第1章 PREFACE

One or two friends to whom I showed these papers in MS.having observed that they were not half bad, and some of my relations having promised to buy the book if it ever came out, I feel I have no right to longer delay its issue.But for this, as one may say, public demand, I perhaps should not have ventured to offer these mere "idle thoughts" of mine as mental food for the English-speaking peoples of the earth.What readers ask nowadays in a book is that it should improve, instruct, and elevate.This book wouldn't elevate a cow.I cannot conscientiously recommend it for any useful purposes whatever.All I can suggest is that when you get tired of reading "the best hundred books," you may take this up for half an hour.It will be a change.