Nelson was born in 1758 rectory in Norfolk. In 1770 Joined his Majesty's navy and the manner of is joining was thuswise. "The midwinter's day was closing in a dreary twilight as the London-Chatham mail conch came clattering down the old Watling Street and pulled up at. the door of the Mitre Inn, "Here's Chatham, young Sir," eried the coachman as ihe turned to give a hand to an outside passenger. A boy leaped down from the wheel and stood, blowing upon his fingers and stamp. ing his feet. Nine years, ten at wast, he looked. A frail' deli little follow with large haunting eyes and warm, sensitive mouth." Surely this was the most, unpro ing material out of which to make a hero, but a hero he certainly Became and his name shall be a saga of the sea as long as the Eng: ish language is spoken. tance and By God" he cried. "P'll riot lose Hardy. Back the mizzen-topsail." The seamen jumped to it. The Terrible was almost within range. A few endless minutes and the Minerva checked on her course. Hardy saw it and yelled at his linen. "Pull, you jack-headed skunks Jor you'll see a Spanish prison." And the men lay in to their oars te break their backs.
"Stand by the guns" called Nelison. "We're in for it now." And then amazement! The Terrible suddenly shortened sail. It looked to her a direct challenge from the Minerva and the captain of the line-lof-battle ship would not risk an encounter with a Britisa frigate witn Nelson on board. And he hung back, for his consorts."
There are many stirring descriptions of battle scenes such as this in Mr. Corbett-Smith's book. The boy who xcts it for a Christmas present will be a happy youngster.
But the author pains the port-tait of his hero without omitting the blemish on escutcheon. When beginning the chapter whick, tells of Nelson's infatuation for Lady Hamilton he say:
"From now onwards until the end we! sams spectators of a drama in which we can, "know but three emotions: awe, pride "and glory. in achievement. "We fre feee to face with mighty elemental forces of humanity, fused together Ina sequence of actions rd expressions though: #0. tremendous, yer 30. simpl that only the pon of an Aeschylus "Sophocles could portray them. the "drama, dark. ith' the. relentle por more at "fate, "yet go vious. wih ieroie conquest," fs akin, in" its santiaks, to the clsesieal masterpleese Gresk tragedy.
So fate began to weave together the threads of the tragedy, just as the old Greek writer had foretold "When 9 divinity: woold work evil to _miam,"he frat deprives him of his The end came quickly. Tt was at jon was speaking. as he
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.