Xil. 
myriad hands that have wrought upon it, engravers, printers, binders, paper- 
makers, messengers, even the humble goatherds in far-off Armenia, each for a 
season giving of his best—out of love, I trust. Brothers, I thank you all! 
Of the many shortcomings of this work no one could be more sensible than 
its author. We should all prefer to spend a life-time writing a book, and having 
written it, to return and do it over again, somewhat otherwise. But book-making 
is like matrimony, for better or for worse. ‘There is a finality about it which 
takes the comfort from one’s muttered declaration, “I could do it better another 
time.” What I have written I have written. I go now to spend a quiet day— 
with the birds. 
WitiiamM Leon Dawson. 
