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The Gilded Man / A Romance of the Andes by Clifford Smyth CLIFFORD SMYTH (Author), RICHARD LE GALLIENNE (Introduction) B00CSW9DQU File Size: 669 KB     BUY NOW Book Description :- The Gilded Man / A Romance of the Andes by Clifford Smyth THE GILDED MAN A ROMANCE OF THE ANDES BY CLIFFORD SMYTH WITH AN INTRODUCTION BY RICHARD LE GALLIENNE CONTENTS Introduction I. In Which Comet Goes Lame II. In Una?s Garden III. A Chapter on Ghosts IV. The Ghost of the Forgotten V. The Search for El Dorado VI. Emboladores on the March VII. La Reina de Los Indios VIII. A River Interlude IX. On Indian Trails X. An Old Mystery XI. In Which Andrew Is Found XII. A Dead Wall XIII. Mrs. Quayle Takes the Lead XIV. The Black Magnet 189 XV. At the Sign of the Condor 212 XVI. Narva 230 XVII. A Song and Its Sequel 251 XVIII. Subterranean Photography 274 XIX. A Queen?s Conquest 293 XX. Legend and Reality 302 XXI. Dreams 312 XXII. A People?s Destiny 325 XXIII. The Gilded Man 344 THE GILDED MAN FOREWORD Two dreams have persistently haunted the imagination of man since dreams began. You find them in all mythologies, and, perhaps most dramatically, in the Arabian Nights: the dream of the Water of Immortality, and the dream of the Golden City. Within recent times?that is, during the sixteenth century?both were lifted out of the region of fairy lore, and men as far from ?dreamers,? in the ordinary sense, as the ?conquistador? Ponce de Leon and Sir Walter Raleigh raised them into the sphere of something like Elizabethan practical politics. Whether or not Ponce de Leon did actually discover the Fountain of Eternal Youth on the Bimini Islands concerns us but incidentally here. At all events, he seems to have died without drinking of it; as death on the scaffold was the penalty for Raleigh?s failure to discover El Dorado. So practically had the courts of Elizabeth and James regarded the dream of the Golden City, and so firm had been Raleigh?s own belief in it. Though Raleigh?s name is most conspicuously and tragically connected with it, of course it had been Spanish adventurers for several generations before?exploring that ?Spanish Main? which they had already, and in romance forever, made their own?who had given that dream its local habitation and its name. Martinez had been the first to tell how, having drifted on the coast of Guiana, he had been taken inland to a city called Manoa, whose king was in alliance with the Incas. Manoa, said he, to opened mouths and wondering eyes, on his return to Spain, was literally built, walls and roofs, houses big and little, of silver and gold. His tale, garnished with many other mysterious matters, soon speeded expedition after expedition, dreaming across those ?perilous seas In fairyland forlorn.? All came back with marvels on their tongues. All had caught glimpses of the gilded domes of the city, but that was all. Gonzales Ximinez de Quesada from Santa Fé de Bogotá was ?warmest,? perhaps; but he too failed. Many a daring sailor since has vainly gone on a like quest. Even in our prosaic times?in the true Elizabethan spirit, that, for all their romance, actually animated those enterprises of old time?when men sought real gold as now, not ?faery-gold??an enterprise, with a prospectus, shareholders, and those dreams now known as promised dividends, has made it its serious ?incorporated? business to go in quest of El Dorado. But, elaborate as all previous expeditions and enterprises have been, and dauntless as the courage of the individual explorer, one and all have failed?till now. Till now, I say?for at last El Dorado has been discovered, and it is my proud privilege to announce, for the first time, the name of its discoverer?Dr. Clifford Smyth. Dr. Smyth has chosen the medium of fiction for the publication of his discovery, like other such eminent discoverers as the authors of Erewhon and Utopia, but that fact, I need hardly say, in nowise invalidates the authenticity and serious importance of his discovery. Though truth be stranger than fiction, it has but seldom its charm, and, to use the by-gone phrase, Dr. Smyth?s relation of happenings which we never doubt for a rap   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   The Book of Romance by Various : (full image Illustrated) Author: Various, Editor: Andrew Lang, Illustrator: H. J. Ford B00LKPP5WW File Size: 3347 KB.     BUY NOW Book Description :- FICTION, Sword, King Arthur, ROMANCE, Round Table, Fight, Robin Hood It is to be supposed that children do not read Prefaces; these are Bluebeard's rooms, which they are not curious to unlock. A few words may therefore be said about the Romances contained in this book. In the editor's opinion, romances are only fairy tales grown up. The whole mass of the plot and incident of romance was invented by nobody knows who, nobody knows when, nobody knows where. Almost every people has the Cinderella story, with all sorts of variations: a boy hero in place of a girl heroine, a beast in place of a fairy godmother, and so on. The Zuñis, an agricultural tribe of New Mexico, have a version in which the moral turns out to be against poor Cinderella, who comes to an ill end. The Red Indians have the tale of Orpheus and Eurydice, told in a very touching shape, but without the music. On the other hand, the negroes in the States have the Orpheus tale, adapted to plantation life, in a form which is certainly borrowed from Europeans. This version was sent to me some years ago, by Mr. Barnet Phillips, Brooklyn, New York, and I give it here for its curiosity. If the proper names, Jim Orpus and Dicey, had not been given, we might not feel absolutely certain that the story was borrowed. It is a good example of adaptation from the heroic age of Greece to the servile age of Africans. THE DRAWING OF THE SWORD Long, long ago, after Uther Pendragon died, there was no King in Britain, and every Knight hoped to seize the crown for himself. The country was like to fare ill when laws were broken on every side, and the corn which was to give the poor bread was trodden underfoot, and there was none to bring the evildoer to justice. Then, when things were at their worst, came forth Merlin the magician, and fast he rode to the place where the Archbishop of Canterbury had his dwelling. And they took counsel together, and agreed that all the lords and gentlemen of Britain should ride to London and meet on Christmas Day, now at hand, in the Great Church. So this was done. And on Christmas morning, as they left the church, they saw in the churchyard a large stone, and on it a bar of steel, and in the steel a naked sword was held, and about it was written in letters of gold, 'Whoso pulleth out this sword is by right of birth King of England.' They marvelled at these words, and called for the Archbishop, and brought him into the place where the stone stood. Then those Knights who fain would be King could not hold themselves back, and they tugged at the sword with all their might; but it never stirred. The Archbishop watched them in silence, but when they were faint from pulling he spoke: 'The man is not here who shall lift out that sword, nor do I know where to find him. But this is my counsel--that two Knights be chosen, good and true men, to keep guard over the sword.' Thus it was done. But the lords and gentlemen-at-arms cried out that every man had a right to try to win the sword, and they decided that on New Year's Day a tournament should be held, and any Knight who would, might enter the lists.   Armorel of Lyonesse / A Romance of To-day by Walter Besant : (full image Illustrated) Author: Walter Besant, Illustrator: Fred Barnard B00HZ9TG9K File Size: 1341 KB.     BUY NOW Book Description :- fiction, romance, FLOWER-FARM, girl, SWEET, LIP, LOVE THE CHILD OF SAMSON It was the evening of a fine September day. Through the square window, built out so as to form another room almost as large as that which had been thus enlarged, the autumn sun, now fast declining to the west, poured in warm and strong; but not too warm or too strong for the girl on whose head it fell as she sat leaning back in the low chair, her face turned towards the window. The sun of Scilly is never too fierce or too burning in summer, nor in winter does it ever lose its force; in July, when the people of the adjacent islands of Great Britain and Ireland venture not forth into the glare of the sun, here the soft sea mists and the strong sea air temper the heat; and in December the sun still shines with a lingering warmth, as if he loved the place. This girl lived in the sunshine all the year round; rowed in it; lay in it; basked in it bare-headed, summer and winter; in the winter she would sit sheltered from the wind in some warm corner of the rocks; in summer she would lie on the hillside or stand upon the high headlands and the sea-beat crags, while the breezes, which in the Land of Lyonesse do never cease, played with her long tresses and kept her soft cheek cool. The window was wide open on all three sides; the girl had been doing some kind of work, but it had dropped from her hands, and now lay unregarded on the floor; she was gazing upon the scene before her, but with the accustomed eyes which looked out upon it every day. A girl who has such a picture continually before her all day long never tires of it, though she may not be always consciously considering it and praising it. The stranger, for his part, cannot choose but cry aloud for admiration; but the native, who knows it as no stranger can, is silent. The house, half-way up the low hill, looked out upon the south--to be exact, its aspect was S. W. by S.--so that from this window the girl saw always, stretched out at her feet, the ocean, now glowing in the golden sunshine of September. Had she been tall enough, she might even have seen the coast of South America, the nearest land in the far distance. Looking S. W., that is, she would have seen the broad mouth of Oroonooque and the shores of El Dorado. This broad sea-scape was broken exactly in the middle by the Bishop's Rock and its stately lighthouse rising tall and straight out of the water; on the left hand the low hill of Annet shut out the sea; and on the right Great Minalto, rugged and black, the white foam always playing round its foot or flying over its great black northern headland, bounded and framed the picture. Almost in the middle of the water, not more than two miles distant, a sailing ship, all sails set, made swift way, bound outward one knows not whither. Lovely at all times is a ship in full sail, but doubly lovely when she is seen from afar, sailing on a smooth sea, under a cloudless sky, the sun of afternoon lighting up her white sails. No other ships were in sight; there was not even the long line of smoke which proclaims the steamer below the horizon; there was not even a Penzance fishing-boat tacking slowly homewards with brown sails and its two masts: in this direction there was no other sign of man. CONTENTS THE CHILD OF SAMSON PRESENTED BY THE SEA IN THE BAR PARLOUR THE GOLDEN TORQUE THE ENCHANTED ISLAND THE FLOWER-FARM A VOYAGE OF DISCOVERY THE VOYAGERS THE LAST DAY BUT ONE MR. FLETCHER RETURNS FOR HIS BAG ROLAND'S LETTER THE CHANGE ARMOREL'S INHERITANCE PART2 SWEET COZ THE SONATA THE CLEVEREST MAN IN LONDON MASTER OF ALL THE ARTS ONLY A SIMPLE SERVICE THE OTHER STUDIO A CANDID OPINION ALL ABOUT MYSELF TO MAKE HIM HAPPY THE SECRET OF THE TWO PICTURES A CRITIC ON TRUTH TO MAKE THAT PROMISE SURE THE DRAMATIST AN HONOURABLE PROPOSAL NOT TWO MEN, BUT ONE THE PLAY AND THE COMEDY THE NATIONAL GALLERY CONGRATULATIONS WHAT NEXT? A RECOVERY AND A FLIGHT ALL LOST BUT-- THE END OF WORLDLY TROUBLES THE HOUR OF TRIUMPH THE CUP AND THE LIP TO FORGET IT ALL NOT THE HEIR, AFTER ALL THE DESERT ISLAND AT HOME THE TRESPASS OFFERING   The Royal Life Guard or, the flight of the royal family. A historical romance of the suppression of the French monarchy by Alexander Dumas (pere) Author: Alexander Dumas (pere), Translator: Hery Llewellyn Williams B00EYV7C20 File Size: 552 KB.     BUY NOW Book Description :- FRANCE, KING, QUEEN, FEDERATION, monarchy, Marie Antoinette, Royal Family France had been changed to a limited monarchy from an absolute one, and King Louis XVI. had solemnly sworn to defend the new Constitution. But it had been remarked by shrewd observers that he had not attended the Te Deum at the Paris Cathedral, with the members of the National Assembly: that is, he would tell a lie but not commit perjury. The people were therefore on their guard against him, while they felt that his Queen, Marie Antoinette, the daughter of Austria, was ever their foe. But the murders by the rabble had frightened all property holders and when the court bought Mirabeau, the popular orator, over to its cause by paying his debts and a monthly salary the majority of the better classes, who had not fled from France in terror, thought the Royal Family would yet regain their own. In point of fact, Mirabeau had obtained from the House of Representatives that the King should have the right to rule the army and direct it and propose war, which the Assembly would only have the sanction of. He would have obtained more in the reaction after the Taking of the Bastile but for an unknown hand having distributed full particulars of his purchase by the royalists in a broadside given away by thousands in the streets. Hence he retired from the senate broken by his victory, though carrying himself proudly. In face of danger the strong athlete thought of the antagonist, not of his powers. On going home, he flung himself on the floor, rolling on flowers. He had two passionate loves: for the fair sex, because he was an ugly though robust man, and for flowers. This time he felt so exhausted that he resisted his attendant feebly, who wanted to send for a doctor, when "Dr. Gilbert" was announced.   Romances of Old Japan / Rendered into English from Japanese Sources by Yei Theodora Ozaki : (full image Illustrated) Yei Theodora Ozaki B00KZ6W8OA File Size: 2166 KB.     BUY NOW Book Description :- Japan, PICTURE, ART, GRAVE, SWORD, KINU, SPIRIT THE QUEST OF THE SWORD His old widowed mother would not die happy unless he were rehabilitated, and to this end he knew that she and his faithful wife, O Yumi, prayed daily before the family shrine. How often had he racked his brains to find some way by which it were possible to prove his unchanging fidelity to Shusen; for the true big-hearted fellow never resented his punishment, but staunchly believed that the ties which bound him to his lord were in no wise annulled by the separation. At last the long-awaited opportunity had come. In obedience to the mandate of the Shogun Ieyasu that the territorial nobles should reside in his newly established capital of Yedo during six months of the year, the Daimio of Tokushima proceeded to Yedo accompanied by a large retinue of samurai, amongst whom were his chief retainers, the rivals Shusen Sakurai and Gunbei Onota. Like a faithful watchdog, alert and anxious, jurobei had followed Shusen at a distance, unwilling to let him out of his sight at this critical time, for Gunbei Onota was the sworn enemy of Shusen Sakurai. Bitter envy of his rival's popularity, and especially of his senior rank in the Daimio's service, had always rankled in the contemptible Gunbei's mind. For years he had planned to supplant him, and Jurobei knew through traitors that the honest vigilance of his master had recently thwarted Gunbei in some of his base schemes, and that the latter had vowed immediate vengeance. Jurobei's soul burned within him as this sequence of thoughts rushed through his brain. The tempest that whirled round him seemed to be in harmony with the emotions that surged in tumult through his heart. More than ever did it devolve on him to see that his master was properly safeguarded. To do this successfully he must once more become his retainer. So Jurobei with vehement resolution clenched his hands over the handle of his umbrella and rushed onwards. Now it happened that same night that Gunbei, in a sudden fit of jealous rage and chagrin, knowing that his rival was on duty at the Daimio's Palace, and that he would probably return alone after night-fall, ordered two of his men to proceed to Shusen's house and to waylay and murder Shusen on his road home. Once and for all he would remove Shusen Sakurai from his path. Meanwhile Jurobei arrived at Shusen's house, and in the heavy gloom collided violently with the two men who were lying in ambush outside the gate. "Stop!" angrily cried the assassins, drawing their swords upon him. CONTENTS THE QUEST OF THE SWORD THE TRAGEDY OF KESA GOZEN THE SPIRIT OF THE LANTERN THE REINCARNATION OF TAMA THE LADY OF THE PICTURE URASATO, OR THE CROW OF DAWN TSUBOSAKA LOYAL, EVEN UNTO DEATH; OR THE SUGAWARA TRAGEDY HOW KINU RETURNED FROM THE GRAVE A CHERRY-FLOWER IDYLL THE BADGER-HAUNTED TEMPLE   The Quest / A Romance by Justus Miles Forman Justus Miles Forman B00ESMMZ7C File Size: 1494 KB.     BUY NOW Book Description :- fiction, classic, novel, Romance, journey, Adventure, love From Ste. Marie's little flat which overlooked the gardens they drove down the quiet Rue du Luxembourg, and, at the Place St. Sulpice, turned to the left. They crossed the Place St. Germain des Pres, where lines of homebound working people stood waiting for places in the electric trams, and groups of students from the Beaux Arts or from Julien's sat under the awnings of the Deux Magots, and so, beyond that busy square, they came into the long and peaceful stretch of the Boulevard St. Germain. The warm sweet dusk gathered round them as they went, and the evening air was fresh and aromatic in their faces. There had been a little gentle shower in the late afternoon, and roadway and pavement were still damp with it. It had wet the new-grown leaves of the chestnuts and acacias that bordered the street. The scent of that living green blended with the scent of laid dust and the fragrance of the last late-clinging chestnut blossoms: it caught up a fuller richer burden from the overflowing front of a florist's shop: it stole from open windows a savoury whiff of cooking, a salt tang of wood smoke, and the soft little breeze--the breeze of coming summer--mixed all together and tossed them and bore them down the long quiet street; and it was the breath of Paris, and it shall be in your nostrils and mine, a keen agony of sweetness, so long as we may live and so wide as we may wander--because we have known it and loved it: and in the end we shall go back to breathe it when we die. The strong white horse jogged evenly along over the wooden pavement, its head down, the little bell at its neck jingling pleasantly as it went. The cocher, a torpid purplish lump of gross flesh, pyramidal, pear-like, sat immobile in his place. The protuberant back gave him an extraordinary effect of being buttoned into his fawn-coloured coat wrong-side-before. At intervals he jerked the reins like a large strange toy and his strident voice said-- "He!" to the stout white horse, which paid no attention whatever. Once the beast stumbled and the pear-like lump of flesh insulted it, saying-- "He! veux, tu, cochon!" Before the War Office a little black slip of a milliner's girl dodged under the horse's head, saving herself and the huge box slung to her arm by a miracle of agility, and the cocher called her the most frightful names, without turning his head, and in a perfunctory tone quite free from passion. Young Hartley laughed and turned to look at his companion, but Ste. Marie sat still in his place, his hat pulled a little down over his brows, and his handsome chin buried in the folds of the white silk muffler with which, for some obscure reason, he had swathed his neck. "This is the first time in many years," said the Englishman, "that I have known you to be silent for ten whole minutes. Are you ill or are you making up little epigrams to say at the dinner party?"   The Harlequin Opal / A Romance by Fergus Hume Vol. 1, 2 & 3 (of 3) : (COMPLETED) Fergus Hume B00DW0GMQQ File Size: 661 KB.     BUY NOW Book Description :- Romance, poem, Indian, love, classic, Stone, writting Once a realm of Indian glory, Famed in Aztec song and story, Fabled by Tradition hoary As an earthly Paradise; Now a land of love romances, Serenades, bolero dances, Looks of scorn, adoring glances, Under burning tropic skies. PROEM. The stone had its birth in the nurturing earth. Its home in the heart of the main, From the coraline caves it was tossed by the waves On the breast of an aureate plain; And the spirits who dwell in the nethermost hell Stored fire in its bosom of white; The sylphs of the air made it gracious and fair With the blue of the firmament's height. The dull gnomes I ween, gave it glittering sheen. Till yellow as gold it became: The nymphs of the sea made the opal to be A beacon of emerald flame. The many tints glow, they come and they go At bidding of spirits abhorr'd, When one ray is bright, in the bosom of white, Its hue tells the fate of its lord. For yellow hints wealth, and blue meaneth health, While green forbodes passing of gloom, But beware of the red, 'tis an omen of dread, Portending disaster and doom. CONTENTS Chums The Devil Stone "The Bohemian" In the Track of Columbus Don Miguel Is Communicative Chalchuih Tlatonac Dolores Viva El Republica The Call To Arms Padre Ignatius The Drama of Little Things A Strange Disappearance Away to the North Acauhtzin Don Hypolito Xuarez Rivals In Shadowland The Shrine of the Opal An Unexpected Meeting An Indian Festival The Fugitives Fortune turns her Wheel Away to the Front A Naval Engagement--New Style Without the Walls Within the Walls The Fall of Janjalla The Flight to Tlatonac Exit Don Francisco Gomez The Indian Raid The Luck of the Opal Under the Opal Flag The Battle of Centeotl The Triumph of the Republic The Canon Road The Destiny of the Opal Farewell, Tlatonac!   How Marcus Whitman Saved Oregon / A True Romance of Patriotic Heroism, Christian Devotion and Final Martyrdom by Oliver W. Nixon Oliver W. Nixon B00EAAES6S File Size: 1263 KB.     BUY NOW Book Description :- history, pioneers, English, American, Waiilatpui, Massacre, tragedy WITH SKETCHES OF Life on the Plains and Mountains in Pioneer Days BY OLIVER W. NIXON, M.D., LL.D., PREFACE This little volume is not intended to be a history of Oregon missions or even a complete biography of Dr. Whitman. Its aim is simply to bring out, prominently, in a series of sketches, the heroism and Christian patriotism of the man who rendered great and distinguished service to his country, which has never been fully appreciated or recognized. In my historical facts I have tried to be correct and to give credit to authorities where I could. I expect some of my critics will ask, as they have in the past: "Who is your authority for this fact and that?" I only answer, I don't know unless I am authority. In 1850 and 1851 I was a teacher of the young men and maidens, and bright-eyed boys and girls of the old pioneers of Oregon. Many years ago I told the story of that school to Hezekiah Butterworth, who made it famous in his idyllic romance, "The Log School House on the Columbia." It was a time when history was being made. The great tragedy at Waiilatpui was fresh in the minds of the people. With such surroundings one comes in touch with the spirit of history. Later on, I was purser upon the Lot Whitcomb, the first steamer ever built in Oregon, and came in contact with all classes of people. If I have failed to interpret the history correctly, it is because I failed to understand it. The sketches have been written in hours snatched from pressing duties, and no claim is made of high literary excellence. But if they aid the public, even in a small degree, to better understand and appreciate the grand man whose remains rest in his martyr's grave at Waiilatpui, unhonored by any monument, I shall be amply compensated. O. W. N. INTRODUCTION BY REV. FRANK W. GUNSAULUS, D.D., Pastor of Plymouth Church, and President of Armour Institute, Chicago. Among the efforts at description which will associate themselves with either our ignorance or our intelligence as to our own country, the following words by our greatest orator, will always have their place: "What do we want with the vast, worthless area, this region of savages and wild beasts, of deserts, of shifting sands and whirlwinds of dust, of cactus and prairie dogs? To what use could we ever hope to put these great deserts, or these endless mountain ranges, impenetrable, and covered to their base with eternal snow? What can we ever hope to do with the Western coast, a coast of three thousand miles, rock-bound, cheerless, and uninviting, and not a harbor on it? What use have we for such a country? Mr. President, I will never vote one cent from the public treasury to place the Pacific coast one inch nearer to Boston than it is now." Perhaps no words uttered in the United States Senate were ever more certainly wide of their mark than these of Daniel Webster. In their presence, the name of Marcus Whitman is a bright streak of light penetrating a vague cloud-land. Washington, with finer prevision, had said: "I shall not be contented until I have explored the Western country." Even the Father of his Country did not understand the vast realm to which he referred, nor had his mind any boundaries sufficiently great to inclose that portion of the country which Marcus Whitman preserved to the United States. An interesting series of splendid happenings has united the ages of history in heroic deeds, and this volume is a fitting testimonial of the immense significance of one heroic deed in one heroic life. The conservatism, which is always respectable and respected, had its utterance in the copious eloquence of Daniel Webster; the radicalism, which always goes to the root of every question, had its expression in the answer which Whitman made to the great New Englander. Even Daniel Webster, at a moment like this, seems less grand of proportion than does the plain and poor missionary, with "a half pint of seed wheat" in his hand, and words upon his lips which are an enduring part of our history. Only a really illumined man, at that hour, could fitly answer Senator McDuffie, when he said: "Do you think your honest farmers in Pennsylvania, New York, or even Ohio and Missouri, would abandon their farms and go upon any such enterprise as this?" Whitman made answer by breaking the barrier of the Rockies with his own courage and faith.