No More Learning

In spite of interruptions due to the political
upheavals in which he became involved, he
found time to display his critical and imagin-
ative genius in Rome, Naples, and Florence
in 1817,' (History of Painting in Italy, and
(About Love): but his celebrity now rests prin-
cipally upon (The Chartreuse (Carthusian Nun]
of Parma, a magnificent fiction, brilliantly ori-
ginal, witty, and absorbing; and to a less extent
upon (The Red and the Black) [i. e. , Priests
and Soldiers), a romance possible only to a
writer with the widest knowledge of men and
things. *
Bhatti (bhat-tē or bė-hat'te). An Indian
epic poet of the 6th or the 7th century. His
poem named after him “Bhattikâvyam' is in
22 cantos. Its theme is the deeds of Rama;
but the author designed the work to be also
an exemplification of the rules of grammatical
and rhetorical composition. It was published
with a twofold commentary at Calcutta (1828).
Bhavabhuti (bha-va-bhö'ti or bė-ha-va-bé.
hö'ti). An Indian dramatic poet next in celeb-
rity to Kâlidâsa; he lived in the 8th century.
His (Mâlatîmâdhava,' which might be entitled
(The Secret Marriage,' portrays Indian society
in effective traits. The Mahâvîratsharita'
("Fortunes of the Great Hero') deals with
the deeds of Râma and his victory over the
giant Râvana, ravisher of Sita, Râma's consort.
The Uttararâmatsharita) ("Other Fortunes of
Râma') portrays the long-suffering of Sîta and
her reconcilement with Râma, all in a sympa-
thetic vein and sometimes with great force.
Biart, Lucien (bē-är'). A French novelist,
poet, and writer of travels; born at Versailles,
June 21, 1829. He published a number of
novels, containing masterly descriptions of Mex-
ican and South-American nature and customs.
Among his works are: (The Mexican Women)
(1853), poems; Adventures of a Young Nat-
uralist) (1869); (The Clients of Dr. Bernagius)
(1873); (Across America' (1876), crowned by
the Academy.
Bibbiena (bēb-bē-ā'nä). [Bernardo Dovizio.
who was styled Bibbiena. ) An Italian poet;
born at Bibbiena, Aug. 4, 1470; died Nov. 9,
1520. For many years secretary to Cardinal
Giovanni de' Medici, in whose election as Pope
Leo X. he is said to have had a considerable
share, he was appointed treasurer, and soon
after raised to the dignity of cardinal. In this
dignity he became an ardent promoter of art
and science. His comedy (Calandria' is prob-
ably the earliest in Italian literature.
Bicci, Ersillo (bē'chē). An Italian poet;
born in Pisa, 1845. He studied in Florence,
and is now professor of Italian literature in
the Licei Dante and Toscanelli of that city.
His best is in the collection styled New
Verses.
Bickersteth, Edward Henry. An English
poet; born at Islington, Jan. 25, 1825 He is
a graduate of Trinity College, Cambridge, and
is noted for his scholarly devotional works;
but is most famous as a poet, -- (Yesterday, To-
day, and Forever) being particularly admired.
Bickmore, Albert Smith. An American
naturalist and writer of travels; born at St.
George's, Me. , March 1, 1839. An extensive
traveler in the East, he founded and is curator
of the museum of natural history at Central
Park, New York. Besides scientific publica-
tions, he has written: (Travels in the East
Indian Archipelago) (1869); A Journey from
Canton to Hankow) (1868); etc.


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BIDDLE - BILLAUT
59
Biddle, Anthony Joseph Drexel (bid'l).
An American publisher, journalist, and miscel-
laneous writer; born in Pennsylvania, 1874.
He has written: A Dual Rôle, and Other
Stories); An Allegory and Three Essays);
(The Madeira Islands); (The Froggy Fairy
Book.
Biddle, Nicholas. A noted American finan-
cier and writer; born in Philadelphia, Jan. 8,
1786; died there, Feb. 27, 1844. He was presi-
dent of the United States Bank 1823-39, during
Jackson's war against its being the depository
of the government moneys, and the later specu-
lations which ruined it. Besides miscellaneous
writings, he published a (Commercial Digest,'
and History of the Expedition under Lewis
and Clarke to the Pacific Ocean. )
Biedermann, Karl (bē'der-män). A Ger-
man historian and publicist; born in Leipsic,
Sept. 25, 1812. His influence in public affairs,
although indirect, has long been considerable :
and as a writer of literary and philosophical
history he has struck out a path of his own
with (Germany in the Eighteenth Century) (2d
ed. in part, 1880); (German Philosophy from
Kant's Day to Our Own (1842-43); (Thirty
Years of German History, 1840–70) (2d ed.
1883); and many other allied studies.
Bielovski, August (bē-lov'skē). A Polish
poet (1806–76); born at Krechowice, Galicia.
Among his poetical compositions is to be men-
tioned the historical rhapsody (Lay of Henry
the Pious. He wrote a Critical Introduction
to the History of Poland.
Bierbaum, Otto Jullus (bēr'boum). A Ger-
man poet; born in Grüneberg, Silesia, June 28,
1865. He is a rising man of letters; his (Songs
of Experience (or “Poems That Were Lived))
(1892) is as yet his most noteworthy volume.
Biernatzki, Johann Christoph (bēr-näts’kē).
A German pietist, poet, and story-writer; born
at Elmshorn, Holstein, Oct. 17, 1795; died at
Friedrichstadt, May 11, 1840. A country pastor,
he devoted himself to the versification of his
own precepts and beliefs, the volume (Faith)
being the result. In (The Brown Boy, and
(Hallig, or the Adventures of Castaways on an
Island in the North Sea, he displays a not
unpleasing capacity for prose narrative.
Biester, João Ernesto (bēs'ter). A Portu-
guese dramatist (1829-80); born at Lisbon. He
wrote some 90 plays, the most noteworthy
among them being «The Nineteenth-Century
Gentleman); Luck and Labor); and (The
Scandal-Mongers. '
Bigelow, John. An American author and
diplomat; born in Malden, N. Y. , Nov. 25, 1817.
After graduation from Union College in 1835,
he studied law, and in 1849 became associated
with William Cullen Bryant in the New York
Evening Post, of which he was managing
editor until 1861. He was consul in Paris,
1861-65; U. S. minister to France, 1865-67; and
held important offices on his return to Ne
York. His specialty is American biography
and history, and his books include: "Life of
John C. Fremont) (1856); Lafayette (1882);
Molinos, the Quietist! (1882); Life of Will-
iam Cullen Bryant) (1889); (The United States
of America, in French (1863); and France
and the Confederate Navy) (1888). He edited
the Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin from
the original manuscript, which he found in
France, and later the complete works of Frank-
lin (10 vols. , 1887-88).
Bigelow, Poultney. An American bio-
graphical and historical writer; born in New
York, N. Y. , Sept. 10, 1855. He is the son of
John Bigelow; was educated at Yale College
and in Germany; and is the author of : (The
German Emperor) (1892); Paddles and Poli-
tics down the Danube) (1892); Borderland
of Czar and Kaiser) (1894); and (History of
the German Struggle for Liberty) 1896).
Bijns, Anna (binz). A noted Flemish poet;
born in Antwerp, 1494; died there, April 10,
1575. Much admired for her melodious verses,
full of metaphors and showing great technical
skill, she was styled the “Brabantine Sappho »
by her contemporaries. The first of her vol-
umes of collected verse bore the title (This is
a Beautiful and Truthful for (Sincere'] Little
Book); while a second is known as “Spiritual
Refrains.
Bikelas, Dimitrios (bē-kā'las). An emi-
nent Greek poet and essayist; born at Her-
mopolis, in the island of Syra, in 1835. After
completing his studies, he went to London,
where his parents had settled, and since 1874 he
has lived in Paris. After having published a
collection of his poems in London in 1862, he
devoted himself to the task of making Shake-
speare's dramas known in Greece through ex-
cellent metrical translations. As a prose-writer
he has won wide reputation with his tale (Lukis
Laras) (1879), which was translated into thir-
teen languages.
Bilderdijk, Willem (bil'der-dik). A cele-
brated Dutch poet; born at Amsterdam, Sept.
7, 1756; died Dec. 18, 1831. He reached the
highest point of his lyric genius in the (Mis-
cellaneous Poems) and patriotic pieces, nota-
bly the hymn (Willem Frederik) and (The
True Love of Fatherland. Of his great didactic
poems most are imitations; e. g. , the Country
Life, after a French original; Man, after
Pope's 'Essay on Man. His epic, Destruction
of the First World,' a work not unworthy of
his genius, was left uncompleted. *
Billaut, Adam (bē-yo'), better known as
(Maître Adam” (Father Adam). A French
poet; born at the beginning of the 17th cen.
tury; died 1662. A carpenter by trade, he
wrote rude but original poems, the gayety of
which, together with the contrast they afforded
with his occupation, made them very popular
at the time. Voltaire called him “Virgil with
the Plane. " The three collections of his poems
ntitled “The Pegs, (The Centre-Bit,
and (The Plane. )
1
1
1
1
1
were


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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


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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.


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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.