ndent
of the "London Times" at Versailles. On Oliphant's retirement, M. de
Blowitz was promoted by the editor of the "Times," to fill his place.
The subsequent career of the great correspondent has been identified
with some of the most striking episodes in modern politics and
journalism.

DANIEL VIERGE URRABIETA, born in Madrid, 1852, became a student of
the Fine Arts Academy of Madrid in 1865. In 1869 he went to Paris
and began his career of illustrator. In 1881 he was stricken by an
attack of paralysis, which it was feared would be fatal. But for the
last four or five years he has been growing steadily better in
health, and has been able to resume his brilliant work. Although
but little known to the public at large, he ranks among the most
original and striking of modern artists, and is without doubt at the
head of the illustrators.

THOMAS ALVA EDISON, born at Alva, Ohio, February 11, 1847, had no
schooling except the attrition of life. At the age of fifteen, having
been taught telegraphy, he graduated from the life of a train newsboy
into that of an operator, and, during several years of wandering,
acquired extraordinary skill. The study of theory ran _aequo pede_ with
executive work. He quickly invented the automatic repeater to transfer
messages from one to another wire. It is needless to touch upon his
further achievements which have made his name famous in the whole
civilized world.

EDWARD EVERETT HALE.

[Illustration: FROM AN OLD DAGUERREOTYPE.]

[Illustration: AGE 37. 1859.]

[Illustration: AGE 39. 1861.]

[Illustration: FROM AN UNDATED DAGUERREOTYPE TAKEN BEFORE 1855.]

[Illustration: AGE 43. 1865.]

[Illustration: MR. HALE AND HIS CHILDREN IN 1869.]

[Illustration: AGE 48. 1870.]

[Illustration: MR. HALE IN 1888.]

M. DE BLOWITZ.

[Illustration: 1866.]

[Illustration: 1875. PARIS.]

[Illustration: 1884. CONSTANTINOPLE. TAKEN IN THE COSTUME IN WHICH HE
INTERVIEWED THE SULTAN.]

[Illustration: M. DE BLOWITZ AT THE PRESENT DAY.]

DANIEL VIERGE URRABIETA.

[Illustration: AGE 13. 1865.]

[Illustration: AGE 17. 1869. MADRID.]

[Illustration: AGE 19. 1871. PARIS.]

[Illustration: VIERGE IN 1890.]

THOMAS ALVA EDISON.

[Illustration: AGE 3. 1850.]

[Illustration: AGE 13. 1860.]

[Illustration: AGE 31. 1878. EDISON AND THE FIRST PHONOGRAPH.]

[Illustration: AGE 44. 1891. EDISON AND THE IMPROVED PHONOGRAPH.]

[Illustration: EDISON AT THE PRESENT DAY.]

WILD BEAST