WILLIAM DEAN HOWELLS was born in Martin's Ferry, Ohio, March 11, 1837. His father was the editor of a country newspaper, and young Howells learned the printer's trade. He began to write at an early age. At nineteen he was Columbus correspondent of the "Cincinnati Gazette," and at twenty-two, news editor of the "Ohio State Journal." A campaign "Life of Lincoln," gained him the consulship at Venice, where he seriously devoted his leisure hours to literature. "Venetian Life" gave him reputation. On his return to America in 1865, he wrote for newspapers and magazines. In 1866 Mr. Howells joined the editorial staff of "The Atlantic." In 1872 he became the editor. About this time the success of "Their Wedding Journey" determined his career as a novelist. HJALMAR HJORTH BOYESEN was born at Frederiksværn, Norway, September 23, 1848. When twenty-one years of age he came to the United States. In 1874 he was appointed professor of German at Cornell University, and is now professor of Germanic languages and literature at Columbia College, New York. It was in the early seventies that Professor Boyesen's name began to appear in the magazines. In 1873 he published his first long romance, "Gunnar," and other novels followed, well known to the reading world. ALPHONSE DAUDET was born at Nîmes, May 13, 1840. His early life was full of hardship and deprivation. In 1857 he arrived in Paris, with some manuscript poems and no money. He almost starved, but kept on writing and hoping. His volume of verse, "Les Amoureuses" (1858), attracted some attention. He persisted, took to writing novels, and achieved greatness. The story of his life and struggles, as told by himself, will be given in an early number of MCCLURE'S MAGAZINE. GENERAL LEW WALLACE. _Born in Brookville, Indiana, April 10, 1827._ [Illustration: AGE 35. 1862. MAJOR-GENERAL OF VOLUNTEERS.] [Illustration: AGE 40. 1867. GOVERNOR OF NEW MEXICO.] [Illustration: AGE 50. 1877. GOVERNOR OF UTAH.] [Illustration: AGE 66. GENERAL WALLACE AT THE PRESENT DAY.] WILLIAM DEAN HOWELLS. [Illustration: AGE 18. 1855. RESIDENCE, JEFFERSON, OHIO.] [Illustration: AGE 23. 1860. NEWS EDITOR OF "OHIO STATE JOURNAL."] [Illustration: AGE 28. MAY, 1865. VENICE, "VENETIAN LIFE."] [Illustration: AGE 25. 1862. CONSUL AT VENICE.] [Illustration: AGE 32. 1869. CAMBRIDGE, MASS. "SUBURBAN SKETCHES."] [Illustration: AGE 41. 1878. BELMONT, MASS. "THE LADY OF THE AROOSTOOK."] [Illustration: AGE 47. 1884. BOSTON, MASS. "THE RISE OF SILAS LAPHAM."] [Illustration: AGE 50. 1887. BOSTON. "APRIL HOPES."] [Illustration: AGE 53. 1890. BOSTON. "THE SHADOW OF A DREAM."] HJALMAR HJORTH BOYESEN. _Born September 23, 1847, Frederiksværn, Norway._ [Illustration: AGE 17. 1865. STUDENT, CHRISTIANIA, NORWAY.] [Illustration: AGE 19. 1867. STUDENT, UNIVERSITY OF CHRISTIANIA.] [Illustration: AGE 22. 1869. CHICAGO. EDITOR OF "FREMAD."]