and Hallgerda Long-coat live. The unpublished version depicts her in her fall and degradation, as well as in her power, and leaves her the same complete and consistent character, once known, never to be forgotten. There are few pages of "Joseph and his Brethren" that are not instinct with high criticism of life and vitalized by poetic utterances, in which true thought is recorded with rare felicity of expression.-FORMAN, H. BUXTON, 1894, The Poets and the Poetry of the Century, John Keats to Edward Lord Lytton, ed. Miles, pp. 363, 368. Wells's "Stories after Nature," published anonymously in 1822 (London, 12mo) are the nearest approach to the Italian novelette that our literature can show. Simple in plot, yet generally founded on some striking idea, impressive in their conciseness, and highly imaginative, they are advantageously distinguished from their models by a larger infusion of the poetical element, but fall short of them in artistic structure and narrative power, and the style is occasionally florid. They would have been highly appreciated in the Elizabethan age, but the great subsequent enrichment and expansion of the novel left little room for them in Wells's day. . . . "Stories from Nature" being but a slight though a charming book, Wells's reputation must rest chiefly upon his dramatic poem. It is truly poetical in diction, and often masterly in the delineation of character; but its especial merit is the fidelity with which the writer reproduces the grand Elizabethan manner with no approach to servility of imitation. He is as much a born Elizabethan as Keats is a born Greek; his style is that of his predecessors, and yet it seems his own. It must have been impossible for him to draw Potiphar's spouse without having Shakespeare's Cleopatra continually in his mind, and yet his Paraxanor is an original creation. The entire drama conveys the impression of an emanation from an opulent nature to which production was easy, and which under the stimulus of popular applause, might have gone on producing for an indefinite period. The defect which barred the way to fame for him was rather moral than literary; he had no very exalted standard of art and little disinterested passion for it, and when its reward seemed unjustly withheld, it cost him little to relinquish it.-GARNETT, RICHARD, 1899, Dictionary of National Biography, vol. LX, pp. 225, 226. Frances Ridley Havergal 1836-1879 An English religious writer and poet; born at Astley, Worcestershire, Dec. 14, 1836; died at Swansea, Wales, June 3, 1879. She began to write hymns and letters in verse at the age of seven, but did not publish anything until 1860. She was a frequent contributor to Good Words. Among over 30 publications, which once enjoyed considerable popularity, may be noticed: "The Four Happy Days" (1873); "Under the Surface" (1874), poems; "Royal Graces and Loyal Gifts" (6 vols. 1879); "Under His Shadow" (1879); and a number of posthumous works by various editors.-WARNER, CHARLES DUDLEY, ed., 1897, Library of the World's Best Literature, Biographical Dictionary, vol. XXIX, p. 253. PERSONAL She received her education at English and German boarding-schools, and enjoyed exceptional advantages of culture and travel. In the midst of it all her Christianity became her predominant characteristic, and her piety was as attractive as it was profound. She mastered languages with great ease. French, German, Italian, Latin, Greek, and Hebrew were among her acquirements. She even learned enough Welsh from her donkey-girl to take part in the Welsh church services. The scholarly instinct was strong within her, and her Bible-noted and underlined-was one of the best of proofs that she applied herself earnestly to the noblest themes. She was also finely musical-a performer, vocalist and composer, whom Heller was glad to approve and the "Songs of Grace and Glory" furnish good proof of this.-DUFFIELD, SAMUEL WILLOUGHBY, 1886, English Hymns, p. 189. The last nine years of her life were very sad. She lost her father and beloved stepmother, and became an invalid herself, suffering fearfully from a painful and mortal disease. When very near her end her physician said, "Good-bye, I shall not see you again." She asked, "Do you really think I am going?" When he said, "Yes, probably to-day," she smiled and exclaimed, "Beautiful; too good to be true. It is splendid to be so near the gates of heaven." She was thrown into fearful convulsions; when they ceased, she nestled down in the pillows, folded her hands on her breast and said, "There now, it is all over-blessed rest!"— RUTHERFORD, M., 1890, English Authors. GENERAL In her little book of poems, entitled 'Under the Surface," we have groups of doctrinal verse, which ring out in all their clearness, and tell of "true metal;" while, in her little books of prose, we search in vain to find even one doubtful or meretricious sentence. Solid simple truth, offered to us in the attractive language of a child bringing us a message from her father; this is the general style of her writing, and as such we prize it. . . . Oh! that the inspired mantle of spiritual, prayerful, praiseful song might descend on some heart amongst us, for the continuation of the great work begun, by God's almighty power, through the gifted pen and hallowed life of Frances Ridley Havergal!-HOPE, E. R., 1879, Frances Ridley Havergal, Catholic Presbyterian, vol. 2, pp. 275, 277. Whilst it is true that Miss Havergal learned in suffering what she taught in song, it is also true that she had made her poetic purpose a subject of much reflection. It was owing to the fact that she very early apprehended that her poetical efforts must be strictly commensurate with her poetical strength, and that she correctly gauged her poetical capabilities, that we have received at her hands those hymns which for the rich quality of their music have not been surpassed; and which for chastity of thought, reverence of spirit, and piety of feeling, have not been excelled by any religious writer since the days of Keble. Her "song chalice" might be frail, but not less sure was she that it was a work divine. . . . The "Ministry of Song," however, showed that Miss Havergal was not merely a writer of devotional lyrics, but a close observer of human life and character. If the book made it apparent that a new lyrist had arisen, it made it also distinctly apparent that one was moving in society who, having meditated a great deal on various problems of human life, was industriously taking notes of all she heard and saw therein. Her secular pieces bring us into direct contact with those subtle and hidden forces which go to the moulding and upbuilding of character; they also give language to those great unseen griefs and those terrible unuttered agonies that lie immediately below the surface of apparently tranquil lives. To this class of her writing belongs her fine poem "Wounded." Although it is only the record of a drawing-room experience, yet it is impossible not to be struck by its inimitable literary precision, its animated force, and its truthful picturing of a too common incident.-ANTON, P., 1880, Frances Ridley Havergal, Fraser's Magazine, vol. 102, p. 482, 484. Reverting again to the devotional lyrics of the present day, those of Frances Ridley Havergal take high rank, alike for their poetic beauty, their freshness and religious fervor. Her productions, which have been worthily collected into a volume, remind us sometimes of the muse of Keble and anon of Faber and of Adelaide Procter.-SAUNDERS, FREDERICK, 1885, Evenings with the Sacred Poets, p. 492. " In poetry she was intensely religious, intensely subjective, and intensely sensitive to all beautiful or inspiring things. Many of her verses (like the "Moonlight Sonata, of which, by the way, she was an almost unrivalled interpreter) are really autobiographic. - DUFFIELD, SAMUEL WILOUGHBY, 1886, English Hymns, p. 189. Her religious poetry became exceedingly popular in evangelical circles, and her hymns are to be found in all collections. In her poetical work there is a lack of concentration, and a tendency to meaningless repetition of phrase, but some of her hymns are excellent, and will permanently preserve her name. Her autobiography was published in "Memorials of Frances Ridley Havergal, by her Sister, M. V. G. Havergal," 2nd edition, 1880. The influence of this book has been as remarkable as that of Miss Havergal's poems. It presents a striking picture of an unusually eager, if somewhat narrow, spiritual life.-BAYNE, RONALD, 1891, Dictionary of National Biography vol. XXV, p. 180. Among the writers of religious verse and song no one has won a more enduring place in the homes and hearts of English speaking people than Frances Ridley Havergal. ... .. She learned through suffering to dedicate her gifts and her life to the service of Christianity and many a soul has found. the long needed help and comfort through is difficult to predict the future, but there is no doubt that since its publication it has given direction and colour to the study of Electrical Science. It was the master's last word upon a subject to which he had devoted several years of his life, and most of what he wrote found its proper place in the treatise. Several of the chapters, notably those on electromagnetism, are practically reproductions of his memoirs in a modified or improved form. The treatise is also remarkable for the handling of the mathematical details no less than for the exposition of physical principles, and is enriched incidentally by chapters of much originality on mathematical subjects touched on in the course of the work.-NIVEN, W. D., 1890, ed., The Scientific Papers of James Clerk Maxwell, vol. 1, p. 29. "One who has enriched the inheritance left by Newton and has consolidated the work of Faraday-one who impelled the mind of Cambridge to a fresh course of real investigation-has clearly earned his place in human memory." It was thus that Professor Lewis Campbell and Mr. Garnett began in 1882 their life of James Clerk Maxwell. The years which have passed, since that date, have all tended to strengthen the belief in the greatness of Maxwell's work and in the fertility of his genius, which has inspired the labours of those who, not in Cambridge only, but throughout the world, have aided in developing the seeds sown by him. . . . Since Maxwell's death volumes have been written on electrical questions, which have all been inspired by his work. The standpoint from which electrical theory is regarded has been entirely changed. The greatest masters of mathematical physics have found, in the development of Maxwell's views, a task that called for all their powers, and the harvest of new truths which has been garnered has proved most rich.-GLAZEBROOK, R. T., 1896, James Clerk Maxwell and Modern Physics, pp, 9, 216. Faraday's views; but he was more than this; he built up a mathematical theory of magnetism and electricity which will be a lasting monument to his genius. He also propounded his electro-magnetic theory of light, in which he supposes that electrical energy is propagated by vibrations of the same æther which is supposed to transmit energy in the form of light. His theory supposes, in fact, that electricity and light are simply different aspects of the same phenomenon-a vibrating æther. In recent years Hertz, a pupil of Helmholtz, has, in a series of brilliant experiments, gone far towards verifying the results of Maxwell's theory of light. Electric waves have been obtained, and have been shown to be capable of reflection and refraction in exactly the same way as waves of light. Maxwell died in 1879, and the scientific world lost its most brilliant genius.-RHODES, W. G., 1897, Social England, ed. Traill, vol. VI, p. 352. The natural philosophy of electricity, which may be said to have begun with Orsted and Ampère, is due in no small measure to the experimental researches and truly philosophical ideas of Faraday. The first consistent statement of it was given by Thomson, who expressed in mathematical language Faraday's ideas of lines of force, and deduced by a dynamical process the consequences of Faraday's experimental discoveries. Thomson's theory was at bottom one of action in a medium, and from it he obtained by deduction and experimental verification important discoveries of his own. Upon this quantitative philosophical discussion Maxwell to a great extent based his form of the theory, the essence of which is its dynamical character, and its explicit transference of the phenomena from the conductors and magnets and circuits to the electromagnetic field. The theory of light, though far from being the end, is the crown of the whole work.-GRAY, A., 1898, Clerk Maxwell's Influence on Modern PhysMaxwell called himself the interpreter of ics, Nature, vol. 58, P. 219. George Eliot Mary Ann Cross 1819. Mary Ann Evans, "George Eliot," born November 22 at South Farm, Arbury, in Warwickshire. 1820-1841.-Lived at Griff House, Nuneaton, in the midst of farmhouses, and scenery described in "Adam Bede" and "The Mill on the Floss." 1824-1827.-Attended Miss Lathom's boarding school. 1827-1831.-Attended Miss Wallington's school is difficult to predict the future, but there is no doubt that since its publication it has given direction and colour to the study of Electrical Science. It was the master's last word upon a subject to which he had devoted several years of his life, and most of what he wrote found its proper place in the treatise. Several of the chapters, notably those on electromagnetism, are practically reproductions of his memoirs in a modified. or improved form. The treatise is also remarkable for the handling of the mathematical details no less than for the exposition of physical principles, and is enriched incidentally by chapters of much originality on mathematical subjects touched on in the course of the work.-NIVEN, W. D., 1890, ed., The Scientific Papers of James Clerk Maxwell, vol. 1, p. 29. "One who has enriched the inheritance left by Newton and has consolidated the work of Faraday-one who impelled the mind of Cambridge to a fresh course of real investigation-has clearly earned his place in human memory." It was thus that Professor Lewis Campbell and Mr. Garnett began in 1882 their life of James Clerk Maxwell. The years which have passed, since that date, have all tended to strengthen the belief in the greatness of Maxwell's work and in the fertility of his genius, which has inspired the labours of those who, not in Cambridge only, but throughout the world, have aided in developing the seeds sown by him. . . . Since Maxwell's death volumes have been written on electrical questions, which have all been inspired by his work. The standpoint from which electrical theory is regarded has been entirely changed. The greatest masters of mathematical physics have found, in the development of Maxwell's views, a task that called for all their powers, and the harvest of new truths which has been garnered has proved most rich.-GLAZEBROOK, R. T., 1896, James Clerk Maxwell and Modern Physics, pp, 9, 216. Faraday's views; but he was more than supposes, in fact, that electricity and light 352. The natural philosophy of electricity, which may be said to have begun with Orsted and Ampère, is due in no small measure to the experimental researches and truly philosophical ideas of Faraday. The first consistent statement of it was given by Thomson, who expressed in mathematical language Faraday's ideas of lines of force, and deduced by a dynamical process the consequences of Faraday's experimental discoveries. Thomson's theory was at bottom one of action in a medium, and from it he obtained by deduction and experimental verification important discoveries of his own. Upon this quantitative philosophical discussion Maxwell to a great extent based his form of the theory, the essence of which is its dynamical character, and its explicit transference of the phenomena from the conductors and magnets and circuits to the electromagnetic field. The theory of light, though far from being the end, is the crown of the whole work.-GRAY, A., 1898, Clerk Maxwell's Influence on Modern Phys Maxwell called himself the interpreter of ics, Nature, vol. 58, P. 219. George Eliot Mary Ann Cross 1819.-Mary Ann Evans, "George Eliot," born November 22 at South Farm, Arbury, in Warwickshire. 1820-1841.-Lived at Griff House, Nuneaton, in the midst of farmhouses, and scenery described in "Adam Bede" and "The Mill on the Floss." 1824-1827.-Attended Miss Lathom's boarding school. 1827-1831.-Attended Miss Wallington's school |