The World's Best Books : A Key to the Treasures of Literature Part 13

[257] "Artemus Ward His Book," is funny, but lacks purpose beyond the raising of a laugh. (U. S., 19th cent.)

[258] "Caudle Lectures," "Catspaw," etc. Jerrold is one of the sharpest of wits. (Eng., 19th cent.)

[259] Voltaire was the Ingersoll of France, only more so. His "Dictionnaire" is full of stinging sarcasm and fierce wit. (France, 18th cent.)

"English Bards and Scotch Reviewers." The sharpest edge of Byron's keen mind. (Eng., 1788-1824.)

[260] "Hudibras." A tirade against the Puritans. (Eng., 17th cent.)

"Gulliver's Travels," "Tale of a Tub," etc. Coa.r.s.e raillery. (Eng., 18th cent.)

[261] "Gargantua and Pantagruel." Immense coa.r.s.e wit. (France, 16th cent.)

"Tristram Shandy." Not delicate, but full of humor. (Eng., 18th cent.)

[262] Juvenal is one of the world's greatest satirists. (Rome, 1st cent.)

Lucian is the Voltaire of the Old World. In his "Dialogues of the G.o.ds"

he covers with ridicule the religious notions of the people. (Greek Lit, 2d cent. A. D.)

FABLES AND FAIRY TALES.

Fables and fairy tales are condensed dramas, and some of them are crystal drops from the fountains of poetic thought. Often they express in picture language the deepest lessons that mankind have learned; and one who wishes to gather to himself the intellectual wealth of the nations must not neglect them. In the section of the book devoted to remarks upon the Guidance of Children, the literature of this subject receives more extended attention. Among the books that will most interest the student of this subject may be mentioned the works of Fiske and Bulfinch, named below, Baldwin's "Story of the Golden Age,"

Ragozin's "Chaldea," Kingsley's "Greek Heroes," c.o.x's "Tales of Ancient Greece," Hanson's "Stories of Charlemagne," Church's "Story of the Iliad" and "Story of the aeneid," and the books mentioned in connection with the "Morte D'Arthur," note 323 following:--

[263] "Fairy Tales," "Shoes of Fortune," etc. (Denmark, 19th cent.)

[264] The inimitable French poet of Fable. (France, 17th cent.)

[265] The world-famous Greek fabulist. His popularity in all ages has been unbounded. Socrates amused himself with his stories. (Greece, 6th cent. B. C.)

[266] "Household Tales." (Ger., early 19th cent.)

[267] "Reineke Fox." (Bohn Lib.) (Ger., early 19th cent.)

Kipling's "Indian Tales." (Eng., 19th cent.)

[268] "Age of Fable," "Age of Chivalry," etc. (Eng., 19th cent.)

[269] Fables in his poems. (U. S., 19th cent.)

[270] A French fabulist, next in fame to La Fontaine. (18th cent.)

[271] Greek Fables. (About com. Christ. era.)

[272] "Tales." (Ger., 19th cent.)

[273] "Metamorphoses." An account of the mythology of the ancients. Ovid was one of Rome's greatest poets. (Rome, 1st cent. B. C.)

Curtin's "Myths and Folk-Lore of Ireland," "Myths and Folk-Tales of the Russians," etc. (U. S., 19th cent.)

Fiske's "Myths and Myth Makers." (U. S., 19th cent.)

TRAVEL.

Nothing favors breadth more than travel and contact with those of differing modes of life and variant belief. The tolerance and sympathy that are folding in the world in these modern days owe much to the vast increase of travel that has resulted from growth of commerce, the development of wealth, and the cheapness and rapidity of steam transportation. Even a wider view of the world comes to us through the literature of travel than we could ever gain by personal experience, however much of wealth and time we had at our disposal; and though the vividness is less in each particular picture of the written page than if we saw the full original reality that is painted for us, yet this is more than compensated by the breadth and insight and perception of the meaning of the scenes portrayed, which we can take at once from the writer, to whom perhaps the gaining of what he gives so easily has been a very costly, tedious process, and would be so to us if we had to rely on personal observation. Voyages and travels therefore are of much importance in our studies, and delightful reading too. Stanley's opinions have been much relied on in selecting the following books:--

[274] Voyages. (Eng., 18th cent.)

[275] Cosmos; Travels. (Ger., 1762-1832.)

[276] Naturalist on the Beagle. (Eng., 19th cent.)

[277] Travels. (Venice, 14th cent.)

[278] Arctic Explorations. (U. S., 19th cent.)

[279] South Africa. (Eng., 19th cent.)

[280] Through the Dark Continent; In Darkest Africa. (U. S., 19th cent.)

[281] Travels in Africa. (France, 19th cent.)

[282] On Egypt. (Germany, 19th cent.)

[283] Abyssinia. (Eng., 19th cent.)

[284] India.

[285] Niger.

[286] South America.

[287] Upper Niger.

[288] Persia.

[289] Central Africa.

[290] West Coast of Africa.