A PREFACE PREFACE is an invention to enable an author to argue with his critics without disturbing the general reader, who is expected to skip the preface. The remarks in this preface are addressed to a very small number of persons; but they are the persons whose voices are most likely to be heard, while the multitude (if by any chance this volume should have a multitude) of common readers will remain profoundly quiet. I wish to answer several questions which I as a critic have put to myself as an editor of essays: Are selections a cheap substitute for complete works? or are they better than complete works? or should they not be attempted at all? My answer as an editor to that threefold question is, that for the common reader, whose time is limited, the complete works of an author are almost useless because of their bulk and the time necessary to get through them. As a result, complete works are put on library shelves, there to remain unread. Any man who can help his fellows to read more successfully is a public bene EDITED BY SHERWIN CODY A SELECTION FROM THE WORLD'S GREATEST SHORT STORIES. 18mo. $1.00 net. A SELECTION FROM THE BEST ENGLISH ESSAYS. 18mo. $1.00 net. In Preparation THE WORLD'S GREATEST ORATIONS. 18mo. $1.00 net. |