It is a zealot’s faith that blasts the shrines of the false god, but builds no temple to the true.
—Sydney Dobell.
Sydney Thompson Dobell, a famous English poet, was born at Cranbrook, in Kent, April 5, 1824, and died in 1874. He wrote: “England in Time of War,” and two noted poems, “The Roman” and “Balder.” “Thoughts on Art, Philosophy and Religion,” appeared after his death.
I think it will be generally conceded that, at the time of his death, Mr. Lowell occupied the position of the foremost American citizen. In public regard, at home and abroad, his name naturally headed the list of prominent Americans. Looked upon as a man of letters, as a representative of our country in foreign lands, or in any of the various positions in which he appeared before the public, there was no one to whom it was the custom to name James Russell Lowell as second. Without occupying the highest rank in any of his vocations, he stood in front of his fellow-citizens, because he held so high a rank in so many of them.
“Personal Tributes to Lowell, the Writer,” Vol. 5, p. 187,—Frank R. Stockton.
Frank Richard Stockton, a celebrated American author, was born in Philadelphia, April 5, 1834, and died April 20, 1902. Among his popular works may be mentioned: “Rudder Grange,” “The Lady or the Tiger,” “The Casting Away of Mrs. Leeks and Mrs. Aleshine,” “The Dusantes,” “Tales Out of School,” “Adventures of Captain Horn,” “The Great Stone of Sardis,” “The Watchmaker’s Wife and Other Stories,” “Pomona’s Travels,” “Mrs. Cliff’s Yacht,” “Kate Bonnett,” etc.
Pleasure with pain for leaven,
Summer with flowers that fell,
Remembrance fallen from heaven,
And Madness risen from hell,
Strength without hands to smite,
Love that endures for a breath;
Night, the shadow of light,
And Life, the shadow of death.
“Atalanta in Calydon,” Chorus,—Swinburne.
Algernon Charles Swinburne, an eminent English poet, was born in London, April 5, 1837; and died April 10, 1909. His publications include: “Poems and Ballads,” “The Queen Mother and Rosamond,” “Bothwell,” “Songs of the Springtides,” “A Century of Roundels,” “The Sisters,” “Studies in Song,” “Songs of Two Nations,” “Chastelard,” “Ode on the Proclamation of the French Republic,” “Songs Before Sunrise,” “Atalanta in Calydon,” “Under the Microscope,” “Tristram of Lyonesse and Other Poems,” “Marino Faliero,” “A Midsummer Holiday and Other Poems,” “Locrine,” a tragedy, a third series of “Poems and Ballads,” “Astrophel and Other Poems,” “The Tale of Balen,” “Rosamund, Queen of the Lombards,” a tragedy, etc.
From every place below the skies
The grateful song, the fervent prayer,—
The incense of the heart,—may rise
To heaven, and find acceptance there.