His
Bergerie
(1572), a compound of prose
and verse, is of unequal merit; but it contains
some passages --e.
and verse, is of unequal merit; but it contains
some passages --e.
Warner - World's Best Literature - v26 to v30 - Tur to Zor and Index
An English author; born in Kid-
derminster in 1827; died in Lenton, Dec. 12,
1889. He graduated at Durham University,
and was rector of Denton, Stretton, and finally
Lenton from 1883 until his death. He con-
tributed to Punch and other London period.
icals, and published the Adventures of Mr.
Verdant Green, an Oxford Freshman) (Lon-
don, 1855), a humorous picture of college life.
His other works include: (Mr. Verdant Green
Married and Done For) (1856); (The White
Wife,' a collection of Scottish legends (1864);
(Little Mr. Bouncer and his Friend Verdant
Green (1873-74); and many books of travels.
Beecher, Catherine Esther. An American
author and educator, daughter of Lyman, and
sister of Henry Ward Beecher; born in East-
hampton, L. I. , Sept. 6, 1800; died in Elmira,
N. Y. , May 12, 1878. From 1822 to 1832 she
conducted a school in Hartford, Conn. ; and
afterwards taught for two years in Cincinnati,
Ohio. The remainder of her life was devoted
to training teachers and supplying them to
needy fields, especially in the Western and
Southern States. She wrote numerous works
on education and on the woman question,
among which are: (The Religious Training
of Children in the School, the Family, and
the Church) (1864); (Woman's Profession as
Mother and Educator, with Views in Opposi.
tion to Woman Suffrage) (1871).
Beecher, Charles. An American clergyman
and author, brother of Henry Ward Beecher;
born in Litchfield, Conn. , Oct. 7, 1815. He
graduated from Bowdoin College in 1834, and
has had charge of Congregational and Pres.
byterian churches ; especially in Fort Wayne,
Ind. , Newark, N. J. , and Georgetown, Mass.
Among his published works are: (David and
his Throne! (1855); 'Spiritual Manifestations)
(1879); and (The Autobiography and Corre-
spondence of Lyman Beecher? (1863).
Beecher, Edward. An American clergyman
and author, brother of Henry Ward Beecher;
born in Easthampton, N. Y. , Aug. 27, 1803;
died in Brooklyn, N. Y. , July 28, 1895. He
graduated at Yale, studied theology at Andover
and New Haven; was pastor of various Con-
gregational churches, especially at Park Street,
Boston (1826-30), and Salem Street, Boston
(1844-55). He was president of Minois Col-
lege, Jacksonville (1830-44), and for some years
professor of Exegesis in the Chicago Theologi-
cal Seminary. He wrote many religious books,
including (The Conflict of Ages) (1853) and
(The Concord of Ages) (1860); in which he
explained the existence of sin and misery in
the world as the results of a pre-existent state,
(
## p. 51 (#67) ##############################################
BEECHER – BELCIKOVSKI
51
to be harmonized at last in an eternal con-
cord of good.
Beecher, Henry Ward. An American clergy-
man; born in Litchfield, Conn. , June 24, 1813;
died in Brooklyn, N. Y. , March 8, 1887. He
was the son of Lyman Beecher; graduated
from Amherst in 1834; studied in Lane Theo-
logical Seminary, near Cincinnati, Ohio; and
began clerical duty as pastor of a church in
Lawrenceburg, Ind. , removing to Indianapo-
lis in 1839. From 1847 until his death he was
pastor of Plymouth Congregational Church in
Brooklyn. He was one of the founders of the
Independent and of the Christian Union (now
the Outlook). He was also a prominent anti-
slavery orator, as well as a famous lecturer.
Among his numerous publications are : (Star
Papers; or Experiences of Art and Nature)
(1855); Freedom and War) (1863); (Eyes
and Ears) (1864); and a novel, Norwood, or
Village Life in New England? (1867). His
(Sermons) were edited by Dr. Lyman Abbott
(2 vols. , 1868). *
Beecher, Lyman. An American clergyman;
born in New Haven, Conn. , Oct. 2, 1775; died
in Brooklyn, N. Y. , June 10, 1863. His ances-
tors were Puritans. He graduated from Yale
in 1796, and became pastor of the Presbyterian
Church in East Hampton, L. I. ; then of a
Congregational church in Litchfield, Conn. , in
1810; and then of the Hanover Street Congre-
gational Church in Boston, Mass. In 1832 he
became president of Lane Theological Semi-
nary, near Cincinnati, Ohio. His influence
throughout the country was very great, espe-
cially on the questions of temperance and of
slavery. His “Six Sermons on Intemperance)
had a great effect, and have been frequently re-
published and translated into many languages.
His sermon on the death of Alexander Ham-
ilton in 1804, with his Remedy for Dueling
(1809), did much toward breaking up the prac-
tice of dueling in the United States. His col-
lected (Sermons and Addresses) were published
in 1852.
Beecher, Thomas Kinnicutt. An American
clergyman, son of Lyman, and brother of Henry
Ward Beecher; born in Litchfield, Conn. , Feb.
10, 1824. He became pastor in Brooklyn in
1852, and in Elmira, N. Y. , in 1854. He has
been a very successful lecturer and an effective
writer on current topics. He had published in
book form (Our Seven Churches) (1870).
Beers, Ethel Lynn. An American poet;
born in Goshen, N. Y. , Jan. 13, 1827; died in
Orange, N. J. , Oct. 10, 1879. She was a de-
scendant of John Eliot, the apostle to the In-
dians. She has published All Quiet along
the Potomac, and Other Poems) (1879).
Beers, Henry Augustin. An American
author; born in Buffalo, N. Y. , July 2, 1847.
He graduated from Yale in 1859, became tutor
there in 1871, and professor of English litera-
ture in 1880. He has published among other
works: (A Century of American Literature)
(1878); (The Thankless Muse,' poems (1886);
(From Chaucer to Tennyson) (1890); "Initial
Studies in American Letters) (1892); (A Sub-
urban Pastoral, and Other Tales) (1894); (The
Ways of Yale) (1895).
Beers, Jan van (bārz). A Flemish poet
(1821-88); from 1860 professor at the Athenæum
in Antwerp. His principal works, full of sen-
timent and melodious quality, are: (Youth's
Dreams) (1853); Pictures of Life) (1858);
(Sentiment and Life) (1869).
Beethoven, Ludwig van (bā'to-ven). A
German composer of Dutch extraction; born
at Bonn, 1770; died at Vienna, 1827. His music
is world-famous. In his “Correspondence and
in the noted (Brentano Letters) he is a writer
of personal impressions of great interest and
charm. *
Beets, Nicolaas (bāts). A Dutch poet,
novelist, and critic; born in Haarlem, Sept.
13, 1814. His early lyrics, and the poetical
tales (José) (1834); "Kuser) (1835); (Guy the
Fleming' (1837), are in the vein of Byron.
He showed a maturer talent in (Ada of Hol-
land) (1840), and the lyric cycles (Cornflow-
ers) (1853), “The Children of the Sea'. (1861),
and others; but is chiefly esteemed as a prose-
writer of rare excellence, author of "Camera
Obscura) (1839, 18th ed. 1888), a series of tales
and sketches of Dutch types, published under
the pseudonym of Hildebrand. ”
Behn, Aphra. An English novelist and
dramatist; born in Wye, Kent, in July 1640;
died in London, April 16, 1689. She is buried
in the Poet's Corner of Westminster Abbey.
Her life was adventurous and interesting. She
early went to the West Indies, returned to
London about 1658, and gaining entrance to
court, pleased Charles II. by her wit. He
sent her to Ant erp as a spy. She was the
first woman in England to live by her pen.
Her plays and poems are superior to her nov-
els; but they are all stamped with indelicacy,
and do not deserve the praise bestowed on
them by Dryden, Otway, and others. Her dra.
mas long held the stage. They include:
Abdelazar, or the Moor's Revenge); (The
Forced Marriage); and many others. Among
her novels, (Oroonoko, or the Royal Slave)
(founded on the adventures of a West-Indian
native prince of that name) alone has any
merit.
Behrens, Bertha. See Heimburg.
Bekker, Elisabeth (bek'er). A Dutch novel-
ist; born at Vlissingen, July 24, 1738; died in
The Hague, Nov. 5, 1804. Married to Adriaan
Wolff, a Reformed Church minister at Beem-
ster, who died in 1777, she lived afterwards in
closest friendship with Agathe Deken, who
also collaborated in her most important works,
to wit: (History of Sara Burgerhart) (1782);
(History of William Leevend) (1784-85); (Let-
ters of Abraham Blankaart) (1787–89); 'Cor-
nelia Wildschut) (1793-96).
Belcikovski, Adam (bel-chê-kov-skē). A
Polish dramatist; born in Cracow, 1839. Among
## p. 52 (#68) ##############################################
BELINSKY - BELLMAN
52
his numerous historical dramas and comedies
are: King Don Juan (1869); Hunyadi)
(1870); (Francesca da Rimini) (1873); (The
Oath (1878); (King Boleslav the Bold (1882).
He also wrote valuable essays on Polish liter-
ature.
Belinsky, Vissárion Grigóryevich (bel-in'.
skē). A Russian literary critic (1811-48). He
wrote an excellent (View of Russian Literature
since the 18th Century.
Bell, Acton. See Brontë, Anne.
Bell, Currer. See Brontë, Charlotte.
Bell, Ellis. See Brontë, Emily.
Bell, Lilian. An American novelist; born
in Kentucky, 1867. She has written (The Love
Affairs of an Old Maid) and A Little Sister
to the Wilderness. )
Bell, Robert. An Irish author and editor;
born in Cork, Jan. 16, 1800; died in London,
April 12, 1867. Educated at Trinity College,
Dublin, he went to London in 1828. He be-
came editor of magazines and useful editions
of books. He is best known for his annotated
edition of English poets from Chaucer to Cow-
per (24 vols. , 1854-57). He wrote: History
of Russia) (3 vols. , London, 1836); Life of
Canning) (1846); (Wayside Pictures through
France, Belgium, and Holland (1849); two
novels; three comedies; and a collection of
(Early Ballads) (1864).
Bellamy, Edward. An American writer;
born in Chicopee Falls, Mass. , March 29, 1850.
He was educated in Germany; admitted to
the bar; was on the staff of the Evening Post
of New York in 1871-72; and on his return
from the Sandwich Islands in 1877, he founded
the Springfield News. He is best known by
his novel (Looking Backward) (1888), a so-
cialistic work, of which an immense number
of copies were sold in two years. His other
books are: (Six to One: a Nantucket Idyl
(1878); Dr. Heidenhoff's Process) (1880);
(Miss Ludington's Sister) (1884); and (Equal-
ity) (1897).
Bellamy, Mrs. Elizabeth Whitfield (Croom).
An American novelist, writing under the pseu-
donym “Kamba Thorpe ”; born at Quincy,
Fla. , 1839. She has written: Four Oaks)
(1867); "Little Joanna (1876); (Old Man Gil-
bert) (1888); (The Luck of the Pendennings.
Bellam Jacobus (bel'ä-mi). A Dutch
poet; born at Vlissingen, Nov. 12, 1757; died
in Utrecht, March II, 1786. First known
through his Anacreontic "Songs of my Youth)
(1782), which were followed by the inspired
(Patriotic Songs) (1783), he is now chiefly re-
membered for his poetical romance (Roosje
(1784), which in touching simplicity and ardent
feeling is unequaled in Dutch literature.
Bellamy, Joseph. An American clergyman
and educator; born in Cheshire, Conn. , in 1719;
died in Bethlehem, Conn. , March 6, 1790. He
graduated at Yale in 1735; in 1740 became pas-
tor of the church in Bethlehem, where he re-
mained until his death. About 1742 he estab-
lished a divinity school, in which many cel.
ebrated clergymen were trained. Among his
published works, besides his (Sermons) are :
(True Religion Delineated? (1750); (The
Nature and Glory of the Gospel (1762); and
(The Half-Way Covenant) (1769).
Bellay, Joachim du (be-lā'). A distin.
guished French poet and prose-writer; born
at the Château de Liré, near Angers, about
1524; died in Paris, Jan. I, 1560. Next to Ron-
sard the most prominent member of the
famous « Pléiade. ) He had few of the advan-
tages of a school education, but by his own
industry became acquainted with the poets of
antiquity and of France. His first volume of
poems was a collection of his "Sonnets to
Olive. His Antiquities of Rome) was done
into English verse by Edmund Spenser, (The
Ruins of Rome) (1591). His principal work
is a Defense and Illustration of the French
Language) (1549), in which he depreciates the
old forms of French poetry and sets up the
classic poets of antiquity as models. After his
death were published more of his sonnets, also
odes, and some translations.
Belleau, Rémy (bel-lo'). A noted French
poet; born at Nogent-le-Rotrou, 1528; died in
Paris, March 16, 1577. One of the “Pléiade,
and ranked by some as its best poet, in
preference to Bellay. His poems are graceful
and melodious, and show less affectation of
sentiment than those of many of his contem-
poraries. He made an elegant and spirited
translation of “The Odes of Anacreon (1576).
His Bergerie (1572), a compound of prose
and verse, is of unequal merit; but it contains
some passages --e. g. , the (April) — which are
of consummate beauty. A curious work is his
fanciful Loves and New Exchanges of Pre-
cious Stones! (1566): it is perhaps his best
performance.
Belli, Giuseppe Gioachino (bel'lē). A noted
Roman humorist and satirical poet (1791-1863).
He wrote in the popular dialect of the Traste-
vere ; and in early life scourged with stinging,
irreverent, and often vulgar satire, the tyranny
of the popes and the scandalous lives of the
clergy. Becoming afterward a zealous convert
to the faith of the Roman Church, he en-
deavored to call in and destroy the wicked
indiscretions of his youth. In his last years he
published a beautiful translation of the Roman
Breviary. His published sonnets amount to
more than 2,000; his other published Italian
verses fill four considerable volumes; while
two thirds of his vast remains have never
been gathered and edited. Of this last, much
is clothed in language too coarse to bear the
light of modern culture.
Bellman, Carl Michael (bel'män). A noted
Swedish poet; born in Stockholm, Feb. 4, 1740;
died there, Feb. 11, 1795. His poems were often
improvisations, and the airs of his songs were
largely of his own composition. As singer of
the rollicking life of a capital city he is un-
surpassed. A colossal bronze bust of Bellman
## p. 53 (#69) ##############################################
BELLOWS - BENJAMIN
53
Ben
by Byström was erected in the Zoological
Garden at Stockholm in 1829, and there a pop-
ular festival is held yearly in his honor. *
Bellows, Henry Whitney. A prominent
Unitarian divine and miscellaneous writer;
born at Walpole, N. H. , June 11, 1814; died in
New York, Jan. 30, 1882. He became pastor of
All Souls Church, New York, 1839; was chief
founder and long editor of the Christian In-
quirer (1846); president and chief originator of
the United States Sanitary Commission during
the Civil War (1861-65). He wrote: (Public
Life of Washington (1866); “Relation of Pub-
lic Amusements to Public Morality); (The Old
World in its New Face) (2 vols. , 1868–69), a
record of travel in Europe. He was an effect-
ive preacher and public speaker.
Belloy, Pierre Laurent de (bel-wä'), prop-
erly Buirette. A French dramatist; born 1727;
died 1775. He won success with the tragedies
(The Siege of Calais) (1765) and (Gaston and
Bayard (1771), and was elected to the Acad-
emy in 1771.
Belmontet, Louis (bel-môn-tā'). A French
poet and publicist (1799-1879); studied and
practiced law in Toulouse, until involved in
difficulties with the magistracy on account of
some satirical poems, when he went to Paris
and there produced his principal works: (The
Sad Ones) (1824), a cycle of elegies; (The
Supper of Augustus) (1828); and with Soumet,
(A Festival of Nero) (1829), a tragedy which
exceeded 100 performances. Subsequently he
became an ardent partisan of Bonapartism,
pleading its cause as a journalist and poetically
extolling the Napoleonic dynasty in many en-
thusiastic odes.
Belot, Adolphe (be-lo'). A French novelist
and dramatist (1829–90); traveled extensively
and settled at Nancy as a lawyer. He won
reputation with a witty comedy, “The Testa-
ment of César Girodot) (1859, with Villetard);
and being less successful with his following
dramatic efforts, devoted himself to fiction.
Of his novels may be mentioned : (The Venus
of Gordes) (1867, with Ernest Daudet); (The
Drama of the Rue de la Paix) (1868); (Arti-
cle 47' (1870): all of which were dramatized.
Bembo, Pietro (bem'bo). A celebrated Ital-
jan humanist; born in Venice, May 20, 1470;
died in Rome, Jan. 18, 1547. In 1513 he be-
came secretary of Latin letters Pope Leo
X. ; the Venetian republic appointed him in
1530 State historiographer. His poetical works,
Latin and Italian, are marked rather by ele-
gance of style, purity of idiom, and correctness
of taste, than by force or originality of thought
or liveliness of fancy. His works include a
History of Venice 1487-1513,' and a number
of poems, dialogues, and essays. There are 16
books of his Latin Letters) written in the
name of Leo X.
Bender, Prosper (bend'er). An American
descriptive ter; bor at Quebec, 1844. Ori-
ginally a Canadian physician, he removed to
Boston, Mass. (1883), and practices medicine
there. He has written: "Old and New Can-
ada'; 'Literary Sheaves) (1881).
lict, David. A Baptist divine and his-
torian; born at Norwalk, Conn. , 1779; died
1874. He was pastor at Pawtucket, R. I. , for
twenty-five years, and preached till over ninety
years of age. Among his chief works were :
(History of All Religions); (Fifty Years
among the Baptists); History of the Do-
natists) ; etc.
Benedict, Frank Lee. A popular American
novelist and poet; born in New York, 1834.
Among his numerous novels may be named:
John Worthington's Name); Miss Van Kort-
land' (1870); Her Friend Lawrence) (1879);
(The Price She Paid) (1883).
Benedictoff, Vladimir Grigorjevich (be-ne-
dik'tof). A Russian poet (1810-73), whose
lyrics excel in deep sentiment and ideal en-
thusiasm ; some, like (Two Apparitions, (The
Lake, (The Mountain Peaks,' may be ranked
with the finest of any literature.
Benedictsson, Victoria. See Ahlgren.
Benedix, Roderich Julius (be'ne-diks). A
German dramatist; born in Leipsic, Jan. 21,
1811; died there, Sept. 26, 1873. His first com-
edy, 'The Moss-Covered Pate) (1841), was re-
ceived throughout Germany with extraordinary
popular favor. Its successor, Doctor Wasp,'
was no less successful. Of the long catalogue
of his comedies, nearly every one was received
with marked favor in Germany and in foreign
countries wherever they were presented. The
secret of this success is found in the ever
lively action, and in the author's intimate
knowledge of the stage with its immemorial
yet ever fresh and telling effects. His (Col-
lected Dramatic Works) were published in 27
volumes.
Beniczky-Bajza, Illona (ben-is'skē bi'tsä).
A Hungarian novelist; born in Buda-Pesth,
in June 1840. Daughter of the critic Joseph
Bajza, and one of the most prolific writers of
Hungary. Her most noteworthy works are :
(Prejudice and Enlightenment) (1872); "It is
She) (1888); “Martha) (1890); 'The Mountain
Fairy) (1890).
Benjamin, Park. An American journalist,
poet, and lecturer; born at Demerara, British
Guiana, Aug. 14, 1809; died in New York,
Sept. 12, 1864. He studied law originally. His
poems, of a high order of merit, have never
been collected. (The Contemplation of Na-
ture, read on taking his degree at Washington
College, Hartford, 1829; the satires (Poetry)
(1843); (Infatuation) (1845); (The Nautilus);
(To One Beloved); and (The Old Sexton,' are
among his works. He was associated edito-
rially with Epes Sargent and Rufus W. Gris-
wold.
Benjamin, Park. An American lawyer, edi.
tor, and miscellaneous writer, son of the pre-
ceding; born in New York, May 11, 1849. A
1
1
1
## p. 54 (#70) ##############################################
54
BENJAMIN – BENTON
as
graduate of the United States Naval Academy
(1867), he served on Admiral Farragut's flag-
ship, but resigned in 1869. As a lawyer he has
been a patent expert. He edited the Scientific
American (1872-78). He has written : (Shak-
ings; Etchings from the Naval Academy)
(1867); (The Age of Electricity) (1886); “The
Intellectual Rise in Electricity, a History); etc.
Benjamin, Samuel Green Wheeler. An
American traveler, artist, and miscellaneous
writer; born at Argos, Greece, Feb. 13, 1837.
He was United States minister to Persia (1883-
85). Among his numerous works, both in prose
and verse, are: (Art in America); <Contem.
porary Art in Europe) (1877); (Constantino-
ple) (1860); (Persia and the Persians) (1886);
The Choice of Paris) (1870), a romance;
(Sea-Spray) (1887), a book for yachtsmen; etc.
Bennett, Charles Wesley. An American
Methodist divine and educator ; born at East
Bethany, N. Y. , July 18, 1828; died at Evans-
ton, II. , April 17, 1891. He was principal of
Genesee Wesleyan Seminary (1869–71), pro-
fessor of history and logic at Syracuse Uni-
versity (1871-85), professor of historical the-
ology at Garrett Biblical Institute, Evanston
(1885-91). He wrote (National Education in
Italy, France, Germany, England, and Wales)
(1878); and Christian Art and Archäology of
the First Six Centuries) (1888).
Bennett, William Cox. An English song-
writer; born in Greenwich, Oct. 14, 1820; died
in Blackheath, March 4, 1895. He was the son
of a watchmaker, had comparatively little ed-
ucation, and is known for his songs and bal-
lads : (Queen Eleanor's Vengeance and Other
Poems) (1856); War Songs) (1857); (Our
Glory Roll and Other National Poems) (1867);
(Songs for Sailors) (1872); “Sea Songs) (1878).
Benoît de Sainte-Maure (be-nwä' de sant-
mõr). A French trouvère and chronicler of
the 12th century; born in Touraine. He wrote
in about 42,000 octosyllabic verses a "Chron-
icle of the Dukes of Normandy) to the year
1135. To him is usually ascribed the (Romance
of Troy,' founded on the story of the siege of
Troy as written by Dictys Cretensis and Dares;
it was translated into the languages of west-
ern Europe. Boccaccio, Chaucer, and Shakes-
peare would seem to be indebted to Benoît
for the story of the loves of Troilus and
Briseis (Cryseyde or Cressida being originally
called Briseida).
Bensel, James Berry. A well-known Ameri-
can poet and novelist; born in New York,
1856; died 1886. He lived the most of his life
at Lynn, Mass. , and was a contributor to maga-
zines. He wrote: King Kophetua's Wife)
(1884), a novel; (In the King's Garden and
Other Poems) (1886).
Benson, Carl. See Bristed, Charles Astor.
Benson, E. F. An English novelist, born
18. His greatest success was 'Dodo) (1893),
a novel of London society; he has also written
(Limitations ); (The Babe, B. A. ); (The Rubi-
con'; and “The Vintage) (1897).
Benson, Eugene. An American artist and
miscellaneous writer; born at Hyde Park,
N. Y. , 1840. Residing in Rome, Italy, he has
contributed to American magazines. He has
written : (Gaspara Stampa) (1881), a biogra-
phy with selections from her sonnets; (Art and
Nature in Italy) (1882).
Bensserade, Isaac de (bans-räd). A French
poet (1613-91), chiefly remembered as author
of the ballets, much in vogue then, in which
the king and his courtiers took part; also by
his dainty lyrics,- especially the sonnet on
Job,' which, in rivalry with Voiture's sonnet
to Urania,' incited a literary feud in 1651.
Bentham, Jeremy. An English writer on
ethics and jurisprudence (1748-1832). He was
educated for the bar and studied the theory
of law. Treatises on Government (1776), Usury
(1787), Civil and Penal Legislation (1813), Fal.
lacies (1824), and others; formed his collected
works (11 vols. , 1843). His guiding principle
was the doctrine of utility. *
Bentivoglio, Guido (ben-tê-võl'yo). An Ital.
ian historian, memoirist, and cardinal; born in
Ferrara, 1579; died near Rome (? ), 1644. His
ecclesiastical career was exceedingly brilliant ;
but almost at the hour when his election to
the papacy
successor to Urban VIII.
seemed inevitable, he suddenly died. In his
(History of the War in Flanders) and Me
moirs) he evinces decided literary abilities.
Bentley, Richard. An English critic and
essayist; born in Qulton, Yorkshire, Jan. 27,
1662; died July 1742. He is pronounced by
some authorities the best classical scholar Eng.
land has produced. His writings are: (Latin
Epistle to John Mill, Containing Critical Ob-
servations on the Chronicle of Joannes Malala!
(1691); the very celebrated Dissertation on
the Epistles of Phalaris) (1697); and editions
of Horace and Terence, besides commentaries
on the classics, all of great value.
Benton, Joel. A. well-known American poet
and critic; born at Amenia, Dutchess County,
N. Y. , 1832. He has written: Under the Ap-
ple Boughs,' a collection of verse; Emerson
as a Poet' (1883), and a large number of poems.
Benton, Thomas Hart. An American states-
man and author; born near Hillsborough,
Orange county, N. C. , March 14, 1782; died in
Washington, D. C. , April 10, 1858. Before he
was eight years old, his father died, and his
early opportunities for study were few. He
took a partial course at the University of
North Carolina. The family removed to the
yet unsettled territory south of Nashville, Ky. ,
and in 1811 he was admitted to the bar in
Nashville. He became a member of the State
Legislature. He served in the United States
army (1810-11 and 1812-13) and attained the
rank of lieutenant-colonel. He settled in St.
Louis, Mo. , in 1815, and established a
paper, the Missouri Inquirer, which he edited
news-
## p. 55 (#71) ##############################################
BENTZEL-STERNAU - BERGH
55
3
for many years. He was elected United States
Senator from Missouri in 1820, and continued
to hold that office for the next thirty years.
He was a champion of the rights of settlers on
the public lands; and of a gold and silver cur-
rency rather than paper money as a medium of
exchange (hence called “Old Bullion”). He
was a steadfast opponent of the Nullification
doctrine, of the repeal of the Missouri Com-
promise, and of the Kansas-Nebraska bill. He
was one of the earliest and most strenuous ad-
vocates of the building of a Pacific Railroad.
His chief publications are his (Thirty Years'
View) of the workings of the national govern-
ment (1854-56), and his (Abridgment of the De-
bates of Congress,' covering the period from the
foundation of the government to the year 1850.
Bentzel-Sternau, Count Karl Christian
Ernst von (bents'el stār'nou). A German
novelist and miscellaneous writer; born in
Mentz, April 9, 1767; died at Mariahalden,
Switzerland, Aug. 13, 1843. He is esteemed as
a humorist in the manner of Jean Paul; and his
satirical romances, (The Golden Calf? (1802-3),
(The Stone-Guest) (1808), 'Old Adam) (1819-
20), «The Master of the Chair, together form
a series.
Bentzon, Thérèse (bants-ôn”), pseudonym of
Marie Thérèse Blanc. A French novelist and
littérateur; born at Seine-Port, Sept. 21, 1840.
She has been for many years on the editorial
staff of the Revue des Deux Mondes, to
which she has contributed notable transla-
tions and reviews of many American, English,
and German authors. Her literary essays on
these contemporaneous writers were collected
in Foreign Literature and Customs) (1882)
and “Recent American Novelists) (1885). Her
first work to attract attention was (A Divorce)
(1871), published in the Journal des Débats.
Two other novels, (A Remorse) (1879) and
(Tony) (1889), were crowned by the French
Academy. Other stories are: (Georgette) and
Jacqueline (1893). The fruit of her first visit
to the United States was 'Condition of Woman
in the United States) (1895).
derminster in 1827; died in Lenton, Dec. 12,
1889. He graduated at Durham University,
and was rector of Denton, Stretton, and finally
Lenton from 1883 until his death. He con-
tributed to Punch and other London period.
icals, and published the Adventures of Mr.
Verdant Green, an Oxford Freshman) (Lon-
don, 1855), a humorous picture of college life.
His other works include: (Mr. Verdant Green
Married and Done For) (1856); (The White
Wife,' a collection of Scottish legends (1864);
(Little Mr. Bouncer and his Friend Verdant
Green (1873-74); and many books of travels.
Beecher, Catherine Esther. An American
author and educator, daughter of Lyman, and
sister of Henry Ward Beecher; born in East-
hampton, L. I. , Sept. 6, 1800; died in Elmira,
N. Y. , May 12, 1878. From 1822 to 1832 she
conducted a school in Hartford, Conn. ; and
afterwards taught for two years in Cincinnati,
Ohio. The remainder of her life was devoted
to training teachers and supplying them to
needy fields, especially in the Western and
Southern States. She wrote numerous works
on education and on the woman question,
among which are: (The Religious Training
of Children in the School, the Family, and
the Church) (1864); (Woman's Profession as
Mother and Educator, with Views in Opposi.
tion to Woman Suffrage) (1871).
Beecher, Charles. An American clergyman
and author, brother of Henry Ward Beecher;
born in Litchfield, Conn. , Oct. 7, 1815. He
graduated from Bowdoin College in 1834, and
has had charge of Congregational and Pres.
byterian churches ; especially in Fort Wayne,
Ind. , Newark, N. J. , and Georgetown, Mass.
Among his published works are: (David and
his Throne! (1855); 'Spiritual Manifestations)
(1879); and (The Autobiography and Corre-
spondence of Lyman Beecher? (1863).
Beecher, Edward. An American clergyman
and author, brother of Henry Ward Beecher;
born in Easthampton, N. Y. , Aug. 27, 1803;
died in Brooklyn, N. Y. , July 28, 1895. He
graduated at Yale, studied theology at Andover
and New Haven; was pastor of various Con-
gregational churches, especially at Park Street,
Boston (1826-30), and Salem Street, Boston
(1844-55). He was president of Minois Col-
lege, Jacksonville (1830-44), and for some years
professor of Exegesis in the Chicago Theologi-
cal Seminary. He wrote many religious books,
including (The Conflict of Ages) (1853) and
(The Concord of Ages) (1860); in which he
explained the existence of sin and misery in
the world as the results of a pre-existent state,
(
## p. 51 (#67) ##############################################
BEECHER – BELCIKOVSKI
51
to be harmonized at last in an eternal con-
cord of good.
Beecher, Henry Ward. An American clergy-
man; born in Litchfield, Conn. , June 24, 1813;
died in Brooklyn, N. Y. , March 8, 1887. He
was the son of Lyman Beecher; graduated
from Amherst in 1834; studied in Lane Theo-
logical Seminary, near Cincinnati, Ohio; and
began clerical duty as pastor of a church in
Lawrenceburg, Ind. , removing to Indianapo-
lis in 1839. From 1847 until his death he was
pastor of Plymouth Congregational Church in
Brooklyn. He was one of the founders of the
Independent and of the Christian Union (now
the Outlook). He was also a prominent anti-
slavery orator, as well as a famous lecturer.
Among his numerous publications are : (Star
Papers; or Experiences of Art and Nature)
(1855); Freedom and War) (1863); (Eyes
and Ears) (1864); and a novel, Norwood, or
Village Life in New England? (1867). His
(Sermons) were edited by Dr. Lyman Abbott
(2 vols. , 1868). *
Beecher, Lyman. An American clergyman;
born in New Haven, Conn. , Oct. 2, 1775; died
in Brooklyn, N. Y. , June 10, 1863. His ances-
tors were Puritans. He graduated from Yale
in 1796, and became pastor of the Presbyterian
Church in East Hampton, L. I. ; then of a
Congregational church in Litchfield, Conn. , in
1810; and then of the Hanover Street Congre-
gational Church in Boston, Mass. In 1832 he
became president of Lane Theological Semi-
nary, near Cincinnati, Ohio. His influence
throughout the country was very great, espe-
cially on the questions of temperance and of
slavery. His “Six Sermons on Intemperance)
had a great effect, and have been frequently re-
published and translated into many languages.
His sermon on the death of Alexander Ham-
ilton in 1804, with his Remedy for Dueling
(1809), did much toward breaking up the prac-
tice of dueling in the United States. His col-
lected (Sermons and Addresses) were published
in 1852.
Beecher, Thomas Kinnicutt. An American
clergyman, son of Lyman, and brother of Henry
Ward Beecher; born in Litchfield, Conn. , Feb.
10, 1824. He became pastor in Brooklyn in
1852, and in Elmira, N. Y. , in 1854. He has
been a very successful lecturer and an effective
writer on current topics. He had published in
book form (Our Seven Churches) (1870).
Beers, Ethel Lynn. An American poet;
born in Goshen, N. Y. , Jan. 13, 1827; died in
Orange, N. J. , Oct. 10, 1879. She was a de-
scendant of John Eliot, the apostle to the In-
dians. She has published All Quiet along
the Potomac, and Other Poems) (1879).
Beers, Henry Augustin. An American
author; born in Buffalo, N. Y. , July 2, 1847.
He graduated from Yale in 1859, became tutor
there in 1871, and professor of English litera-
ture in 1880. He has published among other
works: (A Century of American Literature)
(1878); (The Thankless Muse,' poems (1886);
(From Chaucer to Tennyson) (1890); "Initial
Studies in American Letters) (1892); (A Sub-
urban Pastoral, and Other Tales) (1894); (The
Ways of Yale) (1895).
Beers, Jan van (bārz). A Flemish poet
(1821-88); from 1860 professor at the Athenæum
in Antwerp. His principal works, full of sen-
timent and melodious quality, are: (Youth's
Dreams) (1853); Pictures of Life) (1858);
(Sentiment and Life) (1869).
Beethoven, Ludwig van (bā'to-ven). A
German composer of Dutch extraction; born
at Bonn, 1770; died at Vienna, 1827. His music
is world-famous. In his “Correspondence and
in the noted (Brentano Letters) he is a writer
of personal impressions of great interest and
charm. *
Beets, Nicolaas (bāts). A Dutch poet,
novelist, and critic; born in Haarlem, Sept.
13, 1814. His early lyrics, and the poetical
tales (José) (1834); "Kuser) (1835); (Guy the
Fleming' (1837), are in the vein of Byron.
He showed a maturer talent in (Ada of Hol-
land) (1840), and the lyric cycles (Cornflow-
ers) (1853), “The Children of the Sea'. (1861),
and others; but is chiefly esteemed as a prose-
writer of rare excellence, author of "Camera
Obscura) (1839, 18th ed. 1888), a series of tales
and sketches of Dutch types, published under
the pseudonym of Hildebrand. ”
Behn, Aphra. An English novelist and
dramatist; born in Wye, Kent, in July 1640;
died in London, April 16, 1689. She is buried
in the Poet's Corner of Westminster Abbey.
Her life was adventurous and interesting. She
early went to the West Indies, returned to
London about 1658, and gaining entrance to
court, pleased Charles II. by her wit. He
sent her to Ant erp as a spy. She was the
first woman in England to live by her pen.
Her plays and poems are superior to her nov-
els; but they are all stamped with indelicacy,
and do not deserve the praise bestowed on
them by Dryden, Otway, and others. Her dra.
mas long held the stage. They include:
Abdelazar, or the Moor's Revenge); (The
Forced Marriage); and many others. Among
her novels, (Oroonoko, or the Royal Slave)
(founded on the adventures of a West-Indian
native prince of that name) alone has any
merit.
Behrens, Bertha. See Heimburg.
Bekker, Elisabeth (bek'er). A Dutch novel-
ist; born at Vlissingen, July 24, 1738; died in
The Hague, Nov. 5, 1804. Married to Adriaan
Wolff, a Reformed Church minister at Beem-
ster, who died in 1777, she lived afterwards in
closest friendship with Agathe Deken, who
also collaborated in her most important works,
to wit: (History of Sara Burgerhart) (1782);
(History of William Leevend) (1784-85); (Let-
ters of Abraham Blankaart) (1787–89); 'Cor-
nelia Wildschut) (1793-96).
Belcikovski, Adam (bel-chê-kov-skē). A
Polish dramatist; born in Cracow, 1839. Among
## p. 52 (#68) ##############################################
BELINSKY - BELLMAN
52
his numerous historical dramas and comedies
are: King Don Juan (1869); Hunyadi)
(1870); (Francesca da Rimini) (1873); (The
Oath (1878); (King Boleslav the Bold (1882).
He also wrote valuable essays on Polish liter-
ature.
Belinsky, Vissárion Grigóryevich (bel-in'.
skē). A Russian literary critic (1811-48). He
wrote an excellent (View of Russian Literature
since the 18th Century.
Bell, Acton. See Brontë, Anne.
Bell, Currer. See Brontë, Charlotte.
Bell, Ellis. See Brontë, Emily.
Bell, Lilian. An American novelist; born
in Kentucky, 1867. She has written (The Love
Affairs of an Old Maid) and A Little Sister
to the Wilderness. )
Bell, Robert. An Irish author and editor;
born in Cork, Jan. 16, 1800; died in London,
April 12, 1867. Educated at Trinity College,
Dublin, he went to London in 1828. He be-
came editor of magazines and useful editions
of books. He is best known for his annotated
edition of English poets from Chaucer to Cow-
per (24 vols. , 1854-57). He wrote: History
of Russia) (3 vols. , London, 1836); Life of
Canning) (1846); (Wayside Pictures through
France, Belgium, and Holland (1849); two
novels; three comedies; and a collection of
(Early Ballads) (1864).
Bellamy, Edward. An American writer;
born in Chicopee Falls, Mass. , March 29, 1850.
He was educated in Germany; admitted to
the bar; was on the staff of the Evening Post
of New York in 1871-72; and on his return
from the Sandwich Islands in 1877, he founded
the Springfield News. He is best known by
his novel (Looking Backward) (1888), a so-
cialistic work, of which an immense number
of copies were sold in two years. His other
books are: (Six to One: a Nantucket Idyl
(1878); Dr. Heidenhoff's Process) (1880);
(Miss Ludington's Sister) (1884); and (Equal-
ity) (1897).
Bellamy, Mrs. Elizabeth Whitfield (Croom).
An American novelist, writing under the pseu-
donym “Kamba Thorpe ”; born at Quincy,
Fla. , 1839. She has written: Four Oaks)
(1867); "Little Joanna (1876); (Old Man Gil-
bert) (1888); (The Luck of the Pendennings.
Bellam Jacobus (bel'ä-mi). A Dutch
poet; born at Vlissingen, Nov. 12, 1757; died
in Utrecht, March II, 1786. First known
through his Anacreontic "Songs of my Youth)
(1782), which were followed by the inspired
(Patriotic Songs) (1783), he is now chiefly re-
membered for his poetical romance (Roosje
(1784), which in touching simplicity and ardent
feeling is unequaled in Dutch literature.
Bellamy, Joseph. An American clergyman
and educator; born in Cheshire, Conn. , in 1719;
died in Bethlehem, Conn. , March 6, 1790. He
graduated at Yale in 1735; in 1740 became pas-
tor of the church in Bethlehem, where he re-
mained until his death. About 1742 he estab-
lished a divinity school, in which many cel.
ebrated clergymen were trained. Among his
published works, besides his (Sermons) are :
(True Religion Delineated? (1750); (The
Nature and Glory of the Gospel (1762); and
(The Half-Way Covenant) (1769).
Bellay, Joachim du (be-lā'). A distin.
guished French poet and prose-writer; born
at the Château de Liré, near Angers, about
1524; died in Paris, Jan. I, 1560. Next to Ron-
sard the most prominent member of the
famous « Pléiade. ) He had few of the advan-
tages of a school education, but by his own
industry became acquainted with the poets of
antiquity and of France. His first volume of
poems was a collection of his "Sonnets to
Olive. His Antiquities of Rome) was done
into English verse by Edmund Spenser, (The
Ruins of Rome) (1591). His principal work
is a Defense and Illustration of the French
Language) (1549), in which he depreciates the
old forms of French poetry and sets up the
classic poets of antiquity as models. After his
death were published more of his sonnets, also
odes, and some translations.
Belleau, Rémy (bel-lo'). A noted French
poet; born at Nogent-le-Rotrou, 1528; died in
Paris, March 16, 1577. One of the “Pléiade,
and ranked by some as its best poet, in
preference to Bellay. His poems are graceful
and melodious, and show less affectation of
sentiment than those of many of his contem-
poraries. He made an elegant and spirited
translation of “The Odes of Anacreon (1576).
His Bergerie (1572), a compound of prose
and verse, is of unequal merit; but it contains
some passages --e. g. , the (April) — which are
of consummate beauty. A curious work is his
fanciful Loves and New Exchanges of Pre-
cious Stones! (1566): it is perhaps his best
performance.
Belli, Giuseppe Gioachino (bel'lē). A noted
Roman humorist and satirical poet (1791-1863).
He wrote in the popular dialect of the Traste-
vere ; and in early life scourged with stinging,
irreverent, and often vulgar satire, the tyranny
of the popes and the scandalous lives of the
clergy. Becoming afterward a zealous convert
to the faith of the Roman Church, he en-
deavored to call in and destroy the wicked
indiscretions of his youth. In his last years he
published a beautiful translation of the Roman
Breviary. His published sonnets amount to
more than 2,000; his other published Italian
verses fill four considerable volumes; while
two thirds of his vast remains have never
been gathered and edited. Of this last, much
is clothed in language too coarse to bear the
light of modern culture.
Bellman, Carl Michael (bel'män). A noted
Swedish poet; born in Stockholm, Feb. 4, 1740;
died there, Feb. 11, 1795. His poems were often
improvisations, and the airs of his songs were
largely of his own composition. As singer of
the rollicking life of a capital city he is un-
surpassed. A colossal bronze bust of Bellman
## p. 53 (#69) ##############################################
BELLOWS - BENJAMIN
53
Ben
by Byström was erected in the Zoological
Garden at Stockholm in 1829, and there a pop-
ular festival is held yearly in his honor. *
Bellows, Henry Whitney. A prominent
Unitarian divine and miscellaneous writer;
born at Walpole, N. H. , June 11, 1814; died in
New York, Jan. 30, 1882. He became pastor of
All Souls Church, New York, 1839; was chief
founder and long editor of the Christian In-
quirer (1846); president and chief originator of
the United States Sanitary Commission during
the Civil War (1861-65). He wrote: (Public
Life of Washington (1866); “Relation of Pub-
lic Amusements to Public Morality); (The Old
World in its New Face) (2 vols. , 1868–69), a
record of travel in Europe. He was an effect-
ive preacher and public speaker.
Belloy, Pierre Laurent de (bel-wä'), prop-
erly Buirette. A French dramatist; born 1727;
died 1775. He won success with the tragedies
(The Siege of Calais) (1765) and (Gaston and
Bayard (1771), and was elected to the Acad-
emy in 1771.
Belmontet, Louis (bel-môn-tā'). A French
poet and publicist (1799-1879); studied and
practiced law in Toulouse, until involved in
difficulties with the magistracy on account of
some satirical poems, when he went to Paris
and there produced his principal works: (The
Sad Ones) (1824), a cycle of elegies; (The
Supper of Augustus) (1828); and with Soumet,
(A Festival of Nero) (1829), a tragedy which
exceeded 100 performances. Subsequently he
became an ardent partisan of Bonapartism,
pleading its cause as a journalist and poetically
extolling the Napoleonic dynasty in many en-
thusiastic odes.
Belot, Adolphe (be-lo'). A French novelist
and dramatist (1829–90); traveled extensively
and settled at Nancy as a lawyer. He won
reputation with a witty comedy, “The Testa-
ment of César Girodot) (1859, with Villetard);
and being less successful with his following
dramatic efforts, devoted himself to fiction.
Of his novels may be mentioned : (The Venus
of Gordes) (1867, with Ernest Daudet); (The
Drama of the Rue de la Paix) (1868); (Arti-
cle 47' (1870): all of which were dramatized.
Bembo, Pietro (bem'bo). A celebrated Ital-
jan humanist; born in Venice, May 20, 1470;
died in Rome, Jan. 18, 1547. In 1513 he be-
came secretary of Latin letters Pope Leo
X. ; the Venetian republic appointed him in
1530 State historiographer. His poetical works,
Latin and Italian, are marked rather by ele-
gance of style, purity of idiom, and correctness
of taste, than by force or originality of thought
or liveliness of fancy. His works include a
History of Venice 1487-1513,' and a number
of poems, dialogues, and essays. There are 16
books of his Latin Letters) written in the
name of Leo X.
Bender, Prosper (bend'er). An American
descriptive ter; bor at Quebec, 1844. Ori-
ginally a Canadian physician, he removed to
Boston, Mass. (1883), and practices medicine
there. He has written: "Old and New Can-
ada'; 'Literary Sheaves) (1881).
lict, David. A Baptist divine and his-
torian; born at Norwalk, Conn. , 1779; died
1874. He was pastor at Pawtucket, R. I. , for
twenty-five years, and preached till over ninety
years of age. Among his chief works were :
(History of All Religions); (Fifty Years
among the Baptists); History of the Do-
natists) ; etc.
Benedict, Frank Lee. A popular American
novelist and poet; born in New York, 1834.
Among his numerous novels may be named:
John Worthington's Name); Miss Van Kort-
land' (1870); Her Friend Lawrence) (1879);
(The Price She Paid) (1883).
Benedictoff, Vladimir Grigorjevich (be-ne-
dik'tof). A Russian poet (1810-73), whose
lyrics excel in deep sentiment and ideal en-
thusiasm ; some, like (Two Apparitions, (The
Lake, (The Mountain Peaks,' may be ranked
with the finest of any literature.
Benedictsson, Victoria. See Ahlgren.
Benedix, Roderich Julius (be'ne-diks). A
German dramatist; born in Leipsic, Jan. 21,
1811; died there, Sept. 26, 1873. His first com-
edy, 'The Moss-Covered Pate) (1841), was re-
ceived throughout Germany with extraordinary
popular favor. Its successor, Doctor Wasp,'
was no less successful. Of the long catalogue
of his comedies, nearly every one was received
with marked favor in Germany and in foreign
countries wherever they were presented. The
secret of this success is found in the ever
lively action, and in the author's intimate
knowledge of the stage with its immemorial
yet ever fresh and telling effects. His (Col-
lected Dramatic Works) were published in 27
volumes.
Beniczky-Bajza, Illona (ben-is'skē bi'tsä).
A Hungarian novelist; born in Buda-Pesth,
in June 1840. Daughter of the critic Joseph
Bajza, and one of the most prolific writers of
Hungary. Her most noteworthy works are :
(Prejudice and Enlightenment) (1872); "It is
She) (1888); “Martha) (1890); 'The Mountain
Fairy) (1890).
Benjamin, Park. An American journalist,
poet, and lecturer; born at Demerara, British
Guiana, Aug. 14, 1809; died in New York,
Sept. 12, 1864. He studied law originally. His
poems, of a high order of merit, have never
been collected. (The Contemplation of Na-
ture, read on taking his degree at Washington
College, Hartford, 1829; the satires (Poetry)
(1843); (Infatuation) (1845); (The Nautilus);
(To One Beloved); and (The Old Sexton,' are
among his works. He was associated edito-
rially with Epes Sargent and Rufus W. Gris-
wold.
Benjamin, Park. An American lawyer, edi.
tor, and miscellaneous writer, son of the pre-
ceding; born in New York, May 11, 1849. A
1
1
1
## p. 54 (#70) ##############################################
54
BENJAMIN – BENTON
as
graduate of the United States Naval Academy
(1867), he served on Admiral Farragut's flag-
ship, but resigned in 1869. As a lawyer he has
been a patent expert. He edited the Scientific
American (1872-78). He has written : (Shak-
ings; Etchings from the Naval Academy)
(1867); (The Age of Electricity) (1886); “The
Intellectual Rise in Electricity, a History); etc.
Benjamin, Samuel Green Wheeler. An
American traveler, artist, and miscellaneous
writer; born at Argos, Greece, Feb. 13, 1837.
He was United States minister to Persia (1883-
85). Among his numerous works, both in prose
and verse, are: (Art in America); <Contem.
porary Art in Europe) (1877); (Constantino-
ple) (1860); (Persia and the Persians) (1886);
The Choice of Paris) (1870), a romance;
(Sea-Spray) (1887), a book for yachtsmen; etc.
Bennett, Charles Wesley. An American
Methodist divine and educator ; born at East
Bethany, N. Y. , July 18, 1828; died at Evans-
ton, II. , April 17, 1891. He was principal of
Genesee Wesleyan Seminary (1869–71), pro-
fessor of history and logic at Syracuse Uni-
versity (1871-85), professor of historical the-
ology at Garrett Biblical Institute, Evanston
(1885-91). He wrote (National Education in
Italy, France, Germany, England, and Wales)
(1878); and Christian Art and Archäology of
the First Six Centuries) (1888).
Bennett, William Cox. An English song-
writer; born in Greenwich, Oct. 14, 1820; died
in Blackheath, March 4, 1895. He was the son
of a watchmaker, had comparatively little ed-
ucation, and is known for his songs and bal-
lads : (Queen Eleanor's Vengeance and Other
Poems) (1856); War Songs) (1857); (Our
Glory Roll and Other National Poems) (1867);
(Songs for Sailors) (1872); “Sea Songs) (1878).
Benoît de Sainte-Maure (be-nwä' de sant-
mõr). A French trouvère and chronicler of
the 12th century; born in Touraine. He wrote
in about 42,000 octosyllabic verses a "Chron-
icle of the Dukes of Normandy) to the year
1135. To him is usually ascribed the (Romance
of Troy,' founded on the story of the siege of
Troy as written by Dictys Cretensis and Dares;
it was translated into the languages of west-
ern Europe. Boccaccio, Chaucer, and Shakes-
peare would seem to be indebted to Benoît
for the story of the loves of Troilus and
Briseis (Cryseyde or Cressida being originally
called Briseida).
Bensel, James Berry. A well-known Ameri-
can poet and novelist; born in New York,
1856; died 1886. He lived the most of his life
at Lynn, Mass. , and was a contributor to maga-
zines. He wrote: King Kophetua's Wife)
(1884), a novel; (In the King's Garden and
Other Poems) (1886).
Benson, Carl. See Bristed, Charles Astor.
Benson, E. F. An English novelist, born
18. His greatest success was 'Dodo) (1893),
a novel of London society; he has also written
(Limitations ); (The Babe, B. A. ); (The Rubi-
con'; and “The Vintage) (1897).
Benson, Eugene. An American artist and
miscellaneous writer; born at Hyde Park,
N. Y. , 1840. Residing in Rome, Italy, he has
contributed to American magazines. He has
written : (Gaspara Stampa) (1881), a biogra-
phy with selections from her sonnets; (Art and
Nature in Italy) (1882).
Bensserade, Isaac de (bans-räd). A French
poet (1613-91), chiefly remembered as author
of the ballets, much in vogue then, in which
the king and his courtiers took part; also by
his dainty lyrics,- especially the sonnet on
Job,' which, in rivalry with Voiture's sonnet
to Urania,' incited a literary feud in 1651.
Bentham, Jeremy. An English writer on
ethics and jurisprudence (1748-1832). He was
educated for the bar and studied the theory
of law. Treatises on Government (1776), Usury
(1787), Civil and Penal Legislation (1813), Fal.
lacies (1824), and others; formed his collected
works (11 vols. , 1843). His guiding principle
was the doctrine of utility. *
Bentivoglio, Guido (ben-tê-võl'yo). An Ital.
ian historian, memoirist, and cardinal; born in
Ferrara, 1579; died near Rome (? ), 1644. His
ecclesiastical career was exceedingly brilliant ;
but almost at the hour when his election to
the papacy
successor to Urban VIII.
seemed inevitable, he suddenly died. In his
(History of the War in Flanders) and Me
moirs) he evinces decided literary abilities.
Bentley, Richard. An English critic and
essayist; born in Qulton, Yorkshire, Jan. 27,
1662; died July 1742. He is pronounced by
some authorities the best classical scholar Eng.
land has produced. His writings are: (Latin
Epistle to John Mill, Containing Critical Ob-
servations on the Chronicle of Joannes Malala!
(1691); the very celebrated Dissertation on
the Epistles of Phalaris) (1697); and editions
of Horace and Terence, besides commentaries
on the classics, all of great value.
Benton, Joel. A. well-known American poet
and critic; born at Amenia, Dutchess County,
N. Y. , 1832. He has written: Under the Ap-
ple Boughs,' a collection of verse; Emerson
as a Poet' (1883), and a large number of poems.
Benton, Thomas Hart. An American states-
man and author; born near Hillsborough,
Orange county, N. C. , March 14, 1782; died in
Washington, D. C. , April 10, 1858. Before he
was eight years old, his father died, and his
early opportunities for study were few. He
took a partial course at the University of
North Carolina. The family removed to the
yet unsettled territory south of Nashville, Ky. ,
and in 1811 he was admitted to the bar in
Nashville. He became a member of the State
Legislature. He served in the United States
army (1810-11 and 1812-13) and attained the
rank of lieutenant-colonel. He settled in St.
Louis, Mo. , in 1815, and established a
paper, the Missouri Inquirer, which he edited
news-
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BENTZEL-STERNAU - BERGH
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3
for many years. He was elected United States
Senator from Missouri in 1820, and continued
to hold that office for the next thirty years.
He was a champion of the rights of settlers on
the public lands; and of a gold and silver cur-
rency rather than paper money as a medium of
exchange (hence called “Old Bullion”). He
was a steadfast opponent of the Nullification
doctrine, of the repeal of the Missouri Com-
promise, and of the Kansas-Nebraska bill. He
was one of the earliest and most strenuous ad-
vocates of the building of a Pacific Railroad.
His chief publications are his (Thirty Years'
View) of the workings of the national govern-
ment (1854-56), and his (Abridgment of the De-
bates of Congress,' covering the period from the
foundation of the government to the year 1850.
Bentzel-Sternau, Count Karl Christian
Ernst von (bents'el stār'nou). A German
novelist and miscellaneous writer; born in
Mentz, April 9, 1767; died at Mariahalden,
Switzerland, Aug. 13, 1843. He is esteemed as
a humorist in the manner of Jean Paul; and his
satirical romances, (The Golden Calf? (1802-3),
(The Stone-Guest) (1808), 'Old Adam) (1819-
20), «The Master of the Chair, together form
a series.
Bentzon, Thérèse (bants-ôn”), pseudonym of
Marie Thérèse Blanc. A French novelist and
littérateur; born at Seine-Port, Sept. 21, 1840.
She has been for many years on the editorial
staff of the Revue des Deux Mondes, to
which she has contributed notable transla-
tions and reviews of many American, English,
and German authors. Her literary essays on
these contemporaneous writers were collected
in Foreign Literature and Customs) (1882)
and “Recent American Novelists) (1885). Her
first work to attract attention was (A Divorce)
(1871), published in the Journal des Débats.
Two other novels, (A Remorse) (1879) and
(Tony) (1889), were crowned by the French
Academy. Other stories are: (Georgette) and
Jacqueline (1893). The fruit of her first visit
to the United States was 'Condition of Woman
in the United States) (1895).
