Stories by American Authors, Volume 5

In Short

This volume gathers nineteenth-century short fiction that explores the moral friction, romantic entanglements, and unexpected crises of American life both at home and abroad. Across varied landscapes, characters face pivotal tests: an idle expatriate examines his conscience while navigating the household of a corrupt benefactor; military officers and civilians confront the sudden, devastating arrival of war; leisure-seeking travelers weigh social expectations against genuine affection; and an earnest suitor encounters fantastical logic in pursuit of love. The collection endures for its sharp observational prose, capturing the shifting social values, humor, and anxieties of a growing nation.

The Story

The volume opens in Europe, where Maximus Austin resumes his personal notes upon returning to a life he finds hollow and uninspiring. Having spent years abroad, he wrestles with a sense of aimlessness, questioning his motives and the value of his past pleasures. He finds temporary quarters in the luxurious home of Mr. Frederick Sloane, an elderly and cynical figure of wealth. There, Maximus reunites with Theodore, an old friend whose earnest spiritual inquiries contrast sharply with Sloane’s corrupt complacency. Theodore has abandoned his clerical ambitions after struggling with doubt and financial strain, taking a post as Sloane's companion to support his widowed sister and her children. As Maximus settles into the quiet rhythms of the estate, riding through the countryside and observing the subtle tensions around him, he watches Theodore navigate a fragile position. The household’s calm breaks when Sloane’s health wavers and the question of his estate arises. When a will designating Theodore as the sole legatee comes to light, Maximus confronts his friend with the document. Rather than exploiting the discovery to secure his fortune, Theodore chooses to destroy the paper in the fire, rejecting a mercenary gain and leaving Maximus to reckon with his own cynicism.

The focus shifts to international intrigue and high-stakes conflict. An American traveler in Europe engages in a lighthearted circus lottery, giving his winning ticket to a Hungarian gymnast, only to later find himself amidst the harsh realities of the Russo-Turkish War. The narrative captures the grueling passage of the Balkans and the devastating human toll of the campaign near Philippopolis, where freezing cold, starvation, and chaos dissolve armies and devastate civilian lives. This stark atmosphere transitions into a dramatic speculative vision of American defense, beginning with the mysterious arrival of Señor Manuel Blanco in New York and his sudden disappearance, which triggers a complex diplomatic struggle. As political tensions between Spain and the United States escalate into open warfare, the conflict reaches American shores. Fleet engagements off Fire Island lead to a desperate defense of New York City, where military commanders face impossible surrender demands. The bombardment culminates in an early aerial attack, as war-vessels release nitro-glycerine bombs from floating balloons over the city streets, bringing destruction to urban landmarks.

The tone shifts once more to light social satire and comedic invention. At a seaside resort, two fashionable young men, Edwin Salsbury and Charles Burnham, arrive with extravagant gear for a restful summer. Intending to pursue idle sport and mild flirtations with two young women, they find themselves debating the necessity of marriage and the heavy sacrifice of their bachelor freedom. Finally, the collection turns to academic satire in the story of an unmathematical student struggling under the severe glare of Professor Surd. Desperate to win the approval of the professor and the hand of his daughter Abscissa, the narrator seeks the help of an eccentric inventor named Rivarol. The inventor proposes the "Tachypomp"—a device designed to conquer time and space—alongside a bizarre trap door mechanism that drops persistent creditors into a bottomless shaft running through the earth's center. When the student accidentally steps onto the trap, he plunges through darkness, only to awaken on the floor of Professor Surd’s study, where he discovers his real-world identity has earned him the professor's blessing after all.

How It Unfolds

The expatriate's return Maximus Austin resumes his journal in 1857, feeling dejected and weary after returning from Europe to face an uncertain future. He reflects on his wasted youth and searches for meaning while adjusting to his native land.

Life at the Sloane estate Maximus moves into the comfortable residence of Frederick Sloane, where he reunites with his earnest friend Theodore. He observes the stark contrast between Sloane’s corrupt luxury and Theodore’s quiet moral struggles.

The test of the will When a secret will leaving Sloane's fortune to Theodore is discovered, Maximus presents it to his friend. Theodore unexpectedly throws the document into the fire, choosing integrity over easy wealth and leaving Maximus astonished.

Wanderings and winter warfare A chance encounter at an Italian circus lottery gives way to the bitter chill of the Russo-Turkish War. The narrative moves through frozen mountain passes and brutal battlefields, detailing the sheer hardship endured by soldiers and fleeing families.

The threat over New York Diplomatic strains between Spain and the United States erupt into open conflict, bringing enemy war-vessels to the American coast. Command centers scramble to respond as initial naval sightings off Fire Island turn into an imminent threat to the harbor.

The aerial bombardment Refusing harsh terms of surrender, the city comes under direct fire. The enemy deploys specialized balloons carrying explosive nitro-glycerine charges, dropping them onto urban streets and destroying major landmarks.

Summer at the beach Two wealthy bachelors arrive at a coastal hotel heavily equipped for luxury and field sports. As the weeks pass, they find their casual summer routines turning into serious debates about courtship and settling down.

The student's dilemma A hopeless mathematics student struggles to satisfy his stern professor and win the heart of the professor's daughter. He turns to an eccentric inventor whose wild theories offer a improbable escape from his academic failures.

Awakening to favor After falling through a fantastical subterranean shaft designed by the inventor, the student snaps back to reality on his teacher's rug. The professor greets him warmly, revealing that family connections have secured his consent for marriage.

The People

• Maximus Austin wants to escape his persistent boredom and find a clear purpose after years of idle living abroad. Stymied by his own cynical self-awareness, he shifts from a detached observer of others to a man forced to respect genuine moral conviction.
• Theodore seeks to support his widowed sister and her family while resolving his deep spiritual doubts. Hampered by financial helplessness and his sensitive conscience, he ultimately chooses personal integrity over an unearned fortune.
• Mr. Frederick Sloane wants constant entertainment, ease, and flattered vanity in his declining years. His self-absorbed nature and physical frailty keep him from forming any true, disinterested human connections.
• Señor Manuel Blanco seeks to travel quietly with his wife to South Carolina, but his mysterious presence in New York draws him into an international political crisis that triggers broader national conflict.
• Edwin Salsbury wants to enjoy an effortless summer of sport and leisurely romance without committing to serious domestic responsibilities. His fear of losing his easy bachelor independence stands between him and a genuine courtship.
• Charles Burnham seeks pleasant companionship and light recreation alongside his friend. Though initially resistant to long-term commitments, he gradually recognizes that social youth must eventually yield to practical choices.
• Furnace Second wants to pass his university courses and marry Abscissa, the daughter of his mathematics instructor. Severely limited by his total lack of mathematical ability, he relies on absurd schemes until an unexpected personal connection resolves his plight.
• Professor Surd wants absolute mathematical rigor from his students and a suitable match for his daughter. His stern, unyielding academic standard softens only when he discovers the student's respectable family background.

In Its Own Voice

"I have changed my sky without changing my mind. I resume these old notes in a new world."

Maximus Austin reflects on his return to America after years abroad, feeling the weight of his unchanged cynicism despite his new surroundings.

"He fancies himself a philosopher, an inquirer, a discoverer. He has not yet discovered that he is a humbug, that Theodore is a prig, and that I am an adventurer."

Maximus privately dissects the character of his wealthy host, laying bare the illusions that govern the quiet household.

"Brethren, the war-vessels of the public enemy have appeared off our Harbor. Let us pray."

A bishop interrupts a quiet church service to announce the sudden arrival of an invading fleet, signaling the start of a national crisis.

What It's Really About

The collection centers on the friction between surface appearances and inner character. Across its varied settings, the stories examine how individuals act when stripped of their comfortable routines—whether by financial temptation, sudden warfare, or social pressure. It questions the value of idle sophistication, contrasting the easy posture of the cynic with the weight of genuine moral choice. The narratives also probe the anxieties of a rapidly changing nineteenth-century world, where personal honor must contend with complex institutions, urban expansion, and the disruptive power of new technologies. Ultimately, the work asks what remains stable in human nature when external structures fail.

Why Read It Today

Readers who appreciate classic nineteenth-century prose, subtle character studies, and varied narrative forms will find much to enjoy in this volume. The writing moves smoothly between delicate psychological observation, vivid historical description, and lighthearted satire. It offers a fascinating glimpse into the social attitudes, leisure habits, and cultural anxieties of its era, capturing how Americans viewed their place both at home and in the wider world.

The volume does present certain period difficulties. Modern readers will encounter formal, Victorian sentence structures, occasional literary allusions, and detailed descriptions of nineteenth-century military campaigns that slow the narrative pace. Some sections rely on hyper-specific mathematical jargon for comedic effect, while others feature older, romanticized depictions of foreign conflicts. However, these elements reflect the authentic voice of the period. The collection remains compelling for its sharp insight into human vanity, its quiet humor, and the memorable clarity with which it captures its characters' personal choices.