Standard Selections | Page 2

The Byron. 147
Each and All Emerson. 148
Laus Deo! Whittier. 149
Pilgrim Fathers, The Hemans. 151
Present Crisis, The Lowell. 152
Recessional, The Kipling. 155
Sacredness of Work, The Carlyle. 156
What's Hallowed Ground? Campbell. 157
III
PATRIOTIC, HEROIC, ORATORICAL
The Seven Great Orators of the World 159
I. Demosthenes
Encroachments of Philip, The 159
II. Cicero
Oration against Antony 162
III. Chrysostom
Undue Lamentations over the Dead 165 On Applauding Preachers 167
IV. Bossuet
On the Death of the Prince of Cond�� 169
V. Chatham
I. War with America 171 II. Attempt to Subjugate America 173
VI. Burke
I. Impeachment of Hastings 175 II. Conciliation with America 178 III. English Privileges in America 182
VII. Webster
I. Bunker Hill Monument 185 II. Revolutionary Patriots 188 III. Character of Washington 191
Six Great Triumphs in the History of American Oratory 193
I. Henry
Call to Arms, The 193
II. Hamilton
Coercion of Delinquent States 196
III. Webster
Reply to Hayne, The 199
IV. Phillips
Murder of Lovejoy, The 202
V. Lincoln
Slavery Issue, The 206
VI. Beecher
Moral Aspect of the American War 208
Abolition of War Sumner. 212
American Flag, The Beecher. 215
American People, The Beveridge. 217
American Question, The Bright. 218
America's Relation to Missions Angell. 220
American Slavery Bright. 222
Armenian Massacres, The Gladstone. 222
Battle Hymn of the Republic Howe. 225
Blue and the Gray, The Lodge. 226
Corruption of Prelates Savonarola. 228
Cross of Gold, The Bryan. 231
Death of Congressman Burnes Ingalls. 235
Death of Garfield, The Blaine. 237
Death of Grady, The Graves. 246
Death of Toussaint L'Ouverture Phillips. 239
Dedication of Gettysburg Cemetery, The Lincoln. 241
Fallen Heroes of Japan, The Togo. 242
Glory of Peace, The Sumner. 248
Hope of the Republic, The Grady. 249
Hungarian Heroism Kossuth. 250
International Relations McKinley. 251
Irish Home Rule Gladstone. 255
Lincoln Castelar. 258
Lincoln Garfield. 260
Louisiana Purchase Exposition Hay. 261
Man with the Muck-rake, The Roosevelt. 264
Message to the Squadron Togo. 271
Minute Man, The Curtis. 273
More Perfect Union, A Curtis. 275
Napoleon Corwin. 278
Napoleon Ingersoll. 279
National Control of Corporations Roosevelt. 280
Negro, The Grady. 283
New England Quincy. 284
New South, The Grady. 284
O'Connell Phillips. 290
Open Door, The Henry. 292
Organization of the World Mead. 294
Permanency of Empire, The Phillips. 296
Pilgrims, The Phillips. 297
Principles of the Founders Mead. 299
Responsibility of War, The Channing. 302
Scotland Flagg. 304
Secession Stephens. 243
Second Inaugural Address Lincoln. 305
Slavery and the Union Lincoln. 307
Subjugation of the Filipino Hoar. 309
Sufferings and Destiny of the Pilgrims Everett. 312
To Arms Kossuth. 313
True American Patriotism Cockran. 314
Vision of War Ingersoll. 315
War in the Twentieth Century Mead. 318
Washington Phillips. 321
IV
GAY, HUMOROUS, COMIC
A Boy's Mother Riley. 323
Almost beyond Endurance Riley. 324
Bird in the Hand, A Weatherly. 328
Breaking the Charm Dunbar. 325
Candle Lightin' Time Dunbar. 327
"Day of Judgment, The" Phelps. 330
De Appile Tree Harris. 335
Dooley on La Grippe Microbes Dunne. 337
Doctrinal Discussion, A Edwards. 340
Finnigin to Flannigan Gillilan. 343
Gavroche and the Elephant Hugo. 345
Hazing of Valiant, The Anon. 349
Hindoo's Paradise, The Anon. 353
If I Knew Anon. 354
Imaginary Invalid, The Jerome. 354
Jane Jones King. 357
Knee-deep in June Riley. 359
Little Breeches Hay. 362
Low-Backed Car, The Lover. 364
Mammy's Pickanin' Jenkins. 366
Mandalay Kipling. 368
Mr. Coon and Mr. Rabbit Harris. 370
Money Musk Taylor. 373
One-legged Goose, The Smith. 375
Pessimist, The King. 379
Schneider Sees Leah Anon. 380
Superfluous Man, The Saxe. 384
Usual Way, The Anon. 386
Wedding Fee, The Streeter. 387
When Malindy Sings Dunbar. 389
When the Cows Come Home Mitchell. 391
V
DRAMATIC, NOT IN THE DRAMA
Confessional, The Anon. 395
Jean Valjean and the Good Bishop Hugo. 400
Lasca Anon. 404
Michael Strogoff Verne. 408
Mrs. Tree Richards. 414
Portrait, The Lytton. 423
Tell-tale Heart, The Poe. 426
Uncle, The Bell. 431
VI
SCENES FROM THE DRAMA
Beau Brummell, Act I, Scene I; Act II, Scene 3 Jerrold. 468
Bells, The, Act III, Scene I Williams. 437
Lady of Lyons, The, Act II, Scene I; Act III, Scene 2 Lytton. 441
Pygmalion and Galatea, Act I, Scene I; Act II, Scene I Gilbert. 493
Rip Van Winkle, Act I, Scene I; Act II, Scene I Irving. 449
Rivals, The, Act I, Scene 2; Act II, Scene I; Act III, Scene I; Act IV, Scene 2 Sheridan. 454
Set of Turquoise, The, Act I, Scene I; Act I, Scene 2 Aldrich. 478
She Stoops to Conquer, Act II, Scene I Goldsmith. 486
INDEX OF AUTHORS 509

STANDARD SELECTIONS

I
NARRATIVE, DESCRIPTIVE, PATHETIC

THE ARENA SCENE FROM "QUO VADIS"[1]
HENRYK SIENKIEWICZ
The Roman Empire in the first century presents the most revolting picture of mankind to be found in the pages of history. Society founded on superior force, on the most barbarous cruelty, on crime and mad profligacy, was corrupt beyond the power of words to describe. Rome ruled the world, but was also its ulcer, and the horrible monster, Nero, guilty of all hideous and revolting crimes, seems a fit monarch for such a people.
A few years ago appeared "Quo Vadis?" the story from which this selection is made. The book attained so great a popularity, that it was translated into almost every tongue. In spite of its many faults, it invited the attention, and, although it shocked the sensibilities, when its great purpose was understood it melted the heart.
The author drew a startlingly vivid and horrible picture of humanity at this lowest stage, and in conflict with it he showed us the Christ spirit.
The extract is the