NANCY A. PRIEST.

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SARGENT SMITH PRENTISS.

ARGENT SMITH PRENTISS, author of the tribute to New England on page 105, was born at Portland, Me., September 30th, 1808, and graduated at Bowdoin College in 1826. He practiced law and en

tered somewhat into politics. He lived for several years at the "Crescent City," of which he speaks in the selection given. He died at Longwood, near Natchez, July 1st, 1850. Senator Crittenden, of Kentucky, said of him: "It was impossible to know Mr. Prentiss without feeling for him admiration and love. His genius, so rich, and his manners, so graceful and genial, could not fail to impress those sentiments on all who approached him. Eloquence was part of his nature, and over his private conversation, as well as his public speeches, it scattered its sparkling jewels with more than royal profusion." Mr. Prentiss was, in fact, one of those ideal gentlemen of whom we hear much but see comparatively little.

M

E. PRENTISS.

RS. PRENTISS, who wrote "The Mystery of Life in Christ" (p. 233), has written much of this style of poetry. She is the author of "More Love to Thee, O Christ," and other devotional hymns. She also published "Stepping Heavenward," an excellent book.

MARGARET J. PRESTON.

ARGARET JUNKIN PRESTON was born about 1835. She was the daughter of the Rev. George Junkin, and wife of Col. J. T. L. Preston, professor in the Virginia Military Institute at Lexington, Va. She has published "Silverwood," "A Book of Memories," etc., and many writings in prose and verse, chiefly upon topics connected with the civil war. She has given a translation of "Dies Ira" also, which has been highly commended. Her "Hero of the Commune," on page 278, is a bright poem of French life.

NANCY A. PRIEST.

EVER the River" (p. 142) is the one poem of this lady. Her full name was Nancy Amelia Woodbury Priest. She was born at Hinsdale, N. H., in 1837. She married Lieutenant A. C. Wakefield in 1865, and died in 1870. Her poem appeared originally in the Springfield Republican, in August, 1857. It was extensively copied, and universally admired, as it well deserved to be. It is matter for general regret that so marked a genius wrote so little.

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

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WILLIAM C. PRIME.

IIIS gentleman is an authority on scientific fishing, as well as on many other matters, and therefore GEMS contains two selections from him on this bewitching sport. He was born at Cambridge, N. Y., October 31st, 1825, and graduated at Princeton, N. J., in 1843. He studied law, but ran more to journalism, writing much for the “Journal of Commerce," of which, in 1861, he became editor and joint proprietor.

ADELAIDE ANNE PROCTER.

IVE gems from this authoress grace these pages, one of them her celebrated "Legend of Bregenz." She was born in London, October 30th, 1825, and was the daughter of Bryan Waller Procter, best known as Barry Cornwall. She showed decided literary ability when quite young, and under the nom de plume of Mary Berwick, wrote for Dickens' "Household Words." She published several volumes of poems, all of which were very well received. Charles Dickens was her special friend and admirer. She died in London, February 2d, 1864.

FATHER PROUT.

RANCIS MAHONEY, who is known in literature chiefly as Father Prout, was born in Ireland, about 1805. He took orders in the Catholic Church, but abandoned them for literary pursuits. In “Fraser's Magazine" he published an amusing series of articles, collected finally as the "Reliques of Father Prout." He did much as a newspaper correspondent, but finally retired to a monastery, and died May 19th, 1866. His "Bells of Shandon" (p. 573), is a genuine gem.

SAMUEL PURCHAS.

AMUEL PURCHAS was born at Essex, England, in 1577, and was educated at St. John's College, Cambridge. He subsequently took orders in the Church of England. He died at London, in September, 1626. His "Praise of the Sea" (p. 75), is a quaint scrap in the olden style of the days wherein he lived and wrote.

SIR WALTER RALEIGH.

N page 381, a little gem of this English statesman and author will be found. He was born in 1552; studied at Oxford; entered the army; sailed for America; returned home; spread his cloak over a muddy place in the street that the queen might pass; so won

THOMAS BUCHANAN READ.

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her favor; subsequently visited America; had varying experiences in court favor and disfavor, and finally was beheaded, October 29th, 1618.

7

REV. W. S. RALPH.

N page 116, is an odd poem, entitled "Whistling in Heaven." The experience on which it purports to be founded, actually occurred, the wife of the author being the one so charmed by the whistling. On his return to their frontier cabin, Mr. Ralph was told of the occurrence, and soon after he surprised his wife by presenting her with the poem as given in this book. Mr. Ralph now resides at Halifax, Nova Scotia.

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THOMAS BUCHANAN READ.

F this author's excellent works, three appear in GEMS. He was born in Pennsylvania, March 12th, 1822. He was a poet, a sculptor, and painter. In all these spheres he did good work. He published several volumes, and died in New York City, May 11th, 1872.

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JEAN PAUL FRIEDRICH RICHTER.

HE author of the superb gem, "The Two Roads" (p. 109), who was commonly called Jean Paul, was a popular, quaint and original German author, born in 1763. He made good progress in Latin and Greek, and entered the University of Leipsic in 1780. While a student he wrote a work entitled "Greenland Law-suits." He also wrote "A Selection from the Papers of the Devil." He died in November, 1825. "Except by name," says Carlyle, "Richter is but little known out of Germany. The only thing connected with him, we think, that has reached this country, is his saying imported by Madame de Staël, and thankfully pocketed by most newspaper critics: 'Providence has given to the French the empire of the land, to the English that of the sea, and to the Germans that of the air!' Of this last element, indeed, his own genius might easily seem to have been a denizen."

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MRS. J. H. RIDDLE.

HIS lady was an authoress of considerable repute as a juvenile writer. From 1866 onward, she published several volumes, and in 1867, became the editor of the "St. James's Magazine." Her first publications were in England, with re-issues here. She wrote under the name of F. G. Trafford also, and thus issued many valuable works. "Ghosts of Long Ago" (p. 99) is a thoughtful and valuable address.

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

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JOHN RUSKIN.

wo choice prose extracts from Ruskin will be found in this volume. Their distinguished author was born in London, in February, 1819. He was wealthy and studious. At Oxford he distinguished himself and took a prize for poetry. He studied art, and soon became famous by his brilliant discussions of its problems. He traveled extensively; wrote and re-wrote his volumes; lectured on art; and in every direction has been a most assiduous and valuable leader of thought.

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WILLIAM HOWARD RUSSELL.

HIS gentleman is an Irish writer, noted as correspondent of the London "Times." He was born in Dublin, in 1821. He accompanied the British army in 1854, and wrote letters on the Crimean war. These attracted great attention, and were finally collected in two volumes. In 1861, he came to the United States as war correspondent for the "Times." The sketch of the charge of the Light Brigade (p. 58), on which Tennyson's famous poem was based, is a splendid commentary on that brilliant dash. It should be read in connection with the poem.

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JOHN G. SAXE.

HE author of six very excellent humorous poems given in GEMS John Godfrey Saxe, was born in Vermont, in 1816. He graduated at Middleburg College, of that State, in 1839, and then became editor of a paper in Burlington. His first volume of poems appeared in 1849. It had an extensive circulation. Other volumes appeared in 1864 and in 1866. Mr. Saxe has practiced somewhat at law also.

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SIR WALTER SCOTT.

HIS distinguished author and poet was born in Edinburgh, August 15th, 1771. He was both sickly as a child and lame for life. He was a great reader. He studied at the University of Edinburgh, practiced law for a few years, and then entered wholly into journalism. His first laurels as a poet were won in 1805, by his "Lay of the Last Minstrel." He subsequently gave himself more to history and romance, producing the famous Waverley series. He became very wealthy; was created a baronet in 1820; built his residence at Abbotsford; lost all by the failure of his publishers; but by assiduous work paid £150,000 after he was fifty-five years of age. He died September 21st, 1832. "Patriotism," on page 233, and the prose selection on page 539, illustrate his style.

PERCY BYSSHE SHELLEY.

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WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE.

VERYBODY knows more or less of the famous Shakespeare, who was born at Stratford-on-Avon, England, April 23d, 1564. He received a grammar school education only. In 1589 he was an actor in London; he subsequently devoted himself to authorship, producing plays and poems in great profusion. His plays number thirtyseven. In 1610, he retired to his old home, and spent his last days in ease and enjoyment. He died April 23d, 1616, and was buried in the old church at Stratford. His varied genius is well shown in the selections from his works which are contained in these pages.

HENRY W. SHAW.

(JOSH. BILLINGS).

HIS distinguished humorous moralist was born at Lanesborough, Mass, in 1818. He spent many years in the west, and turned his attention to various pursuits, especially farming and the auction business. In 1858 he settled in Poughkeepsie, N. Y., and began to write sketches for newspapers over the nom de plume of "Josh Billings." He rapidly became popular as a writer and lecturer. He excels in his humorous putting of genuine good sense.

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PERCY BYSSHE SHELLEY.

HIS famous English poet was born August 4th, 1792. He came of a noble family. He spent several years at Eton, and two at Oxford, after which he led a roving, irregular life. He was Byron's companion in Italy for considerable time, and there he wrote most of his best works. He was drowned in the Gulf of Spezia in July, 1822. His body was washed ashore, when Byron and other friends burned it, and the ashes were buried at Rome. This volume contains three of Shelley's poems.

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BENJAMIN P. SHILLABER.

(MRS. PARTINGTON).

HIS humorous author was born at Portsmouth, N. H., in 1814. He entered a printing office at Dover in 1830, and later spent several years in travel. He afterwards entered the office of the Boston Post," and became editorially connected with this paper. He acquired great celebrity by his "Sayings of Mrs. Partington." He published several very successful volumes on this and other subjects. His "Mouse Hunting," on page 217, is a good specimen of his humorous work.