In addition to
achieving
distinction as an art-
ist, he wrote various noted poems, including
(The Gaberlunzie's Wallet) (1843); (One Hun.
ist, he wrote various noted poems, including
(The Gaberlunzie's Wallet) (1843); (One Hun.
Warner - World's Best Literature - v29 - BIographical Dictionary
, 1861-62); etc.
Baillie, Joanna. A Scottish poet; born in
Bothwell, Lanarkshire, Sept. II, 1762; died at
Hampstead, England, Feb. 23, 1851.
At an
early age she removed to London and settled
at Hampstead, where, with her sister Agnes,
she passed the remainder of her life. The first
volume of her (Plays on the Passions) was
published in 1798; one of them, “The Family
Legend, was successfully presented at Edin-
burgh under the patronage of Sir Walter Scott.
Miss Baillie published many short poems and
songs of great beauty. She enjoyed the close
friendship of Scott, Jeffrey (who at first had
severely criticized her work), Lucy Aikin, Mrs.
Siddons, and other eminent persons. For her
benevolent deeds at Hampstead, the poor gave
her the name of "Lady Bountiful. ” *
Bailly, Jean Sylvain (bä-ye'). A distin-
guished French astronomer and statesman;
born in Paris, Sept. 15, 1736; died there, Nov.
12, 1793. The first president of the States-
General or National Assembly (1789), and
mayor of Paris (1789). He was the advocate of
order and moderation, and having offended the
Jacobins, he died on the guillotine. He wrote:
(History of Astronomy) (4 vols. , 1775-83), which
became very popular; (Memoirs of the Revolu-
tion) (3 vols. , 1804); etc.
Baily, Francis (bă'lē). An English astron-
omer;
born at Newbury, Berkshire, April 28,
174; died in London, Au 30, 1844. He re-
formed the Nautical Almanac,) and was the
## p. 37 (#53) ##############################################
BAIN -- BAKER
37
>
author of the Astronomical Society's Cata-
logue of Stars. He wrote also a Life of
Flamsteed) (1835); (Journal of a Tour in Un-
settled Parts of North America) (1856, edited
by De Morgan); etc.
Bain, Alexander (bãn). A distinguished
Scotch philosophical writer; born at Aberdeen,
1818. He became professor of natural philos-
ophy in the Andersonian University, Glasgow,
(1845); examiner in logic and moral philoso-
phy for the University of London (1857–62,
1864-69); professor of logic (1860–80) at, and
lord rector (1881) of, the University of Aber-
deen. He belongs to the Spencerian or ex-
periential school of philosophy, and teaches
physiological psychology. His chief works are:
(The Senses and the Intellect) (1855); “The
Emotions and the Will (1859), the two form-
ing a complete course of mental philosophy;
(English Composition and Rhetoric) (1866);
(Mental and Moral Science) (1868); (Logic)
(2 vols. , 1870); Mind and Body) (1873); (Ed-
ucation as a Science' (1879); James Mill and
John Stuart Mill) (1882); Practical Essays)
(1884); etc.
Baird, Charles Washington. An American
historian and religious writer, son of Robert
Baird; born at Princeton, N. J. , Aug. 28, 1828;
died in Rye, N. Y. , Feb. 10, 1881. Besides works
on the Presbyterian liturgies (which he was the
first to collect and investigate) and local his-
tories, he wrote: (History of the Huguenot
Emigration to America) (2 vols. , 1885). It is
interesting especially to the genealogist.
Baird, Henry Carey. An American writer
on political economy, nephew of Henry C.
Carey; born at Bridesburg, Pa. , 1825. He is a
publisher at Philadelphia. A protectionist, his
economical views generally are similar to those
of his distinguished uncle. He has written
numerous economic pamphlets.
Baird, Henry Martyn. An American au-
thor; born in Philadelphia, Pa. , Jan. 17, 1832.
He graduated from the University of the City
of New York in 1850, and after spending some
years in Europe, took a course in theology at
Union and Princeton. In 1859 he was appointed
professor of the Greek language and literature
in the University of the City of New York. His
principal works are the History of the Rise of
the Huguenots) (1879); (The Huguenots and
Henry of Navarre) (1886); and (The Hugue-
nots and the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes)
(1895). *
Baird, Robert. An American historian and
divine; born in Fayette County, Pa. , Oct. 6,
1708; died at Yonkers, N. Y. , March 15, 1863.
Among his works were : (History of the Wal-
denses, Albigenses, and Vaudois); “History of
the Temperance Societies) (1836); Religion
in America) (1844); etc. He was correspond-
ing secretary of the American and Foreign
Christian Union (1849-55, 1861-63).
Baird, Spencer Fullerton. A distinguished
American naturalist; born at Reading, Pa. ,
Feb. 3, 1823; died at Wood's Holl, Mass. , Aug.
19, 1887. He became professor of natural sci-
ences at Dickinson College, Carlisle, Pa. , 1845;
United States commissioner of fish and fisher-
ies, 1871; secretary of the Smithsonian Insti-
tution, 1878. A very prolific writer, among his
more important works may be named : a (Cat-
alogue of North American Reptiles) (1853);
(Birds of North America) (with Cassin and
Lawrence, 1860); Mammals of North America)
(1858); History of North American Birds )
(with Brewer and Ridgeway, 1874-84) ; etc. His
writings cover nearly every branch of natural
history.
Bajza, Joseph (boy'zä). A Hungarian poet
and critic (1804-58). He devoted himself to
the field of history, and edited a Historical
Library) (1843-45) and the New Plutarch)
(1845-47). Since 1831 he was a member of the
Hungarian Academy, and since 1836 of the
Kisfaludy Society. He ranks among the best
lyric poets of Hungary. His “Poems) were
published in 1835, and his “Collected Works)
(2d ed. , in 6 vols. , by Toldy) in 1861.
Baker, George Augustus. An American
writer of verse and stories; born in New York,
N. Y. , in August 1849. He graduated from Co-
lumbia College Law School, and has written :
(Point Lace and Diamonds, light society verse
(New York, 1875); (Bad Habits of Good So-
ciety) (1876); Mrs. Hephæstus and Other
Stories) (1887); and comedies.
Baker, Mrs. Harriette Newell (Woods)
(pseudonyms “Madeline Leslie) and “Aunt
Hatty”). An American writer of juvenile
stories; born 1815; died 1893. A very vo-
luminous writer, several of her works have
been translated into French and German. She
has written : (Tim the Scissors-Grinder) (1861,
equel in 1862), her most opul work; (Up
the Ladder) (1862); (The Two Homes) (1862);
(The Organ-Grinder) (1863); “White and Black
Lies) (1864); "Worth and Wealth) (1864);
(Tim's Sister) (1864); (Wheel of Fortune)
(1865); (Courtesies of Wedded Life) (1869);
(Paul Barton) (1869); (Fashion and Folly)
(1869); "Lost but Found) (1869); (Ingleside)
(1886); (This and That) (1887); etc. She is
daughter of Rev. Leonard Woods and wife of
Rev. S. R. Baker.
Baker, Samuel White, Sir. An English
traveler and author; born June 8, 1821; died
in Newton Abbot, England, Dec. 30, 1893. At
an early age he went to Ceylon, and estab-
lished a sanitarium at Newera Ellia 6,200 feet
above sea level; in 1861 undertook to explore
the sources of the Nile, discovered and named
Lake Albert Nyanza, and reached Gondokoro
in 1865. In 1866 he was knighted. He after-
wards traveled in India, Syria, Japan, and
America. His books include: (The Rifle and
Hound in Ceylon (1856); (Eight Years'
Wanderings in Ceylon) (1855); (The Albert
Nyanza) (1866); (The Nile Tributaries of
Abyssinia (1867); (Ismailia) (1874); (Cyprus)
(1879); (Wild Beasts and their Ways) (1890);
## p. 38 (#54) ##############################################
38
BAKER-BALFOUR
:
and "Cast up by the Sea, a popular tale of
adventure (1869). *
Baker, William Mumford. An American
descriptive and miscellaneous writer; born in
Washington, D. C. , June 27, 1825; died in South
Boston, Mass. , Aug. 20, 1883. He graduated
from Princeton in 1846, and became pastor of
churches in Texas and in South Boston, Mass.
His most important book was (Inside: A
Chronicle of Secession' (New York, 1866). He
also wrote many stories, including His Maj-
esty Myself(Boston, 1879).
Baki (bä'kē). The greatest lyric poet of
Turkey; died about 1600. His Divan) con-
tains almost exclusively odes in praise of the
Sultan.
Balaguer, Victor (bä-lä-går'). A noted
Spanish-Catalan poet, novelist, and historian;
born in Barcelona, Dec. II, 1824. As a poet
he first attracted notice by his dramas, taken
partly from antiquity, partly from Catalan his-
tory; among them are: “Sappho); Don En-
rique the Magnificent'; Juan de Padilla);
(Coriolanus. Of his lyrics the best are em-
bodied in the collection (The Troubadour of
Montserrat' (1850). He also wrote widely read
historical romances and tales, among which
(Don Juan de Serravalle) deserves especial
mention. Other works are: Historical and
Political Studies) (1876); History of Cata-
lonia) (1886-89), and Political and Literary
History of the Troubadours) (1878–80). A
complete edition of his works appears in the
"Collection of Castilian Writers. )
Balbi, Gasparo (bäl'be). A Venetian mer-
chant and writer of travels; lived in the 16th
century. He visited Aleppo, spent the years
1579-88 in India, and published Journey in the
East Indies) (1590). It contained the first Eu-
ropean description of India beyond the Ganges.
Balbo, Count Cesare (bäl’bo). An Italian
statesman, historian, and publicist; born at
Turin, Nov. 21, 1789; died there, June 3, 1853.
A moderate and liberal patriot, he became
prominent in the revolutionary disturbances of
1848, being premier of Sardinia in that year.
He wrote : Life of Dante' (1839); Hopes of
Italy) (1843), advocating Italian independence;
(History of Italy) (1849), which takes high
rank.
Balboa or Balvoa, Miguel Cabello de (bäl-
bo'ä). A Spanish historian ; born in Archi-
dona, about 1525; died, probably in Peru, after
1586. At first a soldier, he became afterward
a priest and went to America (about 1566), re-
siding at Bogota, later in Lima and Cuzco.
He left in manuscript a history, which was
published 1840, when it appeared in a French
translation entitled (History of Peru. It treats
of the origin of the Incas.
Balbuena, Don Bernardo de (bäl-bwā'nä).
A Spanish poet; born at Val de Peñas in 1568 ;
died in Porto Rico in 1627. At an early age
he went to Mexico, where he completed his
theological studies and acquired reputation as
a poet. Of his works only the following are
extant: (The Greatness of Mexico! (1604), a
poetic description of that city; (The Age of
Gold in the Forests of Eryphile (1608), a pas.
toral romance in prose, interspersed with lyrics ;
(Bernardo, or the Victory of Roncesvalles )
(1624), an epic treating of the national hero
Bernardo del Carpio.
Baldovini, Francesco (bäl-do-ve'nē). An
Italian poet; born at Florence, Feb. 27, 1635;
died Nov. 18, 1716. He wrote Lament of
Cecco of Varlungo, etc. (1694), etc.
Balducci, Francesco (bäl-dö'che). A lead-
ing Italian Anacreontic poet; born at Palermo;
died at Rome, 1642. He wrote “Sicilian Songs)
in the Sicilian dialect, etc.
Baldwin, John Denison. An American jour-
nalist, politician, poet, and writer on archæ-
ology ; born at North Stonington, Conn. , Sept.
28, 1809; died at Worcester, Mass. , July 8, 1883.
After studying law and theology, he entered
journalism, was long editor and proprietor of
the Worcester Spy, and became member of
Congress (1863-69). He wrote: (Raymond Hill
and Other Poems) (1847); Prehistoric Nations)
(1869); Ancient America) (1872).
Bale, John. An English theologian and
dramatist; born at Cove, Suffolk, Nov. 21, 1495;
died at Canterbury, probably 1563. Originally
a Catholic, he became Protestant bishop of
Ossory, Ireland (1552). Besides numerous con-
troversial works, he wrote in Latin a (Cata-
logue of the Illustrious Writers of Great
Britain (1548-59), the first history of English
literature, and a number of interludes and mo-
ralities (i. e. , religious plays) in the interest of
Protestantism, the most important of these
being the historical drama (King John. On
account of his bad temper he was known as
“ Bilious Bale. Select works, Cambridge, 1849.
Balestier, Charles Wolcott (bal-es-tēr'). An
American journalist and novelist; born in
Rochester, N. Y. , Dec. 13, 1861; died in Dres-
den, Germany, Dec. 6, 1891. He engaged in
publishing and in journalism, and
writer of much promise. His novels include:
(A Fair Device (New York, 1884); (and
posthumously) (An Average Woman' (1892);
(Benefits Forgot) (1894); and (Naulahka: a
Story of East and West,' in collaboration with
Rudyard Kipling (1892).
Balfour, Alexander (bal'för). A Scotch poet
and novelist; born at Monikie, Forfarshire,
March 1, 1767; died Sept. 12, 1829. He wrote:
(Campbell, or the Scottish Probationer (1819);
"Contemplation and Other Poems) (1820);
(Farmer's Three Daughters) (1822); (The
Foundling of Glenthorn, or the Smuggler's Cave)
(1823); "Highland Mary) (1827).
Balfour, Arthur James. An English author
and statesman; born July 25, 1848. He was
educated at Eton, and at Trinity College, Cam-
bridge, from which he graduated in 1873. He
has been lord rector of Glasgow University,
was
a
(
## p. 39 (#55) ##############################################
BALL- BANCROFT
39
and is Chancellor of the University of Edin-
burgh. He is a leader of the Conservative
party, was Chief Secretary for Ireland in 1887,
and First Lord of the Treasury, 1891-92, and
again in 1895. He is the author of (A Defence
of Philosophic Doubt! (1879) ; ( Essays and Ad-
dresses (1893). His Foundations of Belief)
(1895) attracted wide-spread attention and in-
terest both in Europe and America. *
Ball, Robert Stawell, Sir. A British astron-
omer; born in Dublin, July 1, 1840. He was
educated at Trinity College, Dublin; Royal
astronomer of Ireland in 1874, and since 1892
has been Lowndean professor of astronomy at
Cambridge, England. He was knighted in 1886.
He is author of scientific works and popular
books on astronomy, including : (Story of the
Heavens) (1885); (Time and Tide: a Romance
of the Moon (1888); (Starland) (1889); and
(In Starry Realms) (1892).
Ballantine, James. A Scotch poet; born in
Edinburgh, June 11, 1808; died Dec. 18, 1877.
In addition to achieving distinction as an art-
ist, he wrote various noted poems, including
(The Gaberlunzie's Wallet) (1843); (One Hun.
dred Songs) (1865); and two or three collec-
tions of verse.
Ballantyne, Robert Michael. A Scotch
writer of juvenile literature; born in Edinburgh,
1825; died in Rome, Italy, Feb. 8, 1894. He
spent his youth in Canada in the service of the
Hudson Bay Company. In 1856 he adopted
literature as a profession. He has been very
popular in England as a writer of stories for
boys. Among the best known are: Deep
Down); “Coral Island); (The World of Ice);
(Ungava'; (The Dog Crusoe); and others.
Ballestrem, Countess Eufemia von (bäl'les-
trām). A German novelist and poet; born at
Ratibor, Aug. 18, 1859. Married to Major von
Adlersfeld in 1884, she has lived at Karlsruhe
since 1889. Of her novels may be mentioned :
(Lady Melusine) (1878); (The Falconers of
Falcon Court) (1890). A collection of lyrics,
Drops in the Ocean) (1878), and a romantic
poem, Raoul the Page) (1881), bear witness to
her poetic talent.
Ballou, Hosea (ba-lö'). An American Uni-
versalist divine, journalist, and historian; born
at Halifax, Vt. , Oct. 18, 1796; died at Somer-
ville, Mass. , May 27, 1861. He was the first
president of Tufts College (1854-61), and was
very successful as editor of the Universalist
Magazine. He wrote: (Ancient History of
Universalism (1829) and a hymn-book (1837).
Ballou, Maturin Murray. An American
journalist and miscellaneous writer, son of
Hosea Ballou ; born at Boston, April 14, 1820;
died 1895. Besides editing Ballou's Pictorial,
The Flag of Our Union, Ballou's Monthly, etc. ,
and making a valuable compilation of quota-
tions, he wrote: History of Cuba) (1854);
Biography of Hosea Ballou); "Life Work of
Hosea Ballou. ' Becoming in later life an ex-
tensive traveler, he wrote a number of books
of travel, including : Due West); (Due South
(1885); (Due North); Under the Southern
Cross); (Footprints of Travel); etc. In 1872
he became one of the founders and the editor.
in-chief of the Boston Globe.
Balucki, Michael (bä-löts'ke). A Polish
dramatist and novelist; born in Cracow, Sept.
29, 1837. He wrote at first under the pseu-
donym Elpidon, and is most popular as a
story-teller of satirical tendency, ridiculing the
shortcomings and prejudices of Polish society.
Of his novels may be mentioned : (The Awak-
ened' (1864); (The Old and the Young'
(1866); Life among Ruins) (1870); (The
Jewess) (1871); (For Sins not Committed
(1879); (250,000) (1883). The best among his
comedies are: “The Chase after a Man (1869) ;
(The Emancipated' (1873); (Amateur Theatre)
(1879); (The Open House) (1883). He also
wrote good lyric poetry, and essays on Polish
literature.
Balzac, Honoré de (bäl-zäk'). The greatest
of French novelists; born in Tours, May 16, 1799 ;
died in Paris, Aug. 18, 1850. He gave to his
works the general title (The Human Comedy,
in which are embraced the sub-series : (Scenes
of Private Life,' 27 stories and sketches (among
them: (The Woman of Thirty Years. (The
Grenadier Woman”); “Scenes of Paris Life
(among them : (Père Goriot, César Birotteau,'
(Cousin Betty'); (Scenes of Political Life);
(Scenes of Military Life); and so on. Accord-
ing to Larousse's Dictionary, Balzac's novels
amount in all to 97 titles; but this does not
include all miscellaneous studies and short sto-
ries contributed to periodicals. *
Balzac, Jean Louis Guez de. A noted
French essayist and letter-writer; born at An-
goulême in 1597 ; died on his estate (Balzac)
near there, Feb. 18, 1654. His influence upon
French prose is usually compared to that of
Malherbes upon poetry; the euphony and sym-
metry of his phraseology, the elegance of his
metaphors, served for a long time as models.
Under Richelieu he became royal councilor, and
historiographer of France, and was one of the
most influential members of the Academy from
its foundation, likewise a sort of oracle of the
Hôtel Rambouillet. Besides his ( Letters ) (1624),
which are elaborate epistles with a definite at-
tempt at style, he wrote: (The Prince) (1631),
a glorification of absolute monarchy; (The
Dotard(1648); (The Christian Socrates)
(1652); and Aristippus) (1658), the latter in-
tended to portray the ideal statesman.
Ban, Mathias (băn). A Servian dramatist;
born in Ragusa, Dec. 18, 1818. He has been a
tutor, journalist, and critic; but his best work
was done for the theatre, (Dobrila and Mi-
lenko) being a masterpiece in tragedy, as is
in a less degree (The Muscovite. His poems,
notably (Odes to the Sultan,' are virile and
correct.
Bancroft, George. An eminent American
historian and statesman; born in Worcester,
Mass. , Oct. 3, 1800; died in Washington, D. C. ,
## p. 40 (#56) ##############################################
40
BANCROFT - BANVILLE
2
1
*
Jan. 17, 1891. After graduation from Harvard
in 1817, he studied at Göttingen and Heidel-
berg. He taught Greek at Harvard; founded
the Round Hill School at Northampton, Mass. ;
was collector of the port of Boston in 1838;
and in 1845 was appointed Secretary of the
Navy in Polk's Cabinet. His principal literary
work is the History of the United States, the
first volume of which appeared in 1834. The
last revised edition is in 6 volumes (New York,
1884-85). His minor publications include:
(Poems) (Cambridge, 1823); a translation of
Heeren's (Politics of Ancient Greece) (Boston,
1824); Literary and Historical Miscellanies)
(New York, 1855); and (Abraham Lincoln, an
address (Washington, 1866). *
Bancroft, Hubert Howe. An American his-
torian; born in Granville, Ohio, May 5, 1832. In
1852 he went to California to establish a book
business, and began to collect documents, maps,
books, and MSS. for a complete History of
the Pacific States) from Mexico to Alaska. In
1893 this library numbered 60,000 volumes, to
which many additions have been made. His
histories are still in preparation. Literary In-
dustries' (vol. 40, San Francisco, 1890) describes
his work.
Bandelier, Adolph Francis Alphonse (ban-
de-lēr'). A Swiss-American archæologist; born
at Bern, Switzerland, Aug. 6, 1840. In the em-
ploy of the Archæological Institute of Amer-
ica, he has been engaged in explorations in
New Mexico, Arizona, Mexico, and Central and
South America. He has written : (The Art of
War and Mode of Warfare (1877); (Archæo-
logical Tour in Mexico) (1885); etc. ; and (The
Delight Makers,' a novel of Pueblo Indian life.
Bandello, Matteo (bän-dello). "An Italian
novelist; born at Castelnuovo, Piedmont, about
1480; died after 1561. In Rome he became a
Dominican friar, then entered a monastery in
Milan, but led on the whole a roving life,
sojourning in various cities and at several of
the petty courts of Italy until 1525, when he
went to France. Made bishop of Agen by
Henry II. in 1550, he resigned that dignity in
1555. His tales, 214 in number, present vivid
delineations of the loose manners of those
times, and have frequently served as a source
to many succeeding story-writers and dram-
atists, among them Shakespeare. Several were
translated by T. Roscoe in his Italian Novel-
ists) (vol. iii. , London, 1825).
Bangs, John Kendrick. An American hu-
morist and novelist; born in 1862.
one of the founders of Life, and he has long
been famed for his light verse and humorous
stories, among which may be mentioned : (New
Waggings of Old Tales with F. D. Sherman)
(Boston, 1887); Coffee and Repartee) (New
York, 1886); (Mr. Bonaparte of Corsica) (1895);
(Water Ghost and Other Stories) (1896); (The
Mantel-Piece Minstrels) (1896); "The Bicyclers
and Other Farces) (1896); (A Houseboat on
the Styx) (1896), (A Rebellious Heroine) (1896),
and “The Pursuit of the Houseboat! (1897).
Banim, John. An Irish novelist, dramatist,
and poet; born in Kilkenny, April 3, 1798; died
there, Aug. 13, 1842. Removed to Dublin in
1820 to devote himself to literature. His best
work is contained in the (O'Hara Tales) (2
series, London, 1825-27). His chief novels are
(The Nowlans, Boyne Water,' and (The
Croppy. His brother Michael was associated
in his work, and "The Bit o' Writin' and Other
Tales) (1838) is ostensibly a joint composition.
A tragedy, Damon and Pythias,' was repre.
sented in London in 1821. *
Banim, Michael. An Irish novelist; born
in Kilkenny, Aug. 5, 1796; died in Booterstown,
Aug. 30, 1874. He claimed to have written 13
out of the 24 books of fiction confusedly asso-
ciated with the names of John and Michael
Banim, and called himself the author of Cro-
hoore of the Bill Hook,' one of the most
popular of the O'Hara Tales); (The Ghost
Hunter) (1833); (Father Connell (1842); and
(The Town of the Cascades) (2 vols. , 1864). *
Banks, Louis Albert. An American Meth-
odist minister and religious writer; born in
Oregon, 1855. Among his works are: (The
Saloon-Keeper's Ledger,' a series of tem-
perance addresses; (White Slaves); (Honey-
combs of Life. )
Banvard, John. An American artist, poet,
and dramatist; born in New York about 1820;
died 1891. He was best known by his pano-
rama of the Mississippi River, covering three
miles of canvas, which was exhibited in the
chief cities of Europe and America. He wrote
a great number of poems; several plays;
(Banvard, or the Adventures of an Artist)
(1849); Pilgrimage to the Holy Land) (1852);
etc.
Banvard, Joseph. An American Baptist di-
vine and historical writer, brother of the pre-
ceding; born in New York, 1810; died 1887.
Among his writings were : Plymouth and the
Pilgrims) (1851); (Romance of American His-
tory) (1852); Memoir of Webster) (1853);
a historical novel, Priscilla) (1854); "Soldiers
and Patriots of the Revolution (1876); etc.
Banville, Théodore Faullain de (bon-vēl').
A French poet and novelist ; born at Moulins,
March 14, 1823; died in Paris, March 13, 1891.
He was the son of a naval officer, and came
early in life to Paris, where he devoted him-
self exclusively to literature, contributed
many journals and reviews, and lived in close
friendship with some of the foremost artists
and men of letters of the day. First known
as a poet through two volumes entitled “The
Caryatides) (1842) and (The Stalactites) (1846),
he established his reputation with the (Odes
Funambulesques) (1857), a sort of great lyri-
cal parody, published under the pseudonym
< Bracquemond »); which immediately found
great favor, and were followed by (New Odes
Funambulesques) (1868, afterwards reprinted
as (Occidentales)); Russian Idyls) (1872);
(Thirty-six Merry Ballads) (1873); etc. His
.
to
He was
.
## p. 41 (#57) ##############################################
BAQUR-LORMIAN - BARBIER
41
(
dramatic efforts did not meet with equal suc-
cess, only "Gringoire ) (1866) holding the stage
for some time. As a prose writer he is favor-
ably known by a number of humorous and
highly finished tales and sketches, like “The
Poor Mountebanks) (1853); (The Parisians of
Paris) (1866); (Tales for Women) (1881);
The Soul of Paris) (1890); etc. Of consider-
able literary interest are My Recollections)
(1882). *
Baour-Lormian, Louis Pierre Marie Fran-
çois (bä-örölör-myon'). A French poet and
dramatist (1772-1854), who first attracted wide
notice through his (Poems of Ossian) (1801),
an extremely clever imitation of Caledonian
verse; and afterwards won success with a tra-
gedy, Omasis, or Joseph in Egypt) (1807).
Of his other works may be mentioned : Politi-
cal and Moral Vigils) (1811), in the manner of
Young; Duranti, or The League in the Prov-
ince) (1828), a historical novel; and "Legends,
Ballads, and Fabliaux) '(1829). But his best
work is probably a poetical translation of the
Book of Job, completed after he had lost his
eyesight.
Baralt, Rafael Maria (bä-rält'). A Vene-
zuelan poet and historian; born in Maracaibo,
Venezuela, July 2, 1814; died in Madrid, Jan. 2,
1860. He was educated in Bogotá and at
Caracas; served in the Venezuelan army, and
went to Spain in 1843, where he held posts of
honor and attained literary fame. He wrote:
(Ancient and Modern History of Venezuela)
(1841); and “Odes to Columbus and to Spain.
Barante, Aimable Guillaume Prosper Bru-
gière, Baron de (bär-änt'). A French his-
torian and statesman; born in Riom, Auvergne,
June 10, 1782; died at his estate near Thiers,
Nov. 22, 1866. In politics he was usually Legit.
imist, but his public career on the whole was a
failure. In letters his achievements are: (View
of French Literature in the Eighteenth Cen-
tury) (8th ed. 1857); History of the Valois
Dukes of Burgundy, 1364-1477' (8th ed. 1858),
this being his masterpiece ; (Story of Joan of
Arc) (4th ed. 1880); and various works on
periods of the great French Revolution.
Barattani, Felipe (bär-ät-ä'nē). An Ital.
ian poet and dramatist; born at Filottrano,
Ancône, March 1, 1825. He has won most ap-
plause for Lyric Tragedies) (1858), in which
his poetical capacities are most happily ex-
ploited ; 'Stella) (1866), a drama in verse; and
i The Sons of Alexander VI. ,' a powerful met-
rical play.
Baratynsky, Jevgén; Abramovich (bä-rä-
tin'ske). A Russian poet (1800-44); served in
the army, and afterwards lived on an estate
near Moscow until 1843, when he set out to
travel; the year following he suddenly died in
Naples. His best-known works are: Eda)
(1820), a delineation of Finland character and
nature; and (The Gipsy,' a picture from Rus-
sian high life.
Barbauld, Anna Lætitia. An English poet
and essayist; born in Kibworth-Harcourt,
Leicestershire, in 1743; died in Stoke Newing-
ton, March 9, 1825. She was the daughter of the
Rev. John Aikin, and in 1774 married the Rev.
Rochemont Barbauld. She was well educated,
and numbered among her friends many famous
authors, including Sir Walter Scott and Words-
worth. Her first poems (1773) went through
four editions in one year. She wrote: (Early
Lessons for Children' (about 1774); Devo-
tional Pieces) (1775); Hymns in Prose for
Children (1776), translated in many languages;
(Eighteen Hundred and Eleven, her longest
effort (1811); and prepared an edition of the
best English novels in fifty volumes. *
Barbey d'Aurévilly, Jules (bär-bā' do-re-
vē-yē). A French critic and novelist; born at
Saint-Sauveur-le-Vicomte, Manche, Nov. 2, 1808 ;
died in Paris, April 24, 1889. As a contribu-
tor to the Pays in Paris, where he settled in
1851, he created a sensation by the unreserved
tone and peculiar style of his literary criti-
cisms; in 1858 he founded the Réveil with
Granier de Cassagnac and Escudier. Works:
(On Dandyism and G. Brummel (1845); “The
Prophets of the Past! (1851); "Goethe and
Diderot) (1880); (Polemics of Yesterday)
(1889); (Nineteenth Century: The Works and
the Men) (1861-92). Of his novels the best
are : (The Bewitched' (1854); and (The Cheva-
lier des Touches) (1864).
Barbier, Henri Auguste (bär-bē-ā). A French
poet; born in Paris, April 29, 1805; died at
Nice, Feb. 13, 1882. He studied law, but fol-
lowed his inclination for literature : and hav-
ing first written a historical novel (1830, with
Royer), depicting French mediæval society,
was led, through the July revolution, to enter
his proper sphere, that of the poetical satire;
in which he obtained a brilliant success with
(The lambes) (1831, 31st ed. 1882), a series of
poignant satires, political and social, lashing
the moral depravity of the higher classes, -
notably the ignoble scramble for office under
the new government, the subject of (The
Quarry' the most famous among these satires.
His next works, Lamentation (1833), bewail-
ing the misfortunes of Italy, and Lazarus)
(1837), in which he describes the misery of the
English and Irish laborer, show a considerable
falling off; and in those that followed, the
poet of “The Iambes) is scarcely to be recog-
nized. He was elected to the Academy in 1869.
Barbier, Jules. A French dramatist; born
in Paris, March 8, 1825. Having won success
with his first effort, (A Poet) (1847), a drama
he produced (The Shades of Molière)
(1847); (André Chenier) (1849); (Willy Nilly,'
a comedy (1849); and thereafter in collabora-
tion, mostly with Michel Carré, a number of
dramas and vaudevilles, also many librettos
for comic operas. After the war of 1870-71
he published “The Sharpshooter, War Songs)
(1871), a collection of patriotic poems: and
later two other volumes of lyrics, "The Sheaf)
(1882) and Faded Flowers) (1890); besides
(Plays in Verse) (2 vols. , 1879).
>
in verse,
(
## p. 42 (#58) ##############################################
42
BARBIERA - BARLOW
Barbiera, Raphaël (bärb-yā'rä). An Italian
poet and journalist; born in Venice, 1851. His
contributions to periodical literature are par-
ticularly valuable, and a volume of Poems)
has been received with pleasure, while works
on Italian literature and numerous anthologies
indicate good taste, (The Calendar of the
Muses) (1888) being an instance.
Barbieri, Giuseppe (bär-bē-ā'rē). An Ital-
ian poet and pulpit orator; born in Bassano,
1783; died at Padua in 1852. He was distin-
guished for the tasteful eloquence of his ser-
mons. In (Little Poems, "Sermons on Feast
Days,' and (The Euganean Hills,' he displays
the resources of his well-stored mind with the
utmost elegance.
Barbour, John. A Scottish poet; born about
1316; died in Aberdeen, March 13, 1395. He
was educated, it is thought, at Oxford and
Paris; and was a clerk in the King's house-
hold. Barbour is one of the most ancient poets
of Scotland; and his great epic, (The Bruce,
tells the story of Robert Bruce and the battle
of Bannockburn. It was written in 1375 and
brought him favor from the King. First
printed in Edinburgh in 1571; best modern
edition by Skeat (Early Eng.
Baillie, Joanna. A Scottish poet; born in
Bothwell, Lanarkshire, Sept. II, 1762; died at
Hampstead, England, Feb. 23, 1851.
At an
early age she removed to London and settled
at Hampstead, where, with her sister Agnes,
she passed the remainder of her life. The first
volume of her (Plays on the Passions) was
published in 1798; one of them, “The Family
Legend, was successfully presented at Edin-
burgh under the patronage of Sir Walter Scott.
Miss Baillie published many short poems and
songs of great beauty. She enjoyed the close
friendship of Scott, Jeffrey (who at first had
severely criticized her work), Lucy Aikin, Mrs.
Siddons, and other eminent persons. For her
benevolent deeds at Hampstead, the poor gave
her the name of "Lady Bountiful. ” *
Bailly, Jean Sylvain (bä-ye'). A distin-
guished French astronomer and statesman;
born in Paris, Sept. 15, 1736; died there, Nov.
12, 1793. The first president of the States-
General or National Assembly (1789), and
mayor of Paris (1789). He was the advocate of
order and moderation, and having offended the
Jacobins, he died on the guillotine. He wrote:
(History of Astronomy) (4 vols. , 1775-83), which
became very popular; (Memoirs of the Revolu-
tion) (3 vols. , 1804); etc.
Baily, Francis (bă'lē). An English astron-
omer;
born at Newbury, Berkshire, April 28,
174; died in London, Au 30, 1844. He re-
formed the Nautical Almanac,) and was the
## p. 37 (#53) ##############################################
BAIN -- BAKER
37
>
author of the Astronomical Society's Cata-
logue of Stars. He wrote also a Life of
Flamsteed) (1835); (Journal of a Tour in Un-
settled Parts of North America) (1856, edited
by De Morgan); etc.
Bain, Alexander (bãn). A distinguished
Scotch philosophical writer; born at Aberdeen,
1818. He became professor of natural philos-
ophy in the Andersonian University, Glasgow,
(1845); examiner in logic and moral philoso-
phy for the University of London (1857–62,
1864-69); professor of logic (1860–80) at, and
lord rector (1881) of, the University of Aber-
deen. He belongs to the Spencerian or ex-
periential school of philosophy, and teaches
physiological psychology. His chief works are:
(The Senses and the Intellect) (1855); “The
Emotions and the Will (1859), the two form-
ing a complete course of mental philosophy;
(English Composition and Rhetoric) (1866);
(Mental and Moral Science) (1868); (Logic)
(2 vols. , 1870); Mind and Body) (1873); (Ed-
ucation as a Science' (1879); James Mill and
John Stuart Mill) (1882); Practical Essays)
(1884); etc.
Baird, Charles Washington. An American
historian and religious writer, son of Robert
Baird; born at Princeton, N. J. , Aug. 28, 1828;
died in Rye, N. Y. , Feb. 10, 1881. Besides works
on the Presbyterian liturgies (which he was the
first to collect and investigate) and local his-
tories, he wrote: (History of the Huguenot
Emigration to America) (2 vols. , 1885). It is
interesting especially to the genealogist.
Baird, Henry Carey. An American writer
on political economy, nephew of Henry C.
Carey; born at Bridesburg, Pa. , 1825. He is a
publisher at Philadelphia. A protectionist, his
economical views generally are similar to those
of his distinguished uncle. He has written
numerous economic pamphlets.
Baird, Henry Martyn. An American au-
thor; born in Philadelphia, Pa. , Jan. 17, 1832.
He graduated from the University of the City
of New York in 1850, and after spending some
years in Europe, took a course in theology at
Union and Princeton. In 1859 he was appointed
professor of the Greek language and literature
in the University of the City of New York. His
principal works are the History of the Rise of
the Huguenots) (1879); (The Huguenots and
Henry of Navarre) (1886); and (The Hugue-
nots and the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes)
(1895). *
Baird, Robert. An American historian and
divine; born in Fayette County, Pa. , Oct. 6,
1708; died at Yonkers, N. Y. , March 15, 1863.
Among his works were : (History of the Wal-
denses, Albigenses, and Vaudois); “History of
the Temperance Societies) (1836); Religion
in America) (1844); etc. He was correspond-
ing secretary of the American and Foreign
Christian Union (1849-55, 1861-63).
Baird, Spencer Fullerton. A distinguished
American naturalist; born at Reading, Pa. ,
Feb. 3, 1823; died at Wood's Holl, Mass. , Aug.
19, 1887. He became professor of natural sci-
ences at Dickinson College, Carlisle, Pa. , 1845;
United States commissioner of fish and fisher-
ies, 1871; secretary of the Smithsonian Insti-
tution, 1878. A very prolific writer, among his
more important works may be named : a (Cat-
alogue of North American Reptiles) (1853);
(Birds of North America) (with Cassin and
Lawrence, 1860); Mammals of North America)
(1858); History of North American Birds )
(with Brewer and Ridgeway, 1874-84) ; etc. His
writings cover nearly every branch of natural
history.
Bajza, Joseph (boy'zä). A Hungarian poet
and critic (1804-58). He devoted himself to
the field of history, and edited a Historical
Library) (1843-45) and the New Plutarch)
(1845-47). Since 1831 he was a member of the
Hungarian Academy, and since 1836 of the
Kisfaludy Society. He ranks among the best
lyric poets of Hungary. His “Poems) were
published in 1835, and his “Collected Works)
(2d ed. , in 6 vols. , by Toldy) in 1861.
Baker, George Augustus. An American
writer of verse and stories; born in New York,
N. Y. , in August 1849. He graduated from Co-
lumbia College Law School, and has written :
(Point Lace and Diamonds, light society verse
(New York, 1875); (Bad Habits of Good So-
ciety) (1876); Mrs. Hephæstus and Other
Stories) (1887); and comedies.
Baker, Mrs. Harriette Newell (Woods)
(pseudonyms “Madeline Leslie) and “Aunt
Hatty”). An American writer of juvenile
stories; born 1815; died 1893. A very vo-
luminous writer, several of her works have
been translated into French and German. She
has written : (Tim the Scissors-Grinder) (1861,
equel in 1862), her most opul work; (Up
the Ladder) (1862); (The Two Homes) (1862);
(The Organ-Grinder) (1863); “White and Black
Lies) (1864); "Worth and Wealth) (1864);
(Tim's Sister) (1864); (Wheel of Fortune)
(1865); (Courtesies of Wedded Life) (1869);
(Paul Barton) (1869); (Fashion and Folly)
(1869); "Lost but Found) (1869); (Ingleside)
(1886); (This and That) (1887); etc. She is
daughter of Rev. Leonard Woods and wife of
Rev. S. R. Baker.
Baker, Samuel White, Sir. An English
traveler and author; born June 8, 1821; died
in Newton Abbot, England, Dec. 30, 1893. At
an early age he went to Ceylon, and estab-
lished a sanitarium at Newera Ellia 6,200 feet
above sea level; in 1861 undertook to explore
the sources of the Nile, discovered and named
Lake Albert Nyanza, and reached Gondokoro
in 1865. In 1866 he was knighted. He after-
wards traveled in India, Syria, Japan, and
America. His books include: (The Rifle and
Hound in Ceylon (1856); (Eight Years'
Wanderings in Ceylon) (1855); (The Albert
Nyanza) (1866); (The Nile Tributaries of
Abyssinia (1867); (Ismailia) (1874); (Cyprus)
(1879); (Wild Beasts and their Ways) (1890);
## p. 38 (#54) ##############################################
38
BAKER-BALFOUR
:
and "Cast up by the Sea, a popular tale of
adventure (1869). *
Baker, William Mumford. An American
descriptive and miscellaneous writer; born in
Washington, D. C. , June 27, 1825; died in South
Boston, Mass. , Aug. 20, 1883. He graduated
from Princeton in 1846, and became pastor of
churches in Texas and in South Boston, Mass.
His most important book was (Inside: A
Chronicle of Secession' (New York, 1866). He
also wrote many stories, including His Maj-
esty Myself(Boston, 1879).
Baki (bä'kē). The greatest lyric poet of
Turkey; died about 1600. His Divan) con-
tains almost exclusively odes in praise of the
Sultan.
Balaguer, Victor (bä-lä-går'). A noted
Spanish-Catalan poet, novelist, and historian;
born in Barcelona, Dec. II, 1824. As a poet
he first attracted notice by his dramas, taken
partly from antiquity, partly from Catalan his-
tory; among them are: “Sappho); Don En-
rique the Magnificent'; Juan de Padilla);
(Coriolanus. Of his lyrics the best are em-
bodied in the collection (The Troubadour of
Montserrat' (1850). He also wrote widely read
historical romances and tales, among which
(Don Juan de Serravalle) deserves especial
mention. Other works are: Historical and
Political Studies) (1876); History of Cata-
lonia) (1886-89), and Political and Literary
History of the Troubadours) (1878–80). A
complete edition of his works appears in the
"Collection of Castilian Writers. )
Balbi, Gasparo (bäl'be). A Venetian mer-
chant and writer of travels; lived in the 16th
century. He visited Aleppo, spent the years
1579-88 in India, and published Journey in the
East Indies) (1590). It contained the first Eu-
ropean description of India beyond the Ganges.
Balbo, Count Cesare (bäl’bo). An Italian
statesman, historian, and publicist; born at
Turin, Nov. 21, 1789; died there, June 3, 1853.
A moderate and liberal patriot, he became
prominent in the revolutionary disturbances of
1848, being premier of Sardinia in that year.
He wrote : Life of Dante' (1839); Hopes of
Italy) (1843), advocating Italian independence;
(History of Italy) (1849), which takes high
rank.
Balboa or Balvoa, Miguel Cabello de (bäl-
bo'ä). A Spanish historian ; born in Archi-
dona, about 1525; died, probably in Peru, after
1586. At first a soldier, he became afterward
a priest and went to America (about 1566), re-
siding at Bogota, later in Lima and Cuzco.
He left in manuscript a history, which was
published 1840, when it appeared in a French
translation entitled (History of Peru. It treats
of the origin of the Incas.
Balbuena, Don Bernardo de (bäl-bwā'nä).
A Spanish poet; born at Val de Peñas in 1568 ;
died in Porto Rico in 1627. At an early age
he went to Mexico, where he completed his
theological studies and acquired reputation as
a poet. Of his works only the following are
extant: (The Greatness of Mexico! (1604), a
poetic description of that city; (The Age of
Gold in the Forests of Eryphile (1608), a pas.
toral romance in prose, interspersed with lyrics ;
(Bernardo, or the Victory of Roncesvalles )
(1624), an epic treating of the national hero
Bernardo del Carpio.
Baldovini, Francesco (bäl-do-ve'nē). An
Italian poet; born at Florence, Feb. 27, 1635;
died Nov. 18, 1716. He wrote Lament of
Cecco of Varlungo, etc. (1694), etc.
Balducci, Francesco (bäl-dö'che). A lead-
ing Italian Anacreontic poet; born at Palermo;
died at Rome, 1642. He wrote “Sicilian Songs)
in the Sicilian dialect, etc.
Baldwin, John Denison. An American jour-
nalist, politician, poet, and writer on archæ-
ology ; born at North Stonington, Conn. , Sept.
28, 1809; died at Worcester, Mass. , July 8, 1883.
After studying law and theology, he entered
journalism, was long editor and proprietor of
the Worcester Spy, and became member of
Congress (1863-69). He wrote: (Raymond Hill
and Other Poems) (1847); Prehistoric Nations)
(1869); Ancient America) (1872).
Bale, John. An English theologian and
dramatist; born at Cove, Suffolk, Nov. 21, 1495;
died at Canterbury, probably 1563. Originally
a Catholic, he became Protestant bishop of
Ossory, Ireland (1552). Besides numerous con-
troversial works, he wrote in Latin a (Cata-
logue of the Illustrious Writers of Great
Britain (1548-59), the first history of English
literature, and a number of interludes and mo-
ralities (i. e. , religious plays) in the interest of
Protestantism, the most important of these
being the historical drama (King John. On
account of his bad temper he was known as
“ Bilious Bale. Select works, Cambridge, 1849.
Balestier, Charles Wolcott (bal-es-tēr'). An
American journalist and novelist; born in
Rochester, N. Y. , Dec. 13, 1861; died in Dres-
den, Germany, Dec. 6, 1891. He engaged in
publishing and in journalism, and
writer of much promise. His novels include:
(A Fair Device (New York, 1884); (and
posthumously) (An Average Woman' (1892);
(Benefits Forgot) (1894); and (Naulahka: a
Story of East and West,' in collaboration with
Rudyard Kipling (1892).
Balfour, Alexander (bal'för). A Scotch poet
and novelist; born at Monikie, Forfarshire,
March 1, 1767; died Sept. 12, 1829. He wrote:
(Campbell, or the Scottish Probationer (1819);
"Contemplation and Other Poems) (1820);
(Farmer's Three Daughters) (1822); (The
Foundling of Glenthorn, or the Smuggler's Cave)
(1823); "Highland Mary) (1827).
Balfour, Arthur James. An English author
and statesman; born July 25, 1848. He was
educated at Eton, and at Trinity College, Cam-
bridge, from which he graduated in 1873. He
has been lord rector of Glasgow University,
was
a
(
## p. 39 (#55) ##############################################
BALL- BANCROFT
39
and is Chancellor of the University of Edin-
burgh. He is a leader of the Conservative
party, was Chief Secretary for Ireland in 1887,
and First Lord of the Treasury, 1891-92, and
again in 1895. He is the author of (A Defence
of Philosophic Doubt! (1879) ; ( Essays and Ad-
dresses (1893). His Foundations of Belief)
(1895) attracted wide-spread attention and in-
terest both in Europe and America. *
Ball, Robert Stawell, Sir. A British astron-
omer; born in Dublin, July 1, 1840. He was
educated at Trinity College, Dublin; Royal
astronomer of Ireland in 1874, and since 1892
has been Lowndean professor of astronomy at
Cambridge, England. He was knighted in 1886.
He is author of scientific works and popular
books on astronomy, including : (Story of the
Heavens) (1885); (Time and Tide: a Romance
of the Moon (1888); (Starland) (1889); and
(In Starry Realms) (1892).
Ballantine, James. A Scotch poet; born in
Edinburgh, June 11, 1808; died Dec. 18, 1877.
In addition to achieving distinction as an art-
ist, he wrote various noted poems, including
(The Gaberlunzie's Wallet) (1843); (One Hun.
dred Songs) (1865); and two or three collec-
tions of verse.
Ballantyne, Robert Michael. A Scotch
writer of juvenile literature; born in Edinburgh,
1825; died in Rome, Italy, Feb. 8, 1894. He
spent his youth in Canada in the service of the
Hudson Bay Company. In 1856 he adopted
literature as a profession. He has been very
popular in England as a writer of stories for
boys. Among the best known are: Deep
Down); “Coral Island); (The World of Ice);
(Ungava'; (The Dog Crusoe); and others.
Ballestrem, Countess Eufemia von (bäl'les-
trām). A German novelist and poet; born at
Ratibor, Aug. 18, 1859. Married to Major von
Adlersfeld in 1884, she has lived at Karlsruhe
since 1889. Of her novels may be mentioned :
(Lady Melusine) (1878); (The Falconers of
Falcon Court) (1890). A collection of lyrics,
Drops in the Ocean) (1878), and a romantic
poem, Raoul the Page) (1881), bear witness to
her poetic talent.
Ballou, Hosea (ba-lö'). An American Uni-
versalist divine, journalist, and historian; born
at Halifax, Vt. , Oct. 18, 1796; died at Somer-
ville, Mass. , May 27, 1861. He was the first
president of Tufts College (1854-61), and was
very successful as editor of the Universalist
Magazine. He wrote: (Ancient History of
Universalism (1829) and a hymn-book (1837).
Ballou, Maturin Murray. An American
journalist and miscellaneous writer, son of
Hosea Ballou ; born at Boston, April 14, 1820;
died 1895. Besides editing Ballou's Pictorial,
The Flag of Our Union, Ballou's Monthly, etc. ,
and making a valuable compilation of quota-
tions, he wrote: History of Cuba) (1854);
Biography of Hosea Ballou); "Life Work of
Hosea Ballou. ' Becoming in later life an ex-
tensive traveler, he wrote a number of books
of travel, including : Due West); (Due South
(1885); (Due North); Under the Southern
Cross); (Footprints of Travel); etc. In 1872
he became one of the founders and the editor.
in-chief of the Boston Globe.
Balucki, Michael (bä-löts'ke). A Polish
dramatist and novelist; born in Cracow, Sept.
29, 1837. He wrote at first under the pseu-
donym Elpidon, and is most popular as a
story-teller of satirical tendency, ridiculing the
shortcomings and prejudices of Polish society.
Of his novels may be mentioned : (The Awak-
ened' (1864); (The Old and the Young'
(1866); Life among Ruins) (1870); (The
Jewess) (1871); (For Sins not Committed
(1879); (250,000) (1883). The best among his
comedies are: “The Chase after a Man (1869) ;
(The Emancipated' (1873); (Amateur Theatre)
(1879); (The Open House) (1883). He also
wrote good lyric poetry, and essays on Polish
literature.
Balzac, Honoré de (bäl-zäk'). The greatest
of French novelists; born in Tours, May 16, 1799 ;
died in Paris, Aug. 18, 1850. He gave to his
works the general title (The Human Comedy,
in which are embraced the sub-series : (Scenes
of Private Life,' 27 stories and sketches (among
them: (The Woman of Thirty Years. (The
Grenadier Woman”); “Scenes of Paris Life
(among them : (Père Goriot, César Birotteau,'
(Cousin Betty'); (Scenes of Political Life);
(Scenes of Military Life); and so on. Accord-
ing to Larousse's Dictionary, Balzac's novels
amount in all to 97 titles; but this does not
include all miscellaneous studies and short sto-
ries contributed to periodicals. *
Balzac, Jean Louis Guez de. A noted
French essayist and letter-writer; born at An-
goulême in 1597 ; died on his estate (Balzac)
near there, Feb. 18, 1654. His influence upon
French prose is usually compared to that of
Malherbes upon poetry; the euphony and sym-
metry of his phraseology, the elegance of his
metaphors, served for a long time as models.
Under Richelieu he became royal councilor, and
historiographer of France, and was one of the
most influential members of the Academy from
its foundation, likewise a sort of oracle of the
Hôtel Rambouillet. Besides his ( Letters ) (1624),
which are elaborate epistles with a definite at-
tempt at style, he wrote: (The Prince) (1631),
a glorification of absolute monarchy; (The
Dotard(1648); (The Christian Socrates)
(1652); and Aristippus) (1658), the latter in-
tended to portray the ideal statesman.
Ban, Mathias (băn). A Servian dramatist;
born in Ragusa, Dec. 18, 1818. He has been a
tutor, journalist, and critic; but his best work
was done for the theatre, (Dobrila and Mi-
lenko) being a masterpiece in tragedy, as is
in a less degree (The Muscovite. His poems,
notably (Odes to the Sultan,' are virile and
correct.
Bancroft, George. An eminent American
historian and statesman; born in Worcester,
Mass. , Oct. 3, 1800; died in Washington, D. C. ,
## p. 40 (#56) ##############################################
40
BANCROFT - BANVILLE
2
1
*
Jan. 17, 1891. After graduation from Harvard
in 1817, he studied at Göttingen and Heidel-
berg. He taught Greek at Harvard; founded
the Round Hill School at Northampton, Mass. ;
was collector of the port of Boston in 1838;
and in 1845 was appointed Secretary of the
Navy in Polk's Cabinet. His principal literary
work is the History of the United States, the
first volume of which appeared in 1834. The
last revised edition is in 6 volumes (New York,
1884-85). His minor publications include:
(Poems) (Cambridge, 1823); a translation of
Heeren's (Politics of Ancient Greece) (Boston,
1824); Literary and Historical Miscellanies)
(New York, 1855); and (Abraham Lincoln, an
address (Washington, 1866). *
Bancroft, Hubert Howe. An American his-
torian; born in Granville, Ohio, May 5, 1832. In
1852 he went to California to establish a book
business, and began to collect documents, maps,
books, and MSS. for a complete History of
the Pacific States) from Mexico to Alaska. In
1893 this library numbered 60,000 volumes, to
which many additions have been made. His
histories are still in preparation. Literary In-
dustries' (vol. 40, San Francisco, 1890) describes
his work.
Bandelier, Adolph Francis Alphonse (ban-
de-lēr'). A Swiss-American archæologist; born
at Bern, Switzerland, Aug. 6, 1840. In the em-
ploy of the Archæological Institute of Amer-
ica, he has been engaged in explorations in
New Mexico, Arizona, Mexico, and Central and
South America. He has written : (The Art of
War and Mode of Warfare (1877); (Archæo-
logical Tour in Mexico) (1885); etc. ; and (The
Delight Makers,' a novel of Pueblo Indian life.
Bandello, Matteo (bän-dello). "An Italian
novelist; born at Castelnuovo, Piedmont, about
1480; died after 1561. In Rome he became a
Dominican friar, then entered a monastery in
Milan, but led on the whole a roving life,
sojourning in various cities and at several of
the petty courts of Italy until 1525, when he
went to France. Made bishop of Agen by
Henry II. in 1550, he resigned that dignity in
1555. His tales, 214 in number, present vivid
delineations of the loose manners of those
times, and have frequently served as a source
to many succeeding story-writers and dram-
atists, among them Shakespeare. Several were
translated by T. Roscoe in his Italian Novel-
ists) (vol. iii. , London, 1825).
Bangs, John Kendrick. An American hu-
morist and novelist; born in 1862.
one of the founders of Life, and he has long
been famed for his light verse and humorous
stories, among which may be mentioned : (New
Waggings of Old Tales with F. D. Sherman)
(Boston, 1887); Coffee and Repartee) (New
York, 1886); (Mr. Bonaparte of Corsica) (1895);
(Water Ghost and Other Stories) (1896); (The
Mantel-Piece Minstrels) (1896); "The Bicyclers
and Other Farces) (1896); (A Houseboat on
the Styx) (1896), (A Rebellious Heroine) (1896),
and “The Pursuit of the Houseboat! (1897).
Banim, John. An Irish novelist, dramatist,
and poet; born in Kilkenny, April 3, 1798; died
there, Aug. 13, 1842. Removed to Dublin in
1820 to devote himself to literature. His best
work is contained in the (O'Hara Tales) (2
series, London, 1825-27). His chief novels are
(The Nowlans, Boyne Water,' and (The
Croppy. His brother Michael was associated
in his work, and "The Bit o' Writin' and Other
Tales) (1838) is ostensibly a joint composition.
A tragedy, Damon and Pythias,' was repre.
sented in London in 1821. *
Banim, Michael. An Irish novelist; born
in Kilkenny, Aug. 5, 1796; died in Booterstown,
Aug. 30, 1874. He claimed to have written 13
out of the 24 books of fiction confusedly asso-
ciated with the names of John and Michael
Banim, and called himself the author of Cro-
hoore of the Bill Hook,' one of the most
popular of the O'Hara Tales); (The Ghost
Hunter) (1833); (Father Connell (1842); and
(The Town of the Cascades) (2 vols. , 1864). *
Banks, Louis Albert. An American Meth-
odist minister and religious writer; born in
Oregon, 1855. Among his works are: (The
Saloon-Keeper's Ledger,' a series of tem-
perance addresses; (White Slaves); (Honey-
combs of Life. )
Banvard, John. An American artist, poet,
and dramatist; born in New York about 1820;
died 1891. He was best known by his pano-
rama of the Mississippi River, covering three
miles of canvas, which was exhibited in the
chief cities of Europe and America. He wrote
a great number of poems; several plays;
(Banvard, or the Adventures of an Artist)
(1849); Pilgrimage to the Holy Land) (1852);
etc.
Banvard, Joseph. An American Baptist di-
vine and historical writer, brother of the pre-
ceding; born in New York, 1810; died 1887.
Among his writings were : Plymouth and the
Pilgrims) (1851); (Romance of American His-
tory) (1852); Memoir of Webster) (1853);
a historical novel, Priscilla) (1854); "Soldiers
and Patriots of the Revolution (1876); etc.
Banville, Théodore Faullain de (bon-vēl').
A French poet and novelist ; born at Moulins,
March 14, 1823; died in Paris, March 13, 1891.
He was the son of a naval officer, and came
early in life to Paris, where he devoted him-
self exclusively to literature, contributed
many journals and reviews, and lived in close
friendship with some of the foremost artists
and men of letters of the day. First known
as a poet through two volumes entitled “The
Caryatides) (1842) and (The Stalactites) (1846),
he established his reputation with the (Odes
Funambulesques) (1857), a sort of great lyri-
cal parody, published under the pseudonym
< Bracquemond »); which immediately found
great favor, and were followed by (New Odes
Funambulesques) (1868, afterwards reprinted
as (Occidentales)); Russian Idyls) (1872);
(Thirty-six Merry Ballads) (1873); etc. His
.
to
He was
.
## p. 41 (#57) ##############################################
BAQUR-LORMIAN - BARBIER
41
(
dramatic efforts did not meet with equal suc-
cess, only "Gringoire ) (1866) holding the stage
for some time. As a prose writer he is favor-
ably known by a number of humorous and
highly finished tales and sketches, like “The
Poor Mountebanks) (1853); (The Parisians of
Paris) (1866); (Tales for Women) (1881);
The Soul of Paris) (1890); etc. Of consider-
able literary interest are My Recollections)
(1882). *
Baour-Lormian, Louis Pierre Marie Fran-
çois (bä-örölör-myon'). A French poet and
dramatist (1772-1854), who first attracted wide
notice through his (Poems of Ossian) (1801),
an extremely clever imitation of Caledonian
verse; and afterwards won success with a tra-
gedy, Omasis, or Joseph in Egypt) (1807).
Of his other works may be mentioned : Politi-
cal and Moral Vigils) (1811), in the manner of
Young; Duranti, or The League in the Prov-
ince) (1828), a historical novel; and "Legends,
Ballads, and Fabliaux) '(1829). But his best
work is probably a poetical translation of the
Book of Job, completed after he had lost his
eyesight.
Baralt, Rafael Maria (bä-rält'). A Vene-
zuelan poet and historian; born in Maracaibo,
Venezuela, July 2, 1814; died in Madrid, Jan. 2,
1860. He was educated in Bogotá and at
Caracas; served in the Venezuelan army, and
went to Spain in 1843, where he held posts of
honor and attained literary fame. He wrote:
(Ancient and Modern History of Venezuela)
(1841); and “Odes to Columbus and to Spain.
Barante, Aimable Guillaume Prosper Bru-
gière, Baron de (bär-änt'). A French his-
torian and statesman; born in Riom, Auvergne,
June 10, 1782; died at his estate near Thiers,
Nov. 22, 1866. In politics he was usually Legit.
imist, but his public career on the whole was a
failure. In letters his achievements are: (View
of French Literature in the Eighteenth Cen-
tury) (8th ed. 1857); History of the Valois
Dukes of Burgundy, 1364-1477' (8th ed. 1858),
this being his masterpiece ; (Story of Joan of
Arc) (4th ed. 1880); and various works on
periods of the great French Revolution.
Barattani, Felipe (bär-ät-ä'nē). An Ital.
ian poet and dramatist; born at Filottrano,
Ancône, March 1, 1825. He has won most ap-
plause for Lyric Tragedies) (1858), in which
his poetical capacities are most happily ex-
ploited ; 'Stella) (1866), a drama in verse; and
i The Sons of Alexander VI. ,' a powerful met-
rical play.
Baratynsky, Jevgén; Abramovich (bä-rä-
tin'ske). A Russian poet (1800-44); served in
the army, and afterwards lived on an estate
near Moscow until 1843, when he set out to
travel; the year following he suddenly died in
Naples. His best-known works are: Eda)
(1820), a delineation of Finland character and
nature; and (The Gipsy,' a picture from Rus-
sian high life.
Barbauld, Anna Lætitia. An English poet
and essayist; born in Kibworth-Harcourt,
Leicestershire, in 1743; died in Stoke Newing-
ton, March 9, 1825. She was the daughter of the
Rev. John Aikin, and in 1774 married the Rev.
Rochemont Barbauld. She was well educated,
and numbered among her friends many famous
authors, including Sir Walter Scott and Words-
worth. Her first poems (1773) went through
four editions in one year. She wrote: (Early
Lessons for Children' (about 1774); Devo-
tional Pieces) (1775); Hymns in Prose for
Children (1776), translated in many languages;
(Eighteen Hundred and Eleven, her longest
effort (1811); and prepared an edition of the
best English novels in fifty volumes. *
Barbey d'Aurévilly, Jules (bär-bā' do-re-
vē-yē). A French critic and novelist; born at
Saint-Sauveur-le-Vicomte, Manche, Nov. 2, 1808 ;
died in Paris, April 24, 1889. As a contribu-
tor to the Pays in Paris, where he settled in
1851, he created a sensation by the unreserved
tone and peculiar style of his literary criti-
cisms; in 1858 he founded the Réveil with
Granier de Cassagnac and Escudier. Works:
(On Dandyism and G. Brummel (1845); “The
Prophets of the Past! (1851); "Goethe and
Diderot) (1880); (Polemics of Yesterday)
(1889); (Nineteenth Century: The Works and
the Men) (1861-92). Of his novels the best
are : (The Bewitched' (1854); and (The Cheva-
lier des Touches) (1864).
Barbier, Henri Auguste (bär-bē-ā). A French
poet; born in Paris, April 29, 1805; died at
Nice, Feb. 13, 1882. He studied law, but fol-
lowed his inclination for literature : and hav-
ing first written a historical novel (1830, with
Royer), depicting French mediæval society,
was led, through the July revolution, to enter
his proper sphere, that of the poetical satire;
in which he obtained a brilliant success with
(The lambes) (1831, 31st ed. 1882), a series of
poignant satires, political and social, lashing
the moral depravity of the higher classes, -
notably the ignoble scramble for office under
the new government, the subject of (The
Quarry' the most famous among these satires.
His next works, Lamentation (1833), bewail-
ing the misfortunes of Italy, and Lazarus)
(1837), in which he describes the misery of the
English and Irish laborer, show a considerable
falling off; and in those that followed, the
poet of “The Iambes) is scarcely to be recog-
nized. He was elected to the Academy in 1869.
Barbier, Jules. A French dramatist; born
in Paris, March 8, 1825. Having won success
with his first effort, (A Poet) (1847), a drama
he produced (The Shades of Molière)
(1847); (André Chenier) (1849); (Willy Nilly,'
a comedy (1849); and thereafter in collabora-
tion, mostly with Michel Carré, a number of
dramas and vaudevilles, also many librettos
for comic operas. After the war of 1870-71
he published “The Sharpshooter, War Songs)
(1871), a collection of patriotic poems: and
later two other volumes of lyrics, "The Sheaf)
(1882) and Faded Flowers) (1890); besides
(Plays in Verse) (2 vols. , 1879).
>
in verse,
(
## p. 42 (#58) ##############################################
42
BARBIERA - BARLOW
Barbiera, Raphaël (bärb-yā'rä). An Italian
poet and journalist; born in Venice, 1851. His
contributions to periodical literature are par-
ticularly valuable, and a volume of Poems)
has been received with pleasure, while works
on Italian literature and numerous anthologies
indicate good taste, (The Calendar of the
Muses) (1888) being an instance.
Barbieri, Giuseppe (bär-bē-ā'rē). An Ital-
ian poet and pulpit orator; born in Bassano,
1783; died at Padua in 1852. He was distin-
guished for the tasteful eloquence of his ser-
mons. In (Little Poems, "Sermons on Feast
Days,' and (The Euganean Hills,' he displays
the resources of his well-stored mind with the
utmost elegance.
Barbour, John. A Scottish poet; born about
1316; died in Aberdeen, March 13, 1395. He
was educated, it is thought, at Oxford and
Paris; and was a clerk in the King's house-
hold. Barbour is one of the most ancient poets
of Scotland; and his great epic, (The Bruce,
tells the story of Robert Bruce and the battle
of Bannockburn. It was written in 1375 and
brought him favor from the King. First
printed in Edinburgh in 1571; best modern
edition by Skeat (Early Eng.
