one CHOICE LITERATURE BOOK FIVE TO-DAY THOMAS CARLYLE Thomas Carlyle is a very interesting character, showing how may rise through per sistent effort. He came from a family of peasants. His father was a stone mason. Carlyle was born in Scotland in 1795, and graduated from Edinburgh University in 1814. He began life as a teacher of mathematics, and made a translation of Legendre's Geometry. He was a very voluminous writer, contributing to the leading Scotch and English reviews, writing many critical essays, and making translations from the German. His first great book was "Sartor Resartus." His most noted work is his history of the French Revolution. Out of Eternity This new day is born; Into Eternity, At night will return. Behold it aforetime No eye ever did; So soon it forever From all eyes is hid. Here hath been dawning Slip useless away? THE SKELETON IN ARMOR HENRY W. LONGFELLOW Henry W. Longfellow, born at Portland, Me., in 1807, was a descendant of John Alden. He graduated from Bowdoin in the same class with Nathaniel Hawthorne and Franklin Pierce. At nineteen years of age he went to Europe, where he spent three years. On his return he was made professor of modern languages at Bowdoin College. In 1835 he was appointed to the same position in Harvard College. He resigned his position at Harvard in 1854 to give his time wholly to literature. He died in 1882. Among his longer poems are "Miles Standish," "Evangeline," "Hiawatha," "Tales of a Wayside Inn," The Golden Legend," "Building of the Ship," and "The Spanish Student." His translations are very numerous. "Outre Mer," a book of travels, is one of his earlier works. 99.66 Many who do not care for poetry generally enjoy very much of what Longfellow has written. Many of his minor poems are very beautiful, and nearly all are remarkable for their perfect rhythm, which is often the feature of poetry that first attracts. More than a thousand years ago a brave, stalwart, and venturesome people lived on the islands of the Baltic Sea, and in the country round about it. were bold and skillful sailors. In their narrow, sharp-prowed, and shallow vessels they visited all the western coast of Europe, entered the Mediterranean Sea, discovered and settled Iceland and Greenland, and finally discovered the eastern coast of America. Leif the Lucky was the first of the Northmen to explore parts of this country. In the year 1000, with thirty companions, LONGFELLOW'S LIBRARY he set out, and probably reached the coast of Massachusetts, where he landed, built some huts, and spent the winter. Two years later his brother Thorvald spent two years in America, OLD TOWER, NEWPORT probably going as far south as Rhode Island. Later a wealthy Icelander named Karlsefin made a settlement which was. abandoned after a few years because of the hostility of the natives. Many years ago as some workmen were digging on a hillside near Fall River, Mass., they came upon the skeleton of a large man who had been buried in a sitting posture. In the grave with him was found a plate of brass which may have been used as a breastplate, and around the waist was a belt of brass tubes. It was believed that both the plate and the belt of tubes were intended to serve as a pro tection in battle. Longfellow felt certain that the skeleton was not that of an Indian as they were not known to make use of metal armor. There is a rude stone tower at Newport, R.I., which at the time of the discovery of the skeleton was supposed to have been built by the Northmen, though that is no longer believed. PEAK! Speak! Thou fearful guest! "SPEAK Who, with thy hollow breast Still in rude armor drest, Comest to daunt me! Wrapped not in eastern balms,1 Why dost thou haunt me?" Then, from those cavernous eyes, As when the northern skies Gleam in December; 2 Came a dull voice of woe From the heart's chamber. "I was a Viking 3 old! My deeds, though manifold, 1 Eastern balms: The meaning is that in the east bodies were embalmed and did not decay, but lacking this there was only the skeleton of the Norseman left. 2 As when the northern skies gleam in December: Refers to the Northern Lights. 3 Viking The Vikings were the northern pirates of the time referred to in the text. No Skald1 in song has told, No Saga 2 taught thee! "Far in the Northern Land, And, with my skates fast bound, "Oft to his frozen lair While from my path the hare Fled like a shadow; Until the soaring lark Sang from the meadow. "But when I older grew, 1 Skald: An ancient Scandinavian poet. 2 Saga: A Scandinavian myth or hero story. 3 Gerfalcon: A large falcon of the northern regions. 4 Werewolf: A person transformed into a wolf in form and appetite. |