letters and journals. Free from the obtrusion of any mind but her own, this method serves, I think, better than any other open to me, to show the development of her intellect and character. In dealing with the correspondence I have been influenced by the desire to make known the woman, as well as the author, through the presentation of her daily life. On the intellectual side there remains little to be learned by those who already know George Eliot's books. In the twenty volumes which she wrote and published in her lifetime will be found her best and ripest thoughts. The letters now published throw light on another side of her nature--not less important, but hitherto unknown to the public--the side of the affections. The intimate life was the core of the root from which sprung the fairest flowers of her inspiration. Fame came to her late in life, and, when it presented itself, was so weighted with the sense of responsibility that it was in truth a rose with many thorns, for George Eliot had the temperament that shrinks from the position of a public character. The belief in the wide, and I may add in the beneficent, effect of her writing was no doubt the highest happiness, the reward of the artist which she greatly cherished: but the joys of the hearthside, the delight in the love of her friends, were the supreme pleasures in her life. By arranging all the letters and journals so as to form one connected whole, keeping the order of their dates, and with the least possible interruption of comment, I have endeavored to combine a narrative of day-to-day life, with the play of light and shade which only letters, written in various moods, can give, and without which no portrait can be a good likeness. I do not know that the particular method in which I have treated the letters has ever been adopted before. Each letter has been pruned of everything that seemed to me irrelevant to my purpose--of everything that I thought my wife would have wished to be omitted. Every sentence that remains adds, in my judgment, something (however small it may be) to the means of forming a conclusion about her character. I ought perhaps to say a word of apology for what may appear to be undue detail of travelling experiences; but I hope that to many readers these will be interesting, as reflected through George Eliot's mind. The remarks on works of art are only meant to be records of impressions. She would have deprecated for herself the attitude of an art critic. Excepting a slight introductory sketch of the girlhood, up to the time when letters became available, and a few words here and there to elucidate the correspondence, I have confined myself to the work of selection and arrangement.   George Eliot's Life, Vol. II (of 3) as related in her Letters and Journals by George Eliot Author: George Eliot, Editor: J. W. Cross B00DSCZFU2 File Size: 633 KB.     BUY NOW Book Description :- autobiography, MISS EVANS, art critic, intellectual, writing, letters, journals Jan. 2.--George has returned this evening from a week's visit to Vernon Hill. On coming up-stairs he said, "I have some very pretty news for you--something in my pocket." I was at a loss to conjecture, and thought confusedly of possible opinions from admiring readers, when he drew the Times from his pocket--to-day's number, containing a review of the "Scenes of Clerical Life." He had happened to ask a gentleman in the railway carriage, coming up to London, to allow him to look at the Times, and felt quite agitated and tremulous when his eyes alighted on the review. Finding he had time to go into town before the train started, he bought a copy there. It is a highly favorable notice, and, as far as it goes, appreciatory. When G. went into town he called at Nutt's, and Mrs. Nutt said to him, "I think you don't know our curate. He says the author of 'Clerical Scenes' is a High Churchman; for though Mr. Tryan is said to be Low Church, his feelings and actions are those of a High Churchman." (The curate himself being of course High Church.) There were some pleasant scraps of admiration also gathered for me at Vernon Hill. Doyle happening to mention the treatment of children in the stories, Helps said, "Oh, he is a great writer!" I wonder how I shall feel about these little details ten years hence, if I am alive. At present I value them as grounds for hoping that my writing may succeed, and so give value to my life; as indications that I can touch the hearts of my fellow-men, and so sprinkle some precious grain as the result of the long years in which I have been inert and suffering. But at present fear and trembling still predominate over hope. Jan. 5.--To-day the "Clerical Scenes" came in their two-volume dress, looking very handsome. Jan. 8.--News of the subscription--580, with a probable addition of 25 for Longmans. Mudie has taken 350. When we used to talk of the probable subscription, G. always said, "I dare say it will be 250!" (The final number subscribed for was 650.) I ordered copies to be sent to the following persons: Froude, Dickens, Thackeray, Tennyson, Ruskin, Faraday, the author of "Companions of my Solitude," Albert Smith, Mrs. Carlyle. On the 20th of January I received the following letter from Dickens: Letter from Charles Dickens to George Eliot, 17th Jan. 1858. Tavistock House, London, Monday, 17th Jan. 1858.   George Eliot's Life, Vol. III (of 3) as related in her Letters and Journals by George Eliot Author: George Eliot, Editor: J. W. Cross B00DSFYBEA File Size: 628 KB.     BUY NOW Book Description :- autobiography, MISS EVANS, art critic, intellectual, writing, letters, journals The new year of 1867 opens with the description of the journey to Spain. Letter to Madame Bodichon, Jan. 1867, from Bordeaux. We prolonged our stay in Paris in order to see Madame Mohl, who was very good to us; invited the Scherers and other interesting people to meet us at dinner on the 29th, and tempted us to stay and breakfast with her on the 31st, by promising to invite Renan, which she did successfully, and so procured us a bit of experience that we were glad to have, over and above the pleasure of seeing a little more of herself and M. Mohl. I like them both, and wish there were a chance of knowing them better. We paid for our pleasure by being obliged to walk in the rain (from the impossibility of getting a carriage) all the way from the Rue de Rivoli--where a charitable German printer, who had taken us up in his fiacre, was obliged to set us down--to the Hôtel du Helder, through streets literally jammed with carriages and omnibuses, carrying people who were doing the severe social duties of the last day in the year. The rain it raineth every day, with the exception of yesterday; we can't travel away from it, apparently. But we start in desperation for Bayonne in half an hour. Letter to Mrs. Congreve, 16th Jan. 1867, from Biarritz. Snow on the ground here, too--more, we are told, than has been seen here for fifteen years before. But it has been obliging enough to fall in the night, and the sky is glorious this morning, as it was yesterday. Sunday was the one exception since the 6th, when we arrived here to a state of weather which has allowed us to be out of doors the greater part of our daylight. We think it curious that, among the many persons who have talked to us about Biarritz, the Brownings alone have ever spoken of its natural beauties; yet these are transcendent. We agree that the sea never seemed so magnificent to us before, though we have seen the Atlantic breaking on the rocks at Ilfracombe and on the great granite walls of the Scilly Isles. In the southern division of the bay we see the sun set over the Pyrenees; and in the northern we have two splendid stretches of sand, one with huge fragments of dark rock scattered about for the waves to leap over, the other an unbroken level, firm to the feet, where the hindmost line of wave sends up its spray on the horizon like a suddenly rising cloud. This part of the bay is worthily called the Chambre de l'Amour; and we have its beauties all to ourselves, which, alas! in this stage of the world, one can't help feeling to be an advantage. The few families and bachelors who are here (chiefly English) scarcely ever come across our path. The days pass so rapidly, we can hardly believe in their number when we come to count them. After breakfast we both read the "Politique"--George one volume and I another--interrupting each other continually with questions and remarks. That morning study keeps me in a state of enthusiasm through the day--a moral glow, which is a sort of milieu subjectif for the sublime sea and sky. Mr. Lewes is converted to the warmest admiration of the chapter on language in the third volume, which about three years ago he thought slightly of. I think the first chapter of the fourth volume is among the finest of all, and the most finely written. My gratitude increases continually for the illumination Comte has contributed to my life. But we both of us study with a sense of having still much to learn and to understand. About ten or half-past ten we go out for our morning walk; and then, while we plunge about in the sand or march along the cliff, George draws out a book and tries my paces in Spanish, demanding a quick-as-light translation of nouns and phrases. Presently I retort upon him, and prove that it is easier to ask than to answer. We find this system of vivâ-voce mutual instruction so successful that we are disgusted with ourselves for not having used it before through all our many years of companionship; and we are making projects for giving new interest to Regent's Park by pursuing all sorts of studies in the same way there. We seldom come indoors till one o'clock, and we turn out again at three, often remaining to see the sunset. One other thing I have been reading here which I must tell you of. It is a series of three papers by Saveney, in the Revue des Deux Mondes of last year, on "La Physique Moderne," an excellent summary, giving a glimpse of the great vista opened in that region. I think you would like to read them when you are strong enough for that sort of exertion.   [Prev] .. 1 ... 1 2 3 ... 3 .. [Next]

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12:48 12/8/2566