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On the Decay of the Art of Lying is a classic essay penned by Mark Twain in 1880. This narration is performed by Larry G. Jones.

In this story, the narrator showcases his friend, Toby Dammit, who is a man of low morals and often makes bets against the devil. One day, while on a bridge, Dammit sees a turnstile and bets the devil his head he can make it that far. An old man goads Dammit into making the leap - and the cost is about what you might expect.

The life of Philopoemen is one of the many lives described in Plutarch’s famous Parallel Lives series. Philopoemen, whose father died when he was very young, was adopted by a notable Megalopolan figurehead and studied under the local Greek philosophers. Not only was he smart, but he went on to advise and help defend Greece from Cleomenes III and the many people attempting to gain control of the powerful empire. But as Sparta began to rise in his later years, his political actions became more and more risky - which ultimately lead to his demise.

Renowned Victorian preacher Charles Spurgeon spoke to approximately 10,000,000 during his lifetime. If anyone had the influence to call for revival, it was him. “How can we expect a blessing if we are too idle to ask for it?” he asked. This sermon serves as a call-to-prayer, describing the kind of worldwide religious revival we should be seeking.

A brutal winter storm sweeps through the mountains of New England, forcing a young man to seek shelter. A kind family welcomes him into their humble home, tucked away in a remote mountain pass. The traveler is the story’s eponymous “Ambitious Guest”, as he tells the family about his aspiration to make a mark on the world. The evening takes an ironic turn, however, when an avalanche heads straight for the house in this story based on the real-life Willey family tragedy.

The tomb is the story of Jervas, a little boy whose whole life begins to revolve around the tomb of the Hyde family. A childhood spent sneaking out to sleep beside the tomb eventually turns into a young adulthood of sleeping in a tomb with his name on it. After a stormy night and after heading for the tomb, he turns back and sees the Hyde mansion, which had been burnt down in previous years, aglow with splendor. Once Jervas went inside, the spectral mansion sets ablaze, and his vision is broken by his father. Jervas comes to find out he had never been inside the tomb at all.

Charles Spurgeon has been called the “prince of preachers”, a man in a league of his own in 19th-century Britain. Yet in “A Pastoral Letter”, his humble tone would lead one to believe he was writing to a small congregation in a country chapel. He reflects on the highs and lows of his time in the ministry, noting that, “When I have labored most for [God’s] glory, I have feasted most on the provisions of his grace.” Spurgeon mirrors the tone of the New Testament’s epistolary books, his words full of encouragements and entreaties alike for his Christian brothers.

With this 1890 speech, American politician William Jennings Bryan presents a compelling argument against imperialism. He outlines how maintaining military force over other nations goes against core American values. The speech highlights specific issues that were current at the time, particularly US relations with Cuba and the Philippines. Though the speech is more than 100 years old, its core points about American democracy ring true in contemporary foreign affairs.

The end of his first year in office marked a momentous time for the US - it was 60 years since the establishment of the country. However, the subsequent presidents, including President Taylor, did not forget the sting of past wars. In his first annual address, Zachary Taylor meets this time of peace with a challenge, saying that he hopes to continue this legacy of peace. Perhaps due to his background as a military man, this address was mostly meant to show the nation about the civility between the US and other nations after a particularly rocky start.

Nineteenth-century preacher Gardiner Spring left the legal profession when he felt called to ministry. In this sermon, he describes his belief in the selectivity of God’s grace. He argues against “the modern notion that God saves all he is able to save; and that if any are lost, it is because his almighty power cannot convert them”. Jumping off from the example of Cain and Abel, Spring makes his case for predestination.

Benjamin Franklin left behind quite a legacy as an inventor, politician, and philosopher. Yet when he first arrived in Philadelphia, his future wife thought he had “a most awkward, ridiculous appearance.” Franklin recalls that this was because at the time he was carrying a large dinner roll under each arm and eating a third as he walked down the street. This delightful excerpt from his memoir shows how Franklin got his start in the printing business and demonstrates his skill as a humorist.

Quintus Fabius Maximus Verrucosus is a hotly debated Roman politician and statesman. His controversial warfare tactics, as described by Plutarch, are among the many influences for worldwide guerrilla warfare that can be seen today. From his brutal army tactics to his dictatorship to his ultimate demise, Fabius Maximus led a politically full and interesting life.

“On Dreams” is part of Aristotle’s Parva Naturalia, a collection of works on the phenomena of human life. In this treatise, he hypothesizes that we dream because our sensory organs continue to function while we sleep. He compares dreams to hallucinations - errors in our sense perception. Aristotle’s view of dreams influenced philosopher Thomas Hobbes and psychologist Sigmund Freud, and it continues to fascinate people today.

Though his presidency was short-lived, the time at which Zachary Taylor was in power was a time of great exploration for the US and Great Britain. This treaty regarded the preference of passage through territories. Specifically looking at Nicaragua and territories in the southernmost part of Mexico, the treaty asked that the British not try to annex any part of these lands. Finally, he assured Great Britain that France and Spain were on the US’ side, and that failure to pay mind to it would be a blow on their side.

The period known as the Avignon Papacy began in 1309, when Pope Clement V relocated the seat of papal power to Avignon, France. The French monarchy slowly gained control over the papacy during this time, and as they did, corruption and greed grew in the church. The troubadour and priest Raimon de Cornet staunchly opposed the Avignon Papacy for these reasons. He summarized his grievances in this noteworthy poem, in which he states, “I see the pope his sacred trust betray, / For while the rich his grace can gain alway, / His favors from the poor are aye withholden.”

As the world changes, the antiquated restrictions foisted upon women do not prepare them for life in the modern world. Clarina Howard Nichols delivered this message at the Woman’s Right Convention in Worcester, Massachusetts in 1851. As a journalist and women’s rights advocate, Nichols believed education was the most empowering gift for young girls, stating, “Educate your daughters for practical life, and you have endowed them better than if you had given them fortunes.” This speech serves as an important text in the canon of women’s writing.

In this story, the narrator is recovering from an illness in the company of Lucy Latimer, a local lady who loves to help the ailing. When he notes a look of sadness in her eyes, she tells him of the “one great sorrow” of her life. Her brush with tragedy reveals the fruits such experiences can have in our lives.

"Reanimator" follows Herbert West on his mission to fulfill his theory - that the human body can be restarted after death. The series follows through many close misses, zombies, and demon summonings as West tries unsuccessfully to reanimate bodies.

In this account, Gottlieb Mittelberger reveals the plight of poor German families who migrated to America in the 18th century. It was normal at the time for poor Europeans to fund their journey to the New World by agreeing to a period of indentured servitude. Yet what Mittleberger observed was more akin to slavery: workers were auctioned off upon arrival with no formal contract. This enlightening record reveals a darker side to early American history.

Kuranes, an English Nobleman ill-content with his real life, once dreamed of the city of Celephaïs. Many years later, at the height of his discontent, he manages to slip away permanently into his dreams. After a guided recollection of his childhood, he comes upon Celephaïs. While his psyche happily remains guard over the city, his body is found back in the real world, washed ashore on the banks of his family’s land.