obtain; embracing, as it does, the lives and achievements of Authors and Poets, Scientists and Philosophers, Thinkers and Reformers, Orators and Lecturers, Kings and Rulers, Soldiers and Statesmen, Inventors and Explorers, Artists and Musicians, Journalists and Humorous Writers, Lawyers and Jurists, Actors and Singers, Divines and Revivalists, Sportsmen, and many other personages of note. The history of the present-of people now living in our very midst is fraught with the greatest interest, and of which much more should be known by everyone, whether he be rich or poor, educated or uneducated. As a supplement to the newspaper, this work stands unparalleled as a storehouse of useful knowledge indispensable to readers desirous of a fuller exposition of the lives and doings of the great thinkers and actors on the world's stage, of which the press makes such constant mention; but, being incomplete, is unintelligible to the masses. In consequence of the almost inaccessibility of facts concerning the lives of many of the subjects contained in this work, the daily press has been largely drawn upon for material; thus many important facts and interesting reminiscences have been rescued from oblivion that add greatly to the value of this volume. Some of the subjects—such as John L. Sullivan, et. al., may not, perhaps, be of interest to the great majority; but the insertion of them seemed absolutely necessary to completely fill the demand for a work containing the lives and doings of the most prominent American and foreign celebrities now living. Such subjects will, however, be of interest to some, if not to others; and to more fully illustrate this fact, the perusal of Frank G. Tobey's poem, here given, will more forcibly impress it upon the memory of the reader. NOT A LINE THAT NOBODY READS. Now please don't get vexed, for you know it's my But what makes you put in each paper you Every line in the paper is read-but it's so ; And now, if you wish, I will make my words good And prove what I say, as every man should. say, And if you don't find on the very next day That your neighbors all read it, I promise to give Free subscriptions to you as long as you live." "Agreed," said the farmer, "you shall sing a new song; Put it right in the middle of one of those long, Fine type advertisements-I never yet knew Any person of sense to read one of those through; If I hear from it twice, I will bring down to you The best load of garden sauce I ever grew." Then the "good days" were passed, and the farmer went out, And the editor laughed to himself without doubt As he thought of the wager and how it would end And a nice little joke he would have on his friend. Then he wrote just two lines, and he ordered them set In the smallest of type-thinking, "I'll win that bet." (fail, And he placed them himself, to be sure and not In the midst of a close agate real estate sale, For to better succeed in his little designs, He'd selected a place where to put these two lines And have them connected with what followed and make A sentence complete in itself, without break. These the lines that he wrote: "Our old friend, good James True, Who is one of the best men the world ever knew Of the well-known Hope Farm "-that was all that he said About James, but the lines next below these two read, "Will be sold very cheap," then went on to unfold [sold. The beauties and bounds of the estate to be The paper was printed. The next day but one, The farmer came in, with his eyes full of fun. "You have won," he began, "just as sure as you're born; Whybefore I'd got breakfast ate yesterday morn Two or three of my neighbors called purpose to see What that meant in the paper they saw about me. (I hadn't seen it yet.) Then during the day, Every neighbor that met me had something to say About my being sold. I was sold very cheap, And you did it well, too; it was too good to keep So I've told the whole story, and come with all speed To bring you the garden sauce as I agreed." The editor looked from his window and saw His friend had brought in all the horses could draw All for him; he declined to accept it, but found That his friend would not listen, and was off with a bound, Saying, cheerily, as he went out-" In your next Just say Jim True's preaching, and this is his text: There is naught in the paper-fruit, flowers, or weeds Not a line in the paper that nobody reads." So, indeed, may the readers of this work charitably apply the experience of Good Farmer True to the subjects herein contained by slightly changing the truism of his text to There's naught in this volume, fruits, flowers, or weeds, Not a subject in this book that nobody reads! With the above admonition, the writer presents the work to the public, with the hope that its perusal will be a source of instruction and pleasure to all. CONTENTS. ABDUL HAMID II, Sultan of Turkey, ABDURRAHMAN KHAN, Afghan Ruler, ADLER, FELIX, Social Reformer, AGASSIZ, ALEXANDER, American Scientist, ALBERT EDWARD, Prince of Wales, ATKINS, JOHN, Commission of Indian Affairs, D. C., 369 BEECHER, MRS. H. W., Wife of Eminent Divine, BEAUREGARD, GEN., Southern Statesman, BELL, A. G., Inventor of the Telephone, BELMONT, PERRY, Member of Congress, BENEDICT, THOMAS E., Public Printer, BLACK, JOHN C., General Pension Agent, BLACKBURN, J. C. S., U. S. Senator from Kentucky, BLAKE, LILLIE DEVEREUX, Social Reformer, BLAIR, HENRY W., U. S. Senator from N. H., BRIGHT, JOHN, Eminent British Orator, BRISSON, HENRI, French Statesman, BROWN, JOHN, Oldest Government Employe, BROWN, JOS. E., U. S. Senator from Georgia, BROWNING, ROBERT, The Thinker's Poet, BUCKNER, SIMON BOLIVAR, Southern General, BUTLER, BEN. F., Lawyer, Soldier and Statesman, |