Les grandes ne sont grands que parceque nous sommes à genoux; Relevons nous.[3]
“Revolutions de Paris,” Motto.—Prudhomme.
René François Armand Sully-Prudhomme, a famous French poet, was born at Paris, May 16, 1839, and died in 1907. He has written: “The Broken Vase,” “Stanzas and Poems,” “The Stables of Augeas,” “The Wildernesses,” “Revolt of the Flowers,” “Reflections on the Art of Versification,” etc.
To think, and to feel, constitute the two grand divisions of men of genius—the men of reasoning and the men of imagination.
“Literary Character of Men of Genius,” Ch. II,—Isaac Disraeli.
Isaac Disraeli, a distinguished English literary essayist, compiler and historian, was born at Enfield in Middlesex, May 17, 1766, and died January 9, 1848. Among his writings are: “Curiosities of Literature,” “Calamities of Authors,” “Quarrels of Authors,” “Miscellanies, or Literary Recollections,” etc. Also: “Commentaries on the Life and Reign of Charles I.”
A monument to Newton! a monument to Shakespeare! Look up to Heaven—look into the Human Heart. Till the planets and the passions—the affections and the fixed stars are extinguished—their names cannot die.
“Noctes Ambrosianæ,” Vol. iii,—John Wilson.
John Wilson (Christopher North), a noted Scottish writer, was born May 18, 1785, at Paisley, and died April 3, 1854. Among his works are: “The Isle of Palms,” “The City of the Plague,” “Lights and Shadows of Scottish Life,” “The Trials of Margaret Lindsay,” “The Foresters,” etc.
Not alone to know, but to act according to thy knowledge, is thy destination,—proclaims the voice of my inmost soul. Not for indolent contemplation and study of thyself, nor for brooding over emotions of piety—no, for action was existence given thee; thy actions, and thy actions alone, determine thy worth.