Fifteen Minutes a Day
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August 1
(Calvin issues “Dedication,” Aug. 1, 1536.)
Steadfast allegiance to duty, simple living and adherence to plain, honest, homely doctrines are Calvin’s principles. Are not these same old-fashioned truths followed to-day?
Read: Calvin's DEDICATION Vol. 39, pp. 27-33 read · scan
Great Ideas in these pages: Religion · Monarchy · Theology · Truth
August 2
“Here is the pleasant place—and nothing wanting is, save She, alas!” How often we too are faced with like adversity. So sings Drummond—a master songster and composer.
Read: DRUMMOND'S POEMS Vol. 40, pp. 326-330 read · scan
Great Ideas in these pages: Emotion · Religion · Sin · Life and Death
August 3
They battered down the palace gates and ravaged with fire and sword the chambers of King Priam’s hundred wives. Through halls resounding with shrieks of terror, Priam and his household fled to sanctuary. |
Read: Virgil's AENEID Vol. 13, pp. 110-117 read · scan
Great Ideas in these pages: War and Peace · Family · Fate · Emotion
August 4
(H. C. Andersen died Aug. 4, 1875.)
Hans Christian Andersen had an extraordinary capacity for amusing children. Were he living to-day he might be in great demand as a radio bedtime story man.
Read: ANDERSEN'S TALES Vol. 17, pp. 221-230 read · scan
Great Ideas in these pages: Beauty · Family · Animal · Nature
August 5
(Robert Burns married Jean Armour, Aug. 5, 1788.)
“Cotter’s Saturday Night” for generations to come will remain the choicest picture of Scotch home life. Into this poem Burns instills the sense of all-pervading peace and happiness that comes at the end of a well-spent day.
Read: Burns' COTTERS' SATURDAY NIGHT Vol. 6, pp. 134-140 read · scan
August 6
(Alfred Lord Tennyson born Aug. 6, 1809.)
“For I dipt into the future—saw the nation’s airy navies grappling in the central blue.” We are amazed at the accuracy of Tennyson’s prediction. But he also foretells “the federation of the world”—yet to be fulfilled.
Read: Tennyson's LOCKSLEY HALL Vol. 42, pp. 979-986 read · scan
Great Ideas in these pages: Progress · Emotion · Family · Love
August 7
The death sentence of Socrates could not be executed until the return of the sacred ship from Delos. One day his friends learned that the ship had returned. They hastened to the prison to listen to the last words of Athens’ sage.
Read: Plato's PHAEDO Vol. 2, pp. 45-54 read · scan
Great Ideas in these pages: Life and Death · Philosophy · Soul · God
August 8
Unfavorable winds sent by angry gods blew the ships of Odysseus far off their course. The sailors were cast upon a remote island, governed by an enchantress where, for their coarse manners, they were put under a magic spell.
Read: Homer's ODYSSEY Vol. 22, pp. 133-144 read · scan
Great Ideas in these pages: Emotion · Courage · Animal · Fate
August 9
(Isaak Walton born Aug. 9, 1593.)
Minister and witness, bride and groom were arrested by an enraged father when John Donne married his employer’s niece. Donne was soon released, but he found himself without money, position or bride.
Read: Walton's LIFE OF DR. DONNE Vol. 15, pp. 326-334 read · scan
Great Ideas in these pages: Friendship · Religion · Emotion · Family
August 10
(French royal family imprisoned, Aug. 10, 1792.)
When the people of Paris howled because they had no bread to eat, Queen Marie Antoinette exclaimed: “Well, then, let them eat cake!” Such an attitude hastened the revolution.
Read: Burke's THE REVOLUTION IN FRANCE Vol. 24, pp. 143-157 read · scan
Great Ideas in these pages: Revolution · Constitution · Government · Liberty
August 11
Epictetus advises that if a person speaks ill of you, make no defense, but answer: “He surely knew not of my other faults, else he would not have mentioned these only.”
Read: Epictetus' GOLDEN SAYINGS Vol. 2, pp. 176-182 read · scan
Great Ideas in these pages: Life and Death · Wisdom · Virtue and Vice · Temperance
August 12
Huldy, the rustic belle, sat alone peeling apples. She was bashful in her consciousness that Zekle would come soon. When he did, she merely blushed and timidly said: “Ma’s sprinklin’ clo’es,” and then—
August 13
(Battle of Blenheim, Aug. 13, 1704.)
England and France came to battle near Blenheim. Years later the people of Blenheim called it a “famous victory,” but could not tell whose victory it was.
Read: Southey's AFTER BLENHEIM and Other Poems Vol. 41, pp. 732-735 read · scan
Great Ideas in these pages: Honor · Friendship · War and Peace · Education
August 14
(Dana begins famous two-year voyage, Aug. 14, 18 34.)
Leaving Harvard on account of ill health, Dana sought adventure and thrilling experience aboard a sailing vessel that rounded Cape Horn. He turned the dangers, hardships, and keen joys of a sailor’s life into a fascinating story.
Read: Dana's TWO YEARS BEFORE THE MAST Vol. 23, pp. 30-37 read · scan
Great Ideas in these pages: Nature · Courage · Animal · Experience
August 15
(Roland died at Roncesvaux, Aug. 15, 778.)
Charlemagne’s rear guard was attacked by the Basques in the valley of Roncesvaux. Roland, its leader, fought a courageous fight, and, though conquered, became immortal.
Read: THE SONG OF ROLAND Vol. 49, pp. 166-173 read · scan
Great Ideas in these pages: Religion · Courage · War and Peace · Life and Death
August 16
David—the psalm singer—knew the wondrous ways of the Lord and praised Him in his psalms. Burdened souls in all ages have found comfort in these songs that once were used in the gorgeous ritual of Jerusalem’s temple.
Read: THE PSALMS Vol. 44, pp. 286-295 read · scan
Great Ideas in these pages: Religion · God · Virtue and Vice · Wisdom
August 17
Luther declared that the unreformed church had drawn its doctrines like three walls so closely about the people that they served not as protection but were the cause of untold misery and distress. This he hoped to relieve by the Reformation,
Read: Luther's ADDRESS TO THE NOBILITY Vol. 36, pp. 263-275 read · scan
Great Ideas in these pages: Religion · Government · Theology · Miracles
August 18
In Cellini’s day the model’s life was a hazardous one. Cellini’s Autobiography reveals how some models were treated. You will find it more thrilling than the most modern novel.
Read: CELLINI'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY Vol. 31, pp. 312-323 read · scan
Great Ideas in these pages: Art · Family · Custom and Convention · Monarchy
August 19
Astonishing treatments and cures are related by Ambroise Paré, famed surgeon of the fifteenth century. One remedy, for instance, used to cure a distinguished nobleman, was red roses boiled in white wine,—and it was effective.
Read: Pare's JOURNEYS IN DIVERSE PLACES Vol. 38, pp. 50-58 read · scan
Great Ideas in these pages: Medicine · Honor · Religion · War and Peace
August 20
(“Paradise Lost’ published Aug. 20, 1667.)
Driven from Heaven, Satan meditated revenge. He decided his greatest opportunity to injure God was to bring sin to mankind. Satan’s plot against Eve is told by Milton.
Read: Milton's PARADISE LOST Vol. 4, pp. 154-164 read · scan
August 21
A certain man was willed a Bible. He scorned the legacy until one day, penniless and downcast, he turned to the book for consolation. Imagine his amazement on finding hundred dollar bills between the pages. St. Augustine explains how he found even greater treasures in the Bible.
Read: CONFESSIONS OF ST. AUGUSTINE Vol. 7, pp. 118-126 read · scan
August 22
In the days when sailing ships plied the seven seas, common sailors were often subject to a brutal captain whose whim was law. Dana, a Boston college boy, makes an exciting story of his sea experiences.
Read: Dana's TWO YEARS BEFORE THE MAST Vol. 23, pp. 99-111 read · scan
Great Ideas in these pages: Tyranny · Punishment · Justice · Emotion
August 23
The Hottentot thinks his wife beautiful. Every American believes his wife also to be beautiful. But the American and the Hottentot are quite different. What, after all, is Beauty?
Read: Burke's ON THE SUBLIME AND BEAUTIFUL Vol. 24, pp. 78-88 read · scan
August 24
(Pliny witnessed eruption of Vesuvius, Aug. 24, 79 A. D.) fi : The eruption of Vesuvius that demolished Pompeii and buried thousands of people was witnessed by Pliny. He describes his panic-stricken flight with his mother from the doomed villa through falling ashes and sulphurous fumes. His famous uncle, the elder Pliny, lost his life while investigating the eruption and aiding refugees.
Read: Pliny's LETTERS Vol. 9, pp. 284-291 read · scan
Great Ideas in these pages: Courage · Life and Death · History · Family
August 25
(Kelvin delivers lecture on “Tides,” Aug. 25, 1882.)
We to-day know that there is a direct relation between the moon and tides. When Julius Cesar went to conquer Britain his transports were wrecked because he did not know the tides on the English coast; a knowledge of which might have changed the whole course of history.
Read: Kelvin's TIDES Vol. 30, pp. 274-285 read · scan
Great Ideas in these pages: Physics · Cause · Definition · Language
August 26
(Battle of Crecy, Aug. 26, 1346.) :
A brilliant victory for the English king was gained in this battle a fight in which vast numbers of French nobility, many princes, and the aged King John of Bohemia were slain. Froissart describes all in detail.
Read: FROISSART'S CHRONICLES Vol. 35, pp. 27-33 read · scan
Great Ideas in these pages: War and Peace · Courage · Chivalry · Honor
August 27
“A man’s a man for a’ that.” “Should auld acquaintance be forgot.” “To see her is to love her and love but her forever.” “Flow gently, sweet Afton.” Every stanza of Burns is treasured. How many have you stored up?
Read: Burns' POEMS AND SONGS Vol. 6, pp. 317, 417, 442, 511 read · scan
Great Ideas in these pages: Love · Friendship · Life and Death · Immortality
August 28
(Johann Wolfgang Goethe born Aug. 28, 1749.)
“Almighty God, I am undone.” With this cry of despair, Margaret witnessed the fiendish work of Faust, her lover, who bartered his immortal soul for worldly pleasure. A thrilling drama, based on a famous medieval legend.
Read: Goethe's FAUST Vol. 19, pp. 158-167 read · scan
Great Ideas in these pages: Honor · Sin · Religion · Emotion
August 29
(Cleopatra dies after Antony’s suicide, Aug. 29, 30 B. C.)
Cleopatra rode to meet Antony in a gilded barge with sails of purple; oars of silver beat time to the music of flutes and fifes and harps. She went as Venus, and her attendants were dressed as Cupids and Nymphs.
Read: Plutarch's ANTONY Vol. 12, pp. 339-349 read · scan
Great Ideas in these pages: War and Peace · Diversion · Honor · Love
August 30
Every luxury, all the wealth in the world at his command—yet Marcus Aurelius, Emperor of haughty Rome, led a simple life even ina palace. He left his secret in his “Meditations.”
Read: Marcus Aurelius' MEDITATIONS Vol. 2, pp. 222-228 read · scan
Great Ideas in these pages: Duty · Virtue and Vice · Nature · Fate
August 31
(Emerson delivers “American Scholar’ lecture, Aug. 31, 1837.)
Emerson was included in Dr. Eliot’s recent selection of the world’s ten greatest educators of all time. Here the great thinker discusses this force within man that makes him a scholar.
Read: Emerson's AMERICAN SCHOLAR Vol. 5, pp. 5-15 read · scan
Great Ideas in these pages: Education · Experience · Labor · Mind
Some printings of the guide misprint this as Vol. 3; Emerson is in Vol. 5, where the essay begins on p. 5.
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