THE USES OF BIOGRAPHY: ROMANTIC, PHILOSOPHIC, AND DIDACTIC. BY EDWIN PAXTON HOOD, AUTHOR OF "OLD ENGLAND," "GENIUS AND INDUSTRY,' LONDON: PARTRIDGE AND OAKEY. MDCCCLII. Um ст 21 •HIS THE USES OF BIOGRAPHY. CHAPTER I. THE MUSEUM OF BIOGRAPHY. SOME few years since, in pulling down an old house in Gloucestershire, there was discovered between the walls a secret chamber. It was quite evident that several generations had passed away since any one had entered the room; it was a rude, cheerless, comfortless apartment enough. There was a poor mattress, a stool, and a table; on the table lay an open Bible, a lamp, and a pair of spectacles. No doubt was entertained that the room had been prepared for, and tenanted by, some one of the brave sufferers for the rights of conscience; but who had last slept on that bed, sat on that stool before the table-for whom the little lamp had last been |