She has written : (South-
wold' (1859); “Rockford (1863); (Fettered for
Life) (new ed.
wold' (1859); “Rockford (1863); (Fettered for
Life) (new ed.
Warner - World's Best Literature - v29 - BIographical Dictionary
60 (#76) ##############################################
60
BILLINGS- BISSELL
(
:
Billings, John Shaw. An American surgeon
and medical and hygienic writer; born in In-
diana, 1838. He was librarian of the surgeon-
general's office, Washington; president of the
American Public Health Association (1880);
he is now chief librarian of the New York
Library (the combined Astor, Lenox, and Til-
den libraries). His chief work is a voluminous
Index-Catalogue) (1880) of the library of the
surgeon-general's office. He has written also:
(Hygienics of the United States Army Bar-
racks); Mortality and Vital Statistics of the
United States Army) (1880); "Ventilation and
Heating' (1884), revised and enlarged 1893,- a
very comprehensive and authoritative work.
Billings, Josh. See Shaw, Henry W.
Bion (bi'on). A Greek pastoral poet; born
near Smyrna in the 3d century B. C. He ap-
pears to have passed the latter part of his life
in Sicily. His pastorals betray a degree of
refinement and sentimentality not found in the
earlier and more spontaneous bucolic poets.
Still extant is his "Lament for Adonis, often
imitated by subsequent poets. Besides this
there remain of his works only short pieces,
many of them fragmentary. *
Birch-Pfeiffer, Charlotte (bērch-pfi'fèr). A
German actress and dramatist (1800-68). She
joined the Court Theatre Company at Munich
at the age of 13 years; at 18 she had won
distinction in tragic rôles. She married Chris-
tian Birch in 1825; thereafter till her death
she was in active relations with the stage,
whether as actress or conductress. Her numer-
ous dramatic compositions were produced on
nearly every stage in Germany. They evince
remarkable skill in the employment of stage
effects. Her plays are in many instances
grounded on novels; among them are : (Graf-
fenstein Castle); (The Favorites); (The Bell-
Ringers of Notre Dame) (Victor Hugo);
(The Woman in White) (Wilkie Collins);
(The Orphan of Lowood' (Charlotte Brontë).
Bird, Robert Montgomery. An American
dramatist and novelist; born in Newcastle,
Del. , Feb. 5, 1805 (? ); died in Philadelphia, Pa. ,
Jan. 22, 1854. He was the author of three trage-
dies : Oraloosa); (The Broker of Bogota); and
(The Gladiator, frequently played by Forrest.
His novels include: (Calavar) (1834); (The
Infidel' (1835); “Nick of the Woods) (1837);
Peter Pilgrim (1838); and (Robin Day)
(1839).
Birney, James Gillespie. A noted Ameri-
can statesman and publicist ; born at Danville,
Ky. , Feb. 4, 1792; died at Perth Amboy, N. J. ,
Nov. 25, 1857. Though a Southern planter, he
emancipated his slaves and became a promi.
nent anti-slavery leader in the South, proprietor
and editor of the anti-slavery journal The Phi-
lanthropist, etc. He was candidate of the "Lib.
erty) party for President (1840 and 1844). He
wrote: (Ten Letters on Slavery and Coloniza-
tion); Addresses and Speeches); (American
Churches the Bulwark of American Slavery. ?
Birrell, Augustine. An English essayist;
born in Wavertree, near Liverpool, Jan. 19, 1850.
He graduated from Cambridge and was called
to the bar. He is author of charming critical
and biographical essays on literary subjects,
collected in the two series of "Obiter Dicta)
(1884, 2d series 1887), and (Res Judicatæ (1892,
really the third of the same series). Men,
Women, and Books) (1895) is a collection of
short newspaper pieces. In 1887 he published
a Life of Charlotte Brontë. *
Bischoff, J. E. K. See Bolanden.
Bishop, Nathaniel Holmes. An American
traveler; born at Medway, Mass. , 1837. He has
written : (A Thousand Miles' Walk Across
South America) (1869); “Voyage of the Paper
Canoe from Quebec to the Gulf of Mexico
(1878); Four Months in a Sneak-Box (1879).
Bishop, William Henry. An American
novelist; born in Hartford, Conn. , Jan. 7, 1847.
He is the author of several novels, including:
(Detmold (1879); (The House of a Merchant
Prince) (1882); (A Pound of Cure: A Story
of Monte Carlo) (1894); "Old Mexico and her
Lost Provinces) (1884); (Fish and Men in the
Maine Islands); A House-Hunter in Europe);
(Writing to Russia, a story; (The Golden
Justice); (Choy Susan and Other Stories);
(The Brown-Stone Boy and Other Queer Peo-
ple); and many similiar works.
Bisland, Elizabeth. An American descript-
ive and story writer, by marriage Mrs. Wet-
more ; born 1863. She is author of (A Flying
Trip around the World) (1891), the account of
a trip performed in 76 days in the year 1876;
and of A Widower Indeed, with Rhoda
Broughton (1892).
Bismarck, Otto Edward Leopold
(biz'märk). A German statesman; born at
Schönhausen, April 1, 1815. He was a mem-
ber of the United Diet, 1847; ambassador at
St. Petersburg, 1859; ambassador at Paris, 1862;
premier of Prussia, 1862 to 1866; and chancel-
lor of the German Empire from its inception
in 1870 to 1890. He holds a place in literature
through the volume of Bismarck's Letters,
and through his State papers, a series of which
appears in Hahn's Fürst Bismarck); while as
a thinker and economist he is seen to advan-
tage in Bismarck als Volkswirth,' by Posch-
inger, containing many of the Prince's papers
on sociological and fiscal subjects. *
Bissell, Edwin Cone (bis'l). A prominent
American Congregational divine and religious
writer; born at Schoharie, N. Y. , March 2,
1832; died in Chicago, April 9, 1894. Having
served in the Civil War (1862-63), he became
pastor in Massachusetts and California, mis-
sionary in Austria (1873-78), professor in the
Hartford Congregational Theological Seminary
(1881-92), and the McCormick Presbyterian
Theological Seminary, Chicago (1892-94). He
published Historic Origin of the Bible) (1873)
and various other religious works, including a
curious edition of (Genesis Printed in Colors,
von
## p. 61 (#77) ##############################################
BISSON - BLACKSTONE
61
(
Showing the Original Sources from which it
is Supposed to have been Compiled' (1892).
Bisson, Alexandre (bis-sôn'). A French
dramatist and musical composer; born in 1848.
His vaudeville (Four Cuts with a Penknife)
(1873) won for him instant celebrity. "The
Deputy from Bombignac) is his masterpiece.
Other comedies or operettas were : (The Late
Toupinel (1890); (The Joys of Paternity)
(1891); (The Pont-Biquet Family (1892).
With Théodore de Lajarte he was joint author
of a "Grammar of Music) (1879) and of a
Little Encyclopædia of Music) (1881).
Bitter, Arthur (bit'er), pseudonym of Samuel
Haberstich. A Swiss poet and story-writer;
born in Ried near Schlosswyl, Oct. 21, 1821 ;
died at Berne, Feb. 20, 1872. Novelettes, stories,
and poems proceeded from his pen for many
years, all characterized by sympathy of tone
and inoffensive realism; (Tales, Romances,
and Poems) (1865-66), being most pleasing.
Bitzius, Albert. See Gotthelf.
Bjerregaard, Henrik Anker (byer'e-gär).
A Norwegian dramatic poet; born at Ring-
saker, 1792; died 1842. His position in his
country's literature is very influential, the plays
(Magnus Barefoot's Sons) and A Mountain
Adventure) being national models. A volume
of Poems) (1829) also displays genius.
Björnson, Björnstjerne (byern'son). An
eminent Norwegian novelist, poet, and drama-
tist; born at Kvikne, Norway, Dec. 8, 1832. He
published his first story, (Synnöve Solbakken,'
in 1857 ; and that, with Arne) (1858) and (A
Lively Fellow) (1860), established his reputa-
tion as a novelist. "Halte Hulda); Between
Battles) (1858); and (Sigurd Slembe) (1862),
are among his plays. Of his novels and
romances since 1866 the most notable are: (The
Bridal March); Magnhild); "The Fisher
Maiden'; and 'Captain Mansana. His princi-
pal dramatic works are: Mary Stuart) (1864);
(The Editors); A Bankruptcy); Leonarda)
(1879); A Glove) (1889). He published a
volume of Poems and Songs) in 1870. *
Black, William. A Scottish novelist; born
in Glasgow in November 1841. He received
his education at private schools. In 1874 he
abandoned the career of journalism, which he
had successfully pursued, visited America in
1876, and returning to London, devoted himself
anew to literature. In addition to an interest-
ing story, his novels contain fine descriptions of
scenery. They are very popular, and include:
"Love or Marriage) (1867); (In Silk Attire)
(1869); (A Daughter of Heth) (1871); (The
Strange Adventures of a Phaeton) (1872); (A
Princess of Thule) (1873); (Three Feathers)
(1875); Madcap Violet' (1876); (Macleod of
Dare) (1878); “White Wings: a Yachting Ro-
mance) (1880) (Yolande) (1883); (Judith
Shakespeare) (1884); "White Heather) (1885);
(The Strange Adventures of a House-Boat)
(1888); "Wolfenberg) (1892); besides others.
He has also written a Life of Goldsmith)
(1879). *
Blackburn, William Maxwell. A prominent
American Presbyterian divine and educator,
historian and biographer; born at Carlisle, Ind. ,
Dec. 30, 1828. He became president of the
University of North Dakota (1884-85) and
Pierre University, South Dakota (1885). He
has written : (St. Patrick and the Early Irish
Church) (1869); (Admiral Coligny and the
Rise of the Huguenots) (2 vols. , 1869); (His-
tory of the Christian Church) (1879); etc. ; and
the "Uncle Alick) series of juvenile stories.
Blackie, John Stuart. A Scottish author;
born in Glasgow in July 1809; died in Edin-
burgh, March 2, 1895. He received his edu-
cation in Edinburgh, Göttingen, Berlin, and
Rome; was professor of Greek in Edinburgh
University from 1852 till 1882, and continued
to write and lecture till his death. He was
one of the most important men of his day;
promoted educational reform, and championed
Scottish nationality. He advocated preserving
the Gaelic language, and by his own efforts
founded a Celtic chair in Edinburgh Univer-
sity. His books include translations from the
Greek and German; moral and religious and
other philosophy; Lays of the Highlands
and Islands) (1872); "Self-Culture) (1874);
Language and Literature of the Scottish High-
lands) (1875); (Altavona: Fact and Fiction
from my Life in the Highlands) (1882); Wis-
dom of Goethe) (1883); "Life of Burns) (1888);
and (Essays on Subjects of Moral and Social
Interest) (1890).
Blackmore, Sir Richard. An English phy-
sician and poet; born in Wiltshire about 1650;
died 1729. Besides medical works, Scripture
paraphrases, and satirical verse, he wrote in
Popian couplets Prince Arthur, a Heroic
Poem (1695), and a voluminous religious epic,
(The Creation (1712), very successful and
much praised then, but not now read.
Blackmore, Richard Doddridge. An Eng-
lish novelist; born in Longworth, Berkshire,
June 9, 1825. He graduated from Oxford in
1847, was called to the bar in 1852, and now
devotes himself to literature. Among his nov.
els are: (Lorna Doone) (London, 1869; far the
most celebrated, having reached dozens of edi.
tions, some of them magnificent extra-illustrated
ones); (Clara Vaughan) (1864); (The Maid of
Sker) (1872); (Alice Lorraine) (1875); “Cripps
the Carrier) (1876); “Erema) (1877); Mary
Anerley) (1880); (Christowell) (1882 ); (Sir
Thomas Upmore) (1884); (Springhaven' (1887);
(Kit and Kitty) (1889); Perlycross) (1894);
and other novels. He has also published a
version of Virgil's (Georgics. His latest work
is Dariel) (1897), a novel. *
Blackstone, Sir William. An English jurist
and writer on law; born in London, 1723;
died in 1780. His Commentaries on the Laws
of England' nave conferred great celebrity on
his name, not only by reason of the profound
learning of the werk but because it possesses
## p. 62 (#78) ##############################################
62
BLACKWELL-BLANCHARD
literary merits of a high order. The first
volume appeared in 1765, the last in 1769.
Blackwell, Mrs. Antoinette Louisa (Brown).
A prominent American woman-suffragist and
Unitarian minister; born at Henrietta, N. Y. ,
May 20, 1825. A graduate of Oberlin (1847),
she preached on her own orders,' at first in
Congregational churches, becoming at length a
champion of women's rights. She married
Samuel C. , a brother of Dr. Elizabeth Black-
well (1856). She has written : (Shadows of
our Social System (1855); “The Island Neigh-
bors) (1871), a novel of American life; (Sexes
throughout Nature) (1875); etc.
Blackwell, Elizabeth. A noted American
physician and medical and ethical writer;
born at Bristol, England, 1821. She is the
first woman that ever obtained the degree of
M. D. in the United States (1849), beginning
practice in New York (1851). With her sister
Emily, she opened the New York infirmary
for women and children (1854), organizing in
connection with it the Women's Medical Col-
lege (1867). In 1868 she became professor in
a woman's medical college that she had as-
sisted in organizing in London. She has
written : (Laws of Life) (1852); (Counsel to
Parents on the Moral Education of their Child-
ren' (1879); Pioneer work in Opening the
Medical Profession to Women'; etc.
Blaikie, William (blā'ki). A noted Ameri-
can athlete and writer on physical training;
born at York, N. Y. , 1843. He became a
lawyer in New York. He has written : (How
to Get Strong (2d ed. 1880); (Sound Bodies
for our Boys and Girls) (1883).
Blaine, James Gillespie. An eminent
American statesman; born in West Browns-
ville, Pa. , Jan. 31, 1830; died in Washington,
D. C. , Jan. 27, 1893. He graduated at Wash-
ington College, Pa. , in 1847. In 1854 he removed
to Augusta, Me. , and engaged in journalism.
He was one of the founders of the Republican
party, and in 1856 was a delegate to the first
Republican national convention, which nomi-
nated Frémont for the Presidency. In 1858
he was elected to the Legislature of Maine,
and in 1862 to the House of Representatives
of the national Congress. He became Speaker
of the House in 1869, and held that position
for six years; was a member of the Senate
from 1876 to 1881; was twice Secretary of
State (1881-82 and 1889 92). He was nom-
inated for the Presidency in 1884. Besides
his numerous speeches and writings on the
public questions of his day, his best known
work is his (Twenty Years in Congress) (2
vols. , 1884-86), a historical production of great
and permanent value.
Blair, Hugh. A Scotch divine, sermonist,
and educational writer; born in Edinburgh,
1718; died 1800. He was noted for the elo-
quence of his sermons, and also for Lectures
on Rhetoric' (1783), which attained great pop-
ularity, ( Blair's Rhetoric) being familiar to all
students.
Blake, James Vila. An American poet,
essayist, and Unitarian divine; born in New
York, 1842. He is now settled in Chicago.
He has written: Essays) (1886); 'Poems and
Essays) (2 vols. , 1887); Legends from Story
Land"; etc.
Blake, Mrs. Lillie (Devereux) Umstead.
A prominent American advocate of woman's
rights, a novelist; born at Raleigh, N. C. , 1835.
Her first husband, Frank G. Quay Umstead,
died in 1859; she married Grenfill Blake in
1866. She has written and spoken much on
woman suffrage and the like, and her novels
bear on this theme.
She has written : (South-
wold' (1859); “Rockford (1863); (Fettered for
Life) (new ed. 1885); (Woman's Place To.
Day) (1883), a reply to Dr. Morgan Dix's
(Lenten Lectures on Women, which attracted
attention ; etc.
Blake, Mrs. Mary Elizabeth (McGrath).
An American poet and writer of travels; born
in Ireland, 1840. In verse, she has written :
(Poems) (1882); “Youth in Twelve Centuries)
(1886); etc. Of her travels, may be named:
(On the Wing' (1883); (A Summer Holiday. ”
Blake, William. An English poet and art-
ist; born in London, Nov. 28, 1757 ; died there,
Aug. 12, 1827. He learned to draw; became
a noted illustrator and engraver; had a print-
shop in London; and exhibited at the Royal
Academy. His imagination was strange, power-
ful, grotesque, and poetic; and his belief was
that his poems and drawings were communi-
cations from the spirit world. His “Poetical
Sketches) (London, 1783); “Songs of Inno-
cence) (1789); and (Songs of Experience)
(1794), contain pastoral and lyrical poems of
great beauty. His "Prophetic Books, includ-
ing (Book of Thel (1789); Marriage of
Heaven and Hell' (1790); (Book of Urizen)
(1794); Book of Los' (1795); “Book of Ahania)
(1795); “Jerusalem' (1804); and Milton' (1804),
are famous. His greatest artistic work is in
(Illustrations to the Book of Job) (1826). *
Blanc, Charles (blon). A French art critic
(1813-82). He was director of the government
department of fine art, 1848–52. His contribu-
tions to the history and philosophy of art com-
prise : (A History of Painters of all Schools)
(14 vols. , 1849-69); "The Treasure of Curios-
ity) (1858); “Grammar of the Arts of Design,
his greatest work (1867); (Art in Personal
Adornment and Attire); (posthumously) (His-
tory of the Artistic Renaissance in Italy) (2
vols. , 1889). *
Blanchard, Edward Laman. An English
dramatist and novelist (1820-89); born in Lon-
don. His novels, (Temple Bar) and A Man
Without a Destiny,' evinced no special talent
for story-telling; on the other hand, he com-
posed for Drury Lane Theatre about 100
(Christmas Pantomimes) in the vein of gro-
tesque-burlesque, among them (Sindbad the
Sailor,' which were received with unbounded
popular favor.
## p. 63 (#79) ##############################################
BLANCHE - BLOUET
63
Blanche, August Theodor (blänsh). A
Swedish dramatist and novelist; born in Stock-
holm, Sept. 17, 1811; died there, Nov. 30, 1868.
His comedies and farces- more particularly
Jenny, or the Steamboat Trip, (The Doc-
tor, (The Rich Uncle,' and (The Foundling'-
have made all Sweden laugh; while his realistic
fictions - among them "The Spectre, (Tales
of a Cabman,' and (Sons of North and South)
-- are eagerly read.
Blavatsky, Helena Petrovna (blä-vät'ski).
A noted Theosophist; born at Yekaterinoslav,
Russia, 1831; died in London, May 8, 1891.
She founded the “Theosophical Society » in
New York (1875). She wrote: (Isis Unveiled
(1876); (The Secret Doctrine) (1888); Key
to Theosophy) (1889); etc.
Blaze de Bury, Ange Henri (bläz dė bü-
ré'). A French literary critic and historian
(1813-88); born at Paris. He was profoundly
conversant with German literature, and pub-
lished many admirable studies on that subject.
His historical sketches - The Königsmarcks)
(1855), «The Legend of Versailles) (1870),
Women of the Renaissance) (1886), etc. , - and
his numerous brief memoirs of great musi-
cians, are worthy of mention.
Bledsoe, Albert Taylor (bled'ső). A promi-
nent American clergyman, educator, lawyer,
editor, soldier, and miscellaneous writer; born
at Frankfort, Ky. , Nov. 9, 1809; died at Alex-
andria, Va. , Dec. 1, 1877. He was Assistant Sec-
retary of War of the Southern Confederacy,
and both an Episcopal and a Methodist min-
ister. Besides editing the Southern Review
and contributing frequently to leading literary,
scientific, and theological periodicals, he wrote:
"Examination of Edwards on the Will (1845);
(Theodicy) (new ed. 1853); Philosophy of
Mathematics) (1868); etc.
Bleibtreu, Karl August (blīb'troi). A Ger-
man poet and novelist; born at Berlin, Jan.
13, 1859. He is one of the foremost repre-
sentatives of the “ Youngest German school
in literature, and a pronounced realist. All his
views are radical, as shown by the very titles
of his works : e. g. , Revolution in Literature)
(1885); Literature's Struggle for Life. He
also wrote: Dies Iræ); Napoleon at Leip-
sic); 'Cromwell at Marston Moor. His dramas
are : "Lord Byron (1888); “The Day of Judg.
ment); “The Queen's Necklace); etc.
Blessington, Marguerite, Countess of. An
Irish descriptive writer and novelist; born in
Knockbrit, Tipperary, Sept. I, 1789; died in
Paris, June 4, 1849. In 1818 she was married
to the Earl of Blessington, and became a
favorite in distinguished society in London and
on the Continent. Her connection with the
Count d'Orsay dated from 1822. She wrote a
number of novels : (The Idler in Italy) (Lon-
don, 1839-40); (The Idler in France) (1841);
and Conversations with Lord Byron) (1834).
Blicher, Steen Steensen (bliċh'ér). A Dan.
ish poet and novelist (1782-1848); born at
Viborg. His first work was a translation of
(Ossian) (2 vols. , 1807-9); and his first original
poems appeared in 1814, but attracted little
notice. He quickly won a national reputa-
tion with his novels, and in 1842 appeared his
masterpiece of novel-writing, (The Knitting-
Room, a collection of short stories in the Jut-
land dialect. *
Blind, Mathilde. A German-English poet;
born in Mannheim, March 21, 1847; died in
London, Nov. 26, 1896. She went to England
in 1849, and won fame by her writings: (The
Prophecy of St. Oran, and Other Poems) (Lon-
don, 1881); Life of George Eliot) (1883);
(Madame Roland) (1886); (The Heather on
Fire, a tale (1886); Ascent of Man (1889);
(Dramas in Miniature) (1892); (Songs and
Sonnets) (1893); and (Birds of Passage)
(1895). *
Bliss, William Dwight Porter. A promi.
nent American Episcopal clergyman and writer
on Christian Socialism; born in Italy, 1856. He
has written a (Handbook of Socialism); “What
is Christian Socialism? ) etc. , and compiled
the Encyclopædia of Socialism' (1897), be-
sides editing a Christian Socialist weekly, The
Dawn, now The Fabian.
Bloede, Gertrude (ble'de). An American
poet and novelist, better known as
( Stuart
Sterne )); born in Saxony, Germany, 1845. She
has written in verse : (Angelo' (new ed. 1879),
(Giorgio and Other Poems) (1881), etc. ; and
(The Story of Two Lives,' a novel.
Blommaert, Philipp (blom'märt). A Flem-
ish poet, historian, and dramatist; born in
Ghent, Aug. 27, 1809; died there, Aug. 14, 1871.
His great ambition was to make his native
Flemish tongue a literary language, and to
unify the people who wrote and spoke it. llis
works include: History of the Belgian Low-
landers,' a specimen of stately prose; (The-
oophilus,' a poem; and Old Flemish Ballads.
Bloomfield, Robert. An English poet; born
at Honington, Dec. 3, 1766; died in Shefford,
1823. Apprenticed to a shoemaker in London,
he chanced upon odd volumes of the poets,
and thus was awakened his native poetic
genius. He first came into public notice with
( The Milk-Maid,' and good fortune attended
his (The Sailor's Return. He essayed a longer
Alight in (The Farmer's Boy) (1800), by which
he established his title to rank among the
minor poets.
Bloomfield-Moore, Mrs. Clara Sophia (Jes-
sup). An American poet and novelist; born
in Pennsylvania, 1824. Her home is in Phila-
delphia, though she has lived much abroad,
particularly in England. She has written : (Mis-
cellaneous Poems, (The Warden's Tale, and
Other Poems, etc. , and the romance (On Dan-
gerous Ground, besides essays on science and
in promotion of inventions.
Blouet, Paul (blö-ā'). [“Max O’Rell. ”] A
French lecturer and author; born in Brittany,
France, March 2, 1848. During his early life
## p. 64 (#80) ##############################################
64
BLUM - BÖDTCHER
of which he afterwards became principai. In
1880 he became president of Liberia College,
has held important governmental positions, and
has twice been commissioner to the Presbyte-
rian General Assembly of the United States (in
1861 and 1880). He is proficient in many lan-
guages, including Latin, Greek, Spanish, He-
brew, and Arabic. He has published: Liberia's
Offering) (1873); (From West Africa to Pales-
tine) (1873); (The Negro in Ancient History);
etc.
he was an officer of cavalry in the French army,
but in 1873 went to England and became a
teacher. After the publication of his first book,
(John Bull and his Island (1883), he abandoned
teaching and devoted himself to literature. He
has made several lecturing-tours of the United
States. His works include : John Bull and his
Daughters) (1884); Jonathan and his Conti-
nent) (1888, with Jack Allyn); (A Frenchman
in America) (1891); John Bull & Co. (1894).
Blum, Ernest (blüm). A French dramatist;
born in Paris, Aug. 15, 1836. Either alone or
in collaboration with other dramatists he is
author of many highly successful plays. The
drama of (Rose Michel (1877), of his own
composition, insured his place among the
most successful French dramatists of the time.
Among his later compositions are : (Adam and
Eve) (1886); (The Nervous Women(1888);
(End of the Century) (1890).
Blumenreich, Franziska (blo'men-rich). A
German novelist; born in Bohemia, April 2,
1849. Among her very numerous novels these
are the more notable : (At the Abyss of Mar-
riage) (1888); (Freighted with Bliss) (1890);
(Storms in Port) (1892). She is a zealous
advocate of woman's rights.
Blumenthal, Oskar (blö'men-täl). A Ger-
man dramatist and critic; born in Berlin,
March 13, 1852. Sprightliness of dialogue is
the most distinguishing character of his plays;
the most successful of them are : (The Big
Bell); (A Drop of Poison); (The Black Veil. )
He has published several volumes of critical
and miscellaneous essays.
Blunt, Wilfrid Scawen. An Irish poet;
born at Crabbet Park, Sussex, in 1840. He
was attaché of legation at The Hague, Athens,
Madrid, Buenos Ayres, and elsewhere. He
supported Arabi Pasha in a revolt in 1881, in
Egypt; and was imprisoned in 1888 for his
insurrectionary actions in Ireland. He is author
of : “Sonnets and Songs by Proteus) (London,
1875); (The Love Sonnets of Proteus) (1881;
new ed. 1885); (The Future of Islam? (1882);
(The Wind and the Whirlwind, political
poems (1884); "Ideas about India) (1885); and
Esther: a Young Man's Tragedy) (1895).
Blüthgen, August Edward Viktor (blūt'-
gen). A German novelist; born at Zörbig,
near Halle, Jan. 4. 1844. He has won high
distinction as a writer for the young. Among
his stories for boys and girls are : (The
Rogues' Looking-Glass) (1876); (The Battle
of Frogs and Mice) (1878); and with these
is to be classed the letterpress (verses) of
0. Pletsch's Picture Books. Of novels and
romances he is author of a great many: 1. g. ,
(The Peace-Breaker) (1883); (The Step-Sister)
(1887); (Madame the Countess) (1892).
Blyden, Edward Wilmot. A negro author;
born at St. Thomas, W. I. , Aug. 3, 1832. After
vainly seeking, in 1845, admission to some col-
lege in the United States, he went to Liberia,
and graduated at the Alexander High School,
Boardman, George Dana. A distinguished
American clergyman and author; born at
Tavoy, British Burma, Aug. 18, 1828. He was
the son of the eminent American Baptist mis-
sionary of the same name. He was educated
in the United States, graduating at Brown
University in 1852 and at Newton Theological
Institution in 1855. He became pastor at Barn-
well, S. C. ; afterwards at Rochester, N. Y. , till
1864, when he became pastor of the First Bap-
tist Church in Philadelphia. Besides sermons
and essays, his chief works are: (Studies
in the Creative Week) (1878); (Studies in the
Model Prayer) (1879); Epiphanies of the
Risen Lord) (1879); (Studies in the Mountain
Instruction (1880).
Boccaccio, Giovanni (bok-kä'cho). A cele.
brated Italian novelist, poet, and humanist;
born at Paris, 1313; died Dec. 21, 1375. His
first romance was "Filocopo,' dedicated to his
mistress Fiammetta. The romantic epic the
(Theseid) followed; it is the first Italian work
of the kind. Both for itself and for its associa-
tions, the (Theseid is of interest to students
of English literature, having been a source
of inspiration to Chaucer in his (Knightes
Tale. (Fiammetta in Love) is a work of
the finest psychological analysis, clothed in
every grace of poesy. Love's Labyrinth) is
a vigorous satire on woman. But Boccaccio's
enduring fame rests on the Decameron); a
collection of stories original and borrowed,
set in a narrative framework, all of the high-
est charm. *
Bodenstedt, Friedrich Martin von (bö'den-
stet). [“Mirza Schaffy. ”] A noted German
poet and journalist; born 1819; died 1892.
His works include: Poetical Ukraine); “The
People of the Caucasus and their Struggle for
Freedom against the Russians); (Thousand
and One Days in the East); and many others
dealing with Oriental themes. *
Bodmer, Johann Jakob (bod'mer). A Swiss
scholar and literary critic; born near Zürich,
July 19, 1698; died Jan. 2, 1783. He was the
first to make English literature known in Ger-
many; and wrote dramas, and the epics (The
Deluge) (1751) and Noah) (1752). He pub-
lished two volumes of (Critical Letters,' and
prepared editions of ancient German poetry:
(Specimens of Thirteenth-Century Suabian
Poetry); (Fables from the Time of the Minne-
singers) ; (Kriemhilde's Revenge); etc. *
Bödtcher, Ludwig (bėt'che). A Danish lyr.
ist (1793-1874); born at Copenhagen. He spent
## p. 65 (#81) ##############################################
BOËTIUS-BOISGOBEY
65
(
many years in Italy, and nature and man in
Italy equally with nature and man in Den-
mark are the themes of his finest poems,
notably Bacchus,' and the collection called
(Poems Old and New)
Boëtius or Boëthius, Anicius Manlius Tor-
quatus Severinus (bo-e'thi-us). A Roman
didactic poet and statesman; born between
470 and 475; died about 525. While in prison,
rightly anticipating execution, he composed his
celebrated (Consolation of Philosophy. It pur-
ports to be a dialogue between Philosophy and
her votary, and is in both prose and verse. *
Bogaers, Adriaan (bo'gärs). A Dutch poet
(1795-1870); born at The Hague. He holds
eminent place among the many disciples of
Tollens, and surpasses his master in correct-
ness of taste. He long withheld his composi-
tions from publication, and not till 1832 did
he become known to his countrymen; he then
published his first lyric poem, "Volharding,' -
an appeal to his countrymen to stand fast in the
struggle with Belgium,- together with other
patriotic pieces. His first poem of any con-
siderable compass, the epic (Jochebed, and
his masterpiece, “The Voyage of Heemskerk
to Gibraltar, were first formally published in
1860-61, though they had had for many years
a private circulation among friends. He after-
ward, published three volumes : Ballads and
Romances); (Flowers of Poesy from Abroad);
and Poems.
60
BILLINGS- BISSELL
(
:
Billings, John Shaw. An American surgeon
and medical and hygienic writer; born in In-
diana, 1838. He was librarian of the surgeon-
general's office, Washington; president of the
American Public Health Association (1880);
he is now chief librarian of the New York
Library (the combined Astor, Lenox, and Til-
den libraries). His chief work is a voluminous
Index-Catalogue) (1880) of the library of the
surgeon-general's office. He has written also:
(Hygienics of the United States Army Bar-
racks); Mortality and Vital Statistics of the
United States Army) (1880); "Ventilation and
Heating' (1884), revised and enlarged 1893,- a
very comprehensive and authoritative work.
Billings, Josh. See Shaw, Henry W.
Bion (bi'on). A Greek pastoral poet; born
near Smyrna in the 3d century B. C. He ap-
pears to have passed the latter part of his life
in Sicily. His pastorals betray a degree of
refinement and sentimentality not found in the
earlier and more spontaneous bucolic poets.
Still extant is his "Lament for Adonis, often
imitated by subsequent poets. Besides this
there remain of his works only short pieces,
many of them fragmentary. *
Birch-Pfeiffer, Charlotte (bērch-pfi'fèr). A
German actress and dramatist (1800-68). She
joined the Court Theatre Company at Munich
at the age of 13 years; at 18 she had won
distinction in tragic rôles. She married Chris-
tian Birch in 1825; thereafter till her death
she was in active relations with the stage,
whether as actress or conductress. Her numer-
ous dramatic compositions were produced on
nearly every stage in Germany. They evince
remarkable skill in the employment of stage
effects. Her plays are in many instances
grounded on novels; among them are : (Graf-
fenstein Castle); (The Favorites); (The Bell-
Ringers of Notre Dame) (Victor Hugo);
(The Woman in White) (Wilkie Collins);
(The Orphan of Lowood' (Charlotte Brontë).
Bird, Robert Montgomery. An American
dramatist and novelist; born in Newcastle,
Del. , Feb. 5, 1805 (? ); died in Philadelphia, Pa. ,
Jan. 22, 1854. He was the author of three trage-
dies : Oraloosa); (The Broker of Bogota); and
(The Gladiator, frequently played by Forrest.
His novels include: (Calavar) (1834); (The
Infidel' (1835); “Nick of the Woods) (1837);
Peter Pilgrim (1838); and (Robin Day)
(1839).
Birney, James Gillespie. A noted Ameri-
can statesman and publicist ; born at Danville,
Ky. , Feb. 4, 1792; died at Perth Amboy, N. J. ,
Nov. 25, 1857. Though a Southern planter, he
emancipated his slaves and became a promi.
nent anti-slavery leader in the South, proprietor
and editor of the anti-slavery journal The Phi-
lanthropist, etc. He was candidate of the "Lib.
erty) party for President (1840 and 1844). He
wrote: (Ten Letters on Slavery and Coloniza-
tion); Addresses and Speeches); (American
Churches the Bulwark of American Slavery. ?
Birrell, Augustine. An English essayist;
born in Wavertree, near Liverpool, Jan. 19, 1850.
He graduated from Cambridge and was called
to the bar. He is author of charming critical
and biographical essays on literary subjects,
collected in the two series of "Obiter Dicta)
(1884, 2d series 1887), and (Res Judicatæ (1892,
really the third of the same series). Men,
Women, and Books) (1895) is a collection of
short newspaper pieces. In 1887 he published
a Life of Charlotte Brontë. *
Bischoff, J. E. K. See Bolanden.
Bishop, Nathaniel Holmes. An American
traveler; born at Medway, Mass. , 1837. He has
written : (A Thousand Miles' Walk Across
South America) (1869); “Voyage of the Paper
Canoe from Quebec to the Gulf of Mexico
(1878); Four Months in a Sneak-Box (1879).
Bishop, William Henry. An American
novelist; born in Hartford, Conn. , Jan. 7, 1847.
He is the author of several novels, including:
(Detmold (1879); (The House of a Merchant
Prince) (1882); (A Pound of Cure: A Story
of Monte Carlo) (1894); "Old Mexico and her
Lost Provinces) (1884); (Fish and Men in the
Maine Islands); A House-Hunter in Europe);
(Writing to Russia, a story; (The Golden
Justice); (Choy Susan and Other Stories);
(The Brown-Stone Boy and Other Queer Peo-
ple); and many similiar works.
Bisland, Elizabeth. An American descript-
ive and story writer, by marriage Mrs. Wet-
more ; born 1863. She is author of (A Flying
Trip around the World) (1891), the account of
a trip performed in 76 days in the year 1876;
and of A Widower Indeed, with Rhoda
Broughton (1892).
Bismarck, Otto Edward Leopold
(biz'märk). A German statesman; born at
Schönhausen, April 1, 1815. He was a mem-
ber of the United Diet, 1847; ambassador at
St. Petersburg, 1859; ambassador at Paris, 1862;
premier of Prussia, 1862 to 1866; and chancel-
lor of the German Empire from its inception
in 1870 to 1890. He holds a place in literature
through the volume of Bismarck's Letters,
and through his State papers, a series of which
appears in Hahn's Fürst Bismarck); while as
a thinker and economist he is seen to advan-
tage in Bismarck als Volkswirth,' by Posch-
inger, containing many of the Prince's papers
on sociological and fiscal subjects. *
Bissell, Edwin Cone (bis'l). A prominent
American Congregational divine and religious
writer; born at Schoharie, N. Y. , March 2,
1832; died in Chicago, April 9, 1894. Having
served in the Civil War (1862-63), he became
pastor in Massachusetts and California, mis-
sionary in Austria (1873-78), professor in the
Hartford Congregational Theological Seminary
(1881-92), and the McCormick Presbyterian
Theological Seminary, Chicago (1892-94). He
published Historic Origin of the Bible) (1873)
and various other religious works, including a
curious edition of (Genesis Printed in Colors,
von
## p. 61 (#77) ##############################################
BISSON - BLACKSTONE
61
(
Showing the Original Sources from which it
is Supposed to have been Compiled' (1892).
Bisson, Alexandre (bis-sôn'). A French
dramatist and musical composer; born in 1848.
His vaudeville (Four Cuts with a Penknife)
(1873) won for him instant celebrity. "The
Deputy from Bombignac) is his masterpiece.
Other comedies or operettas were : (The Late
Toupinel (1890); (The Joys of Paternity)
(1891); (The Pont-Biquet Family (1892).
With Théodore de Lajarte he was joint author
of a "Grammar of Music) (1879) and of a
Little Encyclopædia of Music) (1881).
Bitter, Arthur (bit'er), pseudonym of Samuel
Haberstich. A Swiss poet and story-writer;
born in Ried near Schlosswyl, Oct. 21, 1821 ;
died at Berne, Feb. 20, 1872. Novelettes, stories,
and poems proceeded from his pen for many
years, all characterized by sympathy of tone
and inoffensive realism; (Tales, Romances,
and Poems) (1865-66), being most pleasing.
Bitzius, Albert. See Gotthelf.
Bjerregaard, Henrik Anker (byer'e-gär).
A Norwegian dramatic poet; born at Ring-
saker, 1792; died 1842. His position in his
country's literature is very influential, the plays
(Magnus Barefoot's Sons) and A Mountain
Adventure) being national models. A volume
of Poems) (1829) also displays genius.
Björnson, Björnstjerne (byern'son). An
eminent Norwegian novelist, poet, and drama-
tist; born at Kvikne, Norway, Dec. 8, 1832. He
published his first story, (Synnöve Solbakken,'
in 1857 ; and that, with Arne) (1858) and (A
Lively Fellow) (1860), established his reputa-
tion as a novelist. "Halte Hulda); Between
Battles) (1858); and (Sigurd Slembe) (1862),
are among his plays. Of his novels and
romances since 1866 the most notable are: (The
Bridal March); Magnhild); "The Fisher
Maiden'; and 'Captain Mansana. His princi-
pal dramatic works are: Mary Stuart) (1864);
(The Editors); A Bankruptcy); Leonarda)
(1879); A Glove) (1889). He published a
volume of Poems and Songs) in 1870. *
Black, William. A Scottish novelist; born
in Glasgow in November 1841. He received
his education at private schools. In 1874 he
abandoned the career of journalism, which he
had successfully pursued, visited America in
1876, and returning to London, devoted himself
anew to literature. In addition to an interest-
ing story, his novels contain fine descriptions of
scenery. They are very popular, and include:
"Love or Marriage) (1867); (In Silk Attire)
(1869); (A Daughter of Heth) (1871); (The
Strange Adventures of a Phaeton) (1872); (A
Princess of Thule) (1873); (Three Feathers)
(1875); Madcap Violet' (1876); (Macleod of
Dare) (1878); “White Wings: a Yachting Ro-
mance) (1880) (Yolande) (1883); (Judith
Shakespeare) (1884); "White Heather) (1885);
(The Strange Adventures of a House-Boat)
(1888); "Wolfenberg) (1892); besides others.
He has also written a Life of Goldsmith)
(1879). *
Blackburn, William Maxwell. A prominent
American Presbyterian divine and educator,
historian and biographer; born at Carlisle, Ind. ,
Dec. 30, 1828. He became president of the
University of North Dakota (1884-85) and
Pierre University, South Dakota (1885). He
has written : (St. Patrick and the Early Irish
Church) (1869); (Admiral Coligny and the
Rise of the Huguenots) (2 vols. , 1869); (His-
tory of the Christian Church) (1879); etc. ; and
the "Uncle Alick) series of juvenile stories.
Blackie, John Stuart. A Scottish author;
born in Glasgow in July 1809; died in Edin-
burgh, March 2, 1895. He received his edu-
cation in Edinburgh, Göttingen, Berlin, and
Rome; was professor of Greek in Edinburgh
University from 1852 till 1882, and continued
to write and lecture till his death. He was
one of the most important men of his day;
promoted educational reform, and championed
Scottish nationality. He advocated preserving
the Gaelic language, and by his own efforts
founded a Celtic chair in Edinburgh Univer-
sity. His books include translations from the
Greek and German; moral and religious and
other philosophy; Lays of the Highlands
and Islands) (1872); "Self-Culture) (1874);
Language and Literature of the Scottish High-
lands) (1875); (Altavona: Fact and Fiction
from my Life in the Highlands) (1882); Wis-
dom of Goethe) (1883); "Life of Burns) (1888);
and (Essays on Subjects of Moral and Social
Interest) (1890).
Blackmore, Sir Richard. An English phy-
sician and poet; born in Wiltshire about 1650;
died 1729. Besides medical works, Scripture
paraphrases, and satirical verse, he wrote in
Popian couplets Prince Arthur, a Heroic
Poem (1695), and a voluminous religious epic,
(The Creation (1712), very successful and
much praised then, but not now read.
Blackmore, Richard Doddridge. An Eng-
lish novelist; born in Longworth, Berkshire,
June 9, 1825. He graduated from Oxford in
1847, was called to the bar in 1852, and now
devotes himself to literature. Among his nov.
els are: (Lorna Doone) (London, 1869; far the
most celebrated, having reached dozens of edi.
tions, some of them magnificent extra-illustrated
ones); (Clara Vaughan) (1864); (The Maid of
Sker) (1872); (Alice Lorraine) (1875); “Cripps
the Carrier) (1876); “Erema) (1877); Mary
Anerley) (1880); (Christowell) (1882 ); (Sir
Thomas Upmore) (1884); (Springhaven' (1887);
(Kit and Kitty) (1889); Perlycross) (1894);
and other novels. He has also published a
version of Virgil's (Georgics. His latest work
is Dariel) (1897), a novel. *
Blackstone, Sir William. An English jurist
and writer on law; born in London, 1723;
died in 1780. His Commentaries on the Laws
of England' nave conferred great celebrity on
his name, not only by reason of the profound
learning of the werk but because it possesses
## p. 62 (#78) ##############################################
62
BLACKWELL-BLANCHARD
literary merits of a high order. The first
volume appeared in 1765, the last in 1769.
Blackwell, Mrs. Antoinette Louisa (Brown).
A prominent American woman-suffragist and
Unitarian minister; born at Henrietta, N. Y. ,
May 20, 1825. A graduate of Oberlin (1847),
she preached on her own orders,' at first in
Congregational churches, becoming at length a
champion of women's rights. She married
Samuel C. , a brother of Dr. Elizabeth Black-
well (1856). She has written : (Shadows of
our Social System (1855); “The Island Neigh-
bors) (1871), a novel of American life; (Sexes
throughout Nature) (1875); etc.
Blackwell, Elizabeth. A noted American
physician and medical and ethical writer;
born at Bristol, England, 1821. She is the
first woman that ever obtained the degree of
M. D. in the United States (1849), beginning
practice in New York (1851). With her sister
Emily, she opened the New York infirmary
for women and children (1854), organizing in
connection with it the Women's Medical Col-
lege (1867). In 1868 she became professor in
a woman's medical college that she had as-
sisted in organizing in London. She has
written : (Laws of Life) (1852); (Counsel to
Parents on the Moral Education of their Child-
ren' (1879); Pioneer work in Opening the
Medical Profession to Women'; etc.
Blaikie, William (blā'ki). A noted Ameri-
can athlete and writer on physical training;
born at York, N. Y. , 1843. He became a
lawyer in New York. He has written : (How
to Get Strong (2d ed. 1880); (Sound Bodies
for our Boys and Girls) (1883).
Blaine, James Gillespie. An eminent
American statesman; born in West Browns-
ville, Pa. , Jan. 31, 1830; died in Washington,
D. C. , Jan. 27, 1893. He graduated at Wash-
ington College, Pa. , in 1847. In 1854 he removed
to Augusta, Me. , and engaged in journalism.
He was one of the founders of the Republican
party, and in 1856 was a delegate to the first
Republican national convention, which nomi-
nated Frémont for the Presidency. In 1858
he was elected to the Legislature of Maine,
and in 1862 to the House of Representatives
of the national Congress. He became Speaker
of the House in 1869, and held that position
for six years; was a member of the Senate
from 1876 to 1881; was twice Secretary of
State (1881-82 and 1889 92). He was nom-
inated for the Presidency in 1884. Besides
his numerous speeches and writings on the
public questions of his day, his best known
work is his (Twenty Years in Congress) (2
vols. , 1884-86), a historical production of great
and permanent value.
Blair, Hugh. A Scotch divine, sermonist,
and educational writer; born in Edinburgh,
1718; died 1800. He was noted for the elo-
quence of his sermons, and also for Lectures
on Rhetoric' (1783), which attained great pop-
ularity, ( Blair's Rhetoric) being familiar to all
students.
Blake, James Vila. An American poet,
essayist, and Unitarian divine; born in New
York, 1842. He is now settled in Chicago.
He has written: Essays) (1886); 'Poems and
Essays) (2 vols. , 1887); Legends from Story
Land"; etc.
Blake, Mrs. Lillie (Devereux) Umstead.
A prominent American advocate of woman's
rights, a novelist; born at Raleigh, N. C. , 1835.
Her first husband, Frank G. Quay Umstead,
died in 1859; she married Grenfill Blake in
1866. She has written and spoken much on
woman suffrage and the like, and her novels
bear on this theme.
She has written : (South-
wold' (1859); “Rockford (1863); (Fettered for
Life) (new ed. 1885); (Woman's Place To.
Day) (1883), a reply to Dr. Morgan Dix's
(Lenten Lectures on Women, which attracted
attention ; etc.
Blake, Mrs. Mary Elizabeth (McGrath).
An American poet and writer of travels; born
in Ireland, 1840. In verse, she has written :
(Poems) (1882); “Youth in Twelve Centuries)
(1886); etc. Of her travels, may be named:
(On the Wing' (1883); (A Summer Holiday. ”
Blake, William. An English poet and art-
ist; born in London, Nov. 28, 1757 ; died there,
Aug. 12, 1827. He learned to draw; became
a noted illustrator and engraver; had a print-
shop in London; and exhibited at the Royal
Academy. His imagination was strange, power-
ful, grotesque, and poetic; and his belief was
that his poems and drawings were communi-
cations from the spirit world. His “Poetical
Sketches) (London, 1783); “Songs of Inno-
cence) (1789); and (Songs of Experience)
(1794), contain pastoral and lyrical poems of
great beauty. His "Prophetic Books, includ-
ing (Book of Thel (1789); Marriage of
Heaven and Hell' (1790); (Book of Urizen)
(1794); Book of Los' (1795); “Book of Ahania)
(1795); “Jerusalem' (1804); and Milton' (1804),
are famous. His greatest artistic work is in
(Illustrations to the Book of Job) (1826). *
Blanc, Charles (blon). A French art critic
(1813-82). He was director of the government
department of fine art, 1848–52. His contribu-
tions to the history and philosophy of art com-
prise : (A History of Painters of all Schools)
(14 vols. , 1849-69); "The Treasure of Curios-
ity) (1858); “Grammar of the Arts of Design,
his greatest work (1867); (Art in Personal
Adornment and Attire); (posthumously) (His-
tory of the Artistic Renaissance in Italy) (2
vols. , 1889). *
Blanchard, Edward Laman. An English
dramatist and novelist (1820-89); born in Lon-
don. His novels, (Temple Bar) and A Man
Without a Destiny,' evinced no special talent
for story-telling; on the other hand, he com-
posed for Drury Lane Theatre about 100
(Christmas Pantomimes) in the vein of gro-
tesque-burlesque, among them (Sindbad the
Sailor,' which were received with unbounded
popular favor.
## p. 63 (#79) ##############################################
BLANCHE - BLOUET
63
Blanche, August Theodor (blänsh). A
Swedish dramatist and novelist; born in Stock-
holm, Sept. 17, 1811; died there, Nov. 30, 1868.
His comedies and farces- more particularly
Jenny, or the Steamboat Trip, (The Doc-
tor, (The Rich Uncle,' and (The Foundling'-
have made all Sweden laugh; while his realistic
fictions - among them "The Spectre, (Tales
of a Cabman,' and (Sons of North and South)
-- are eagerly read.
Blavatsky, Helena Petrovna (blä-vät'ski).
A noted Theosophist; born at Yekaterinoslav,
Russia, 1831; died in London, May 8, 1891.
She founded the “Theosophical Society » in
New York (1875). She wrote: (Isis Unveiled
(1876); (The Secret Doctrine) (1888); Key
to Theosophy) (1889); etc.
Blaze de Bury, Ange Henri (bläz dė bü-
ré'). A French literary critic and historian
(1813-88); born at Paris. He was profoundly
conversant with German literature, and pub-
lished many admirable studies on that subject.
His historical sketches - The Königsmarcks)
(1855), «The Legend of Versailles) (1870),
Women of the Renaissance) (1886), etc. , - and
his numerous brief memoirs of great musi-
cians, are worthy of mention.
Bledsoe, Albert Taylor (bled'ső). A promi-
nent American clergyman, educator, lawyer,
editor, soldier, and miscellaneous writer; born
at Frankfort, Ky. , Nov. 9, 1809; died at Alex-
andria, Va. , Dec. 1, 1877. He was Assistant Sec-
retary of War of the Southern Confederacy,
and both an Episcopal and a Methodist min-
ister. Besides editing the Southern Review
and contributing frequently to leading literary,
scientific, and theological periodicals, he wrote:
"Examination of Edwards on the Will (1845);
(Theodicy) (new ed. 1853); Philosophy of
Mathematics) (1868); etc.
Bleibtreu, Karl August (blīb'troi). A Ger-
man poet and novelist; born at Berlin, Jan.
13, 1859. He is one of the foremost repre-
sentatives of the “ Youngest German school
in literature, and a pronounced realist. All his
views are radical, as shown by the very titles
of his works : e. g. , Revolution in Literature)
(1885); Literature's Struggle for Life. He
also wrote: Dies Iræ); Napoleon at Leip-
sic); 'Cromwell at Marston Moor. His dramas
are : "Lord Byron (1888); “The Day of Judg.
ment); “The Queen's Necklace); etc.
Blessington, Marguerite, Countess of. An
Irish descriptive writer and novelist; born in
Knockbrit, Tipperary, Sept. I, 1789; died in
Paris, June 4, 1849. In 1818 she was married
to the Earl of Blessington, and became a
favorite in distinguished society in London and
on the Continent. Her connection with the
Count d'Orsay dated from 1822. She wrote a
number of novels : (The Idler in Italy) (Lon-
don, 1839-40); (The Idler in France) (1841);
and Conversations with Lord Byron) (1834).
Blicher, Steen Steensen (bliċh'ér). A Dan.
ish poet and novelist (1782-1848); born at
Viborg. His first work was a translation of
(Ossian) (2 vols. , 1807-9); and his first original
poems appeared in 1814, but attracted little
notice. He quickly won a national reputa-
tion with his novels, and in 1842 appeared his
masterpiece of novel-writing, (The Knitting-
Room, a collection of short stories in the Jut-
land dialect. *
Blind, Mathilde. A German-English poet;
born in Mannheim, March 21, 1847; died in
London, Nov. 26, 1896. She went to England
in 1849, and won fame by her writings: (The
Prophecy of St. Oran, and Other Poems) (Lon-
don, 1881); Life of George Eliot) (1883);
(Madame Roland) (1886); (The Heather on
Fire, a tale (1886); Ascent of Man (1889);
(Dramas in Miniature) (1892); (Songs and
Sonnets) (1893); and (Birds of Passage)
(1895). *
Bliss, William Dwight Porter. A promi.
nent American Episcopal clergyman and writer
on Christian Socialism; born in Italy, 1856. He
has written a (Handbook of Socialism); “What
is Christian Socialism? ) etc. , and compiled
the Encyclopædia of Socialism' (1897), be-
sides editing a Christian Socialist weekly, The
Dawn, now The Fabian.
Bloede, Gertrude (ble'de). An American
poet and novelist, better known as
( Stuart
Sterne )); born in Saxony, Germany, 1845. She
has written in verse : (Angelo' (new ed. 1879),
(Giorgio and Other Poems) (1881), etc. ; and
(The Story of Two Lives,' a novel.
Blommaert, Philipp (blom'märt). A Flem-
ish poet, historian, and dramatist; born in
Ghent, Aug. 27, 1809; died there, Aug. 14, 1871.
His great ambition was to make his native
Flemish tongue a literary language, and to
unify the people who wrote and spoke it. llis
works include: History of the Belgian Low-
landers,' a specimen of stately prose; (The-
oophilus,' a poem; and Old Flemish Ballads.
Bloomfield, Robert. An English poet; born
at Honington, Dec. 3, 1766; died in Shefford,
1823. Apprenticed to a shoemaker in London,
he chanced upon odd volumes of the poets,
and thus was awakened his native poetic
genius. He first came into public notice with
( The Milk-Maid,' and good fortune attended
his (The Sailor's Return. He essayed a longer
Alight in (The Farmer's Boy) (1800), by which
he established his title to rank among the
minor poets.
Bloomfield-Moore, Mrs. Clara Sophia (Jes-
sup). An American poet and novelist; born
in Pennsylvania, 1824. Her home is in Phila-
delphia, though she has lived much abroad,
particularly in England. She has written : (Mis-
cellaneous Poems, (The Warden's Tale, and
Other Poems, etc. , and the romance (On Dan-
gerous Ground, besides essays on science and
in promotion of inventions.
Blouet, Paul (blö-ā'). [“Max O’Rell. ”] A
French lecturer and author; born in Brittany,
France, March 2, 1848. During his early life
## p. 64 (#80) ##############################################
64
BLUM - BÖDTCHER
of which he afterwards became principai. In
1880 he became president of Liberia College,
has held important governmental positions, and
has twice been commissioner to the Presbyte-
rian General Assembly of the United States (in
1861 and 1880). He is proficient in many lan-
guages, including Latin, Greek, Spanish, He-
brew, and Arabic. He has published: Liberia's
Offering) (1873); (From West Africa to Pales-
tine) (1873); (The Negro in Ancient History);
etc.
he was an officer of cavalry in the French army,
but in 1873 went to England and became a
teacher. After the publication of his first book,
(John Bull and his Island (1883), he abandoned
teaching and devoted himself to literature. He
has made several lecturing-tours of the United
States. His works include : John Bull and his
Daughters) (1884); Jonathan and his Conti-
nent) (1888, with Jack Allyn); (A Frenchman
in America) (1891); John Bull & Co. (1894).
Blum, Ernest (blüm). A French dramatist;
born in Paris, Aug. 15, 1836. Either alone or
in collaboration with other dramatists he is
author of many highly successful plays. The
drama of (Rose Michel (1877), of his own
composition, insured his place among the
most successful French dramatists of the time.
Among his later compositions are : (Adam and
Eve) (1886); (The Nervous Women(1888);
(End of the Century) (1890).
Blumenreich, Franziska (blo'men-rich). A
German novelist; born in Bohemia, April 2,
1849. Among her very numerous novels these
are the more notable : (At the Abyss of Mar-
riage) (1888); (Freighted with Bliss) (1890);
(Storms in Port) (1892). She is a zealous
advocate of woman's rights.
Blumenthal, Oskar (blö'men-täl). A Ger-
man dramatist and critic; born in Berlin,
March 13, 1852. Sprightliness of dialogue is
the most distinguishing character of his plays;
the most successful of them are : (The Big
Bell); (A Drop of Poison); (The Black Veil. )
He has published several volumes of critical
and miscellaneous essays.
Blunt, Wilfrid Scawen. An Irish poet;
born at Crabbet Park, Sussex, in 1840. He
was attaché of legation at The Hague, Athens,
Madrid, Buenos Ayres, and elsewhere. He
supported Arabi Pasha in a revolt in 1881, in
Egypt; and was imprisoned in 1888 for his
insurrectionary actions in Ireland. He is author
of : “Sonnets and Songs by Proteus) (London,
1875); (The Love Sonnets of Proteus) (1881;
new ed. 1885); (The Future of Islam? (1882);
(The Wind and the Whirlwind, political
poems (1884); "Ideas about India) (1885); and
Esther: a Young Man's Tragedy) (1895).
Blüthgen, August Edward Viktor (blūt'-
gen). A German novelist; born at Zörbig,
near Halle, Jan. 4. 1844. He has won high
distinction as a writer for the young. Among
his stories for boys and girls are : (The
Rogues' Looking-Glass) (1876); (The Battle
of Frogs and Mice) (1878); and with these
is to be classed the letterpress (verses) of
0. Pletsch's Picture Books. Of novels and
romances he is author of a great many: 1. g. ,
(The Peace-Breaker) (1883); (The Step-Sister)
(1887); (Madame the Countess) (1892).
Blyden, Edward Wilmot. A negro author;
born at St. Thomas, W. I. , Aug. 3, 1832. After
vainly seeking, in 1845, admission to some col-
lege in the United States, he went to Liberia,
and graduated at the Alexander High School,
Boardman, George Dana. A distinguished
American clergyman and author; born at
Tavoy, British Burma, Aug. 18, 1828. He was
the son of the eminent American Baptist mis-
sionary of the same name. He was educated
in the United States, graduating at Brown
University in 1852 and at Newton Theological
Institution in 1855. He became pastor at Barn-
well, S. C. ; afterwards at Rochester, N. Y. , till
1864, when he became pastor of the First Bap-
tist Church in Philadelphia. Besides sermons
and essays, his chief works are: (Studies
in the Creative Week) (1878); (Studies in the
Model Prayer) (1879); Epiphanies of the
Risen Lord) (1879); (Studies in the Mountain
Instruction (1880).
Boccaccio, Giovanni (bok-kä'cho). A cele.
brated Italian novelist, poet, and humanist;
born at Paris, 1313; died Dec. 21, 1375. His
first romance was "Filocopo,' dedicated to his
mistress Fiammetta. The romantic epic the
(Theseid) followed; it is the first Italian work
of the kind. Both for itself and for its associa-
tions, the (Theseid is of interest to students
of English literature, having been a source
of inspiration to Chaucer in his (Knightes
Tale. (Fiammetta in Love) is a work of
the finest psychological analysis, clothed in
every grace of poesy. Love's Labyrinth) is
a vigorous satire on woman. But Boccaccio's
enduring fame rests on the Decameron); a
collection of stories original and borrowed,
set in a narrative framework, all of the high-
est charm. *
Bodenstedt, Friedrich Martin von (bö'den-
stet). [“Mirza Schaffy. ”] A noted German
poet and journalist; born 1819; died 1892.
His works include: Poetical Ukraine); “The
People of the Caucasus and their Struggle for
Freedom against the Russians); (Thousand
and One Days in the East); and many others
dealing with Oriental themes. *
Bodmer, Johann Jakob (bod'mer). A Swiss
scholar and literary critic; born near Zürich,
July 19, 1698; died Jan. 2, 1783. He was the
first to make English literature known in Ger-
many; and wrote dramas, and the epics (The
Deluge) (1751) and Noah) (1752). He pub-
lished two volumes of (Critical Letters,' and
prepared editions of ancient German poetry:
(Specimens of Thirteenth-Century Suabian
Poetry); (Fables from the Time of the Minne-
singers) ; (Kriemhilde's Revenge); etc. *
Bödtcher, Ludwig (bėt'che). A Danish lyr.
ist (1793-1874); born at Copenhagen. He spent
## p. 65 (#81) ##############################################
BOËTIUS-BOISGOBEY
65
(
many years in Italy, and nature and man in
Italy equally with nature and man in Den-
mark are the themes of his finest poems,
notably Bacchus,' and the collection called
(Poems Old and New)
Boëtius or Boëthius, Anicius Manlius Tor-
quatus Severinus (bo-e'thi-us). A Roman
didactic poet and statesman; born between
470 and 475; died about 525. While in prison,
rightly anticipating execution, he composed his
celebrated (Consolation of Philosophy. It pur-
ports to be a dialogue between Philosophy and
her votary, and is in both prose and verse. *
Bogaers, Adriaan (bo'gärs). A Dutch poet
(1795-1870); born at The Hague. He holds
eminent place among the many disciples of
Tollens, and surpasses his master in correct-
ness of taste. He long withheld his composi-
tions from publication, and not till 1832 did
he become known to his countrymen; he then
published his first lyric poem, "Volharding,' -
an appeal to his countrymen to stand fast in the
struggle with Belgium,- together with other
patriotic pieces. His first poem of any con-
siderable compass, the epic (Jochebed, and
his masterpiece, “The Voyage of Heemskerk
to Gibraltar, were first formally published in
1860-61, though they had had for many years
a private circulation among friends. He after-
ward, published three volumes : Ballads and
Romances); (Flowers of Poesy from Abroad);
and Poems.
