Selected Prose of Oscar Wildeby Oscar WildeContents:Preface by Robert RossHow They Struck a ContemporaryThe Quality of George MeredithLife in the Fallacious ModelLife the DiscipleLife the PlagiaristThe Indispensable EastThe Influence of the Impressionists on ClimateAn Exposure to NaturalismThomas Griffiths WainewrightWainewright at Hobart TownCardinal Newman and the AutobiographiersRobert BrowningThe Two Supreme and Highest ArtsThe Secrets of ImmortalityThe Critic and his MaterialDante the Living GuideThe Limitations of GeniusWanted A New BackgroundWithout FrontiersThe Poetry of Archaeology...　

The Moon and SixpenceThe Moon and Sixpenceby W. Somerset MaughamAuthor of "Of Human Bondage"1- Page 2-The Moon and SixpenceChapter II confess that when first I made acquaintance with Charles StricklandI never for a moment discerned that there was in him anything out of theordinary. Yet now few will be found to deny his greatness. I do notspeak of that greatness which is achieved by the fortunate politician or thesuccessful soldier; that is a quality which belongs to the place he occupies...　

Study of the King James BibleStudy of the King JamesBibleBY CLELAND BOYD McAFEE, D.D.1- Page 2-Study of the King James BiblePREFACETHE lectures included in this volume were prepared at the request ofthe Brooklyn Institute of Arts and Sciences, and were delivered in theearly part of 1912, under its auspices. They were suggested by thetercentenary of the King James version of the Bible. The plan adopted led...　

THE SEVEN POOR TRAVELLERSTHE SEVEN POORTRAVELLERSby Charles Dickens1- Page 2-THE SEVEN POOR TRAVELLERSCHAPTER IIN THE OLD CITYOF ROCHESTERStrictly speaking, there were only six Poor Travellers; but, being aTraveller myself, though an idle one, and being withal as poor as I hope tobe, I brought the number up to seven. This word of explanation is due atonce, for what says the inscription over the quaint old door?RICHARD WATTS, Esq. by his Will, dated 22 Aug. 1579, founded...　

Little Travels and Roadside Sketchesby William Makepeace ThackerayI. FROM RICHMOND IN SURREY TO BRUSSELS IN BELGIUMII. GHENTBRUGES:Ghent (1840)BrugesIII. WATERLOOLITTLE TRAVELS AND ROADSIDE SKETCHESI.FROM RICHMOND IN SURREY TO BRUSSELS IN BELGIUM. . . I quitted the "Rose Cottage Hotel" at Richmond, one of thecomfortablest, quietest, cheapest, neatest little inns in England,and a thousand times preferable, in my opinion, to the "Star andGarter," whither, if you go alone, a sneering waiter, with his haircurled, frightens you off the premises; and where, if you are bold...　

Walkingby Henry David ThoreauI wish to speak a word for Nature, for absolute freedom andwildness, as contrasted with a freedom and culture merelycivilto regard man as an inhabitant, or a part and parcel ofNature, rather than a member of society. I wish to make anextreme statement, if so I may make an emphatic one, for thereare enough champions of civilization: the minister and the schoolcommittee and every one of you will take care of that.I have met with but one or two persons in the course of my lifewho understood the art of Walking, that is, of taking walkswhohad a genius, so to speak, for SAUNTERING, which word is...　

IN THE town there were two mutes, and they were alwaystogether. Early every morning they would come out fromthe house where they lived and walk arm in arm down thestreet to work. The two friends were very different. Theone who always steered the way was an obese anddreamy Greek. In the summer he would come outwearing a yellow or green polo shirt stuffed sloppily intohis trousers in front and hanging loose behind. When itwas colder he wore over this a shapeless gray sweater.His face was round and oily, with half-closed eyelids andlips that curved in a gentle, stupid smile. The other mutewas tall. His eyes had a quick, intelligent expression. Hewas always immaculate and very soberly dressed..　

The Duchesse de Langeaisby Honore de BalzacTHE DUCHESS OF LANGEAISIIn a Spanish city on an island in the Mediterranean, there stands a convent of the Order of Barefoot Carmelites, where the rule instituted by St. Theresa is still preserved with all the first rigour of the reformation brought about by that illustrious woman. Extraordinary as this may seem, it is none the less true.Almost every religious house in the Peninsula, or in Europe for that matter, was either destroyed or disorganised by the outbreak of the French Revolution and the Napoleonic wars; but as this island was protected through those times by the English fleet, its wealthy convent and peaceable inhabitants were secure fr　

Armadaleby Wilkie CollinsTOJOHN FORSTER.In acknowledgment of the services which he has rendered to thecause of literature by his "Life of Goldsmith;" and inaffectionate remembrance of a friendship which is associated withsome of the happiest years of my life.READERS in generalon whose friendly reception experience hasgiven me some reason to relywill, I venture to hope, appreciatewhatever merit there may be in this story without any prefatorypleading for it on my part. They will, I think, see that it hasnot been hastily meditated or idly wrought out. They will judgeit accordingly, and I ask no more.Readers in particular will, I have some reason to suppose, be...　

A WAIF OF THE PLAINSA WAIF OF THEPLAINSby Bret Harte1- Page 2-A WAIF OF THE PLAINSCHAPTER IA long level of dull gray that further away became a faint blue, withhere and there darker patches that looked like water. At times an openspace, blackened and burnt in an irregular circle, with a shred ofnewspaper, an old rag, or broken tin can lying in the ashes. Beyond thesealways a low dark line that seemed to sink into the ground at night, and...　

The History of John Bullby John ArbuthnotINTRODUCTION BY HENRY MORLEY.This is the book which fixed the name and character of John Bull on the English people. Though in one part of the story he is thin and long nosed, as a result of trouble, generally he is suggested to us as "ruddy and plump, with a pair of cheeks like a trumpeter," an honest tradesman, simple and straightforward, easily cheated; but when he takes his affairs into his own hands, acting with good plain sense, knowing very well what he wants done, and doing it.The book was begun in the year 1712, and published in four successive groups of chapters that dealt playfully, from the Tory point of view, with public affairs leading　

FAIRY TALES OF HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSENTWO BROTHERSby Hans Christian AndersenON one of the Danish islands, where old Thingstones, the seatsof justice of our forefathers, still stand in the cornfields, and hugetrees rise in the forests of beech, there lies a little town whose lowhouses are covered with red tiles. In one of these houses strangethings were brewing over the glowing coals on the open hearth; therewas a boiling going on in glasses, and a mixing and distilling,while herbs were being cut up and pounded in mortars. An elderly manlooked after it all."One must only do the right thing," he said; "yes, the right-...