Señor Roa Bárcena has ever been associated with the conservative party, but has always commanded the respect of political foes by his firm convictions and regard for the calls of duty. He is eminently patriotic and in his writings deals with Mexican life and customs, national history, and the lives and works of distinguished Mexicans. His writings are varied. His poetry has been largely the product of his early years and of his old age; his prose has been written in his middle life. Of his early poems _Ithamar_ and _Diana_ were general favorites. In 1875 his _Nuevas Poesias_ (New Poems) appeared, in 1888 and 1895, two volumes of “last lyric poems”--_Ultimas Poesias liricas_. In 1860 he published an elementary work upon Universal Geography; in 1863 an _Ensayo de una Historia anecdotica de Mexico_ (Attempt at an Anecdotal History of Mexico). This _Ensayo_ was in prose and was divided into three parts, covering ancient Mexican history to the time of the Conquest. In 1862, in _Leyendas Mexicanos_ (Mexican Legends) he presented much the same matter in verse. These three charmingly written books, while conscientious literary productions, were intended for youth. Of stronger and more vigorous prose are his political novel, _La Quinta modelo_ (The Model Farm) and his famous biographies of _Manuel Eduardo Gorostiza_ and _José Joaquin Pesado_. Of the latter, often considered his masterpiece, one writer asserts, it shows “rich style, vast erudition, admirable method, severe impartiality in judgment, profound knowledge of the epoch and of the man.” Famous is the _Recuerdos de la invasion Norte-Americana 1846-1847_ (Recollections of the American Invasion: 1846-1847), which appeared first in the columns of the periodical _El Siglo_ XIX, and was reprinted in book form only in 1883. But it is in his short stories that Roa Bárcena appears most characteristically. His _Novelas, originales y traducidas_ (Novels, original and translated) appeared in 1870. They are notable for delicacy of expression, minute detail in description and action, some mysticism, and a keen but subtle humor. In his translations from Dickens, Hoffman, Byron, Schiller, our author is wonderfully exact and faithful both to sense and form. COMBATS IN THE AIR. Some of Roa Bárcena’s characteristics are well illustrated in the little sketch, _Combates en el aire_ (Combats in the air). An old man recalls the fancies and experiences of his boyhood. To him, as a child, kites had character and he associated individual kites with persons whom he knew; they had emotions and passions; they spoke and filled him with joy or terror. One great kite, a bully in disposition, was, for him, a surly neighbor, whom all feared. This dreadful kite had ruined many of the cherished kite possessions of his young companions. Once his teacher, the boy himself, and some friends, fabricated a beautiful kite. In its first flight it is attacked by the bully and the battle is described.