Preface 



and have been absolutely faithful in that respect from my 

 earliest childhood up to the present day. My two brothers I 

 believe also followed this excellent advice. 



It is rather singular in this connection that the preface 

 written for " Gentlemen Riders" by my brother Maunsell, and 

 embodied amongst his own particular writings later on in this 

 volume, is always read — in fact is never missed — by any one who 

 takes up the book in question. I have lent it to scores of people, 

 and one and all unite in saying: "We liked the preface so 

 much." Even non-sporting men and women when they return 

 me the book say, " What a delightful preface by your brother, 

 and how well it is written ! " 



And yet, if one really gives the matter a thought, it is but fair 

 to your authors, and might influence their reviewers to more 

 kindly criticism, to read their apology for taking upon themselves 

 the task of trying to interest their readers, however absorbing 

 the theme in hand might have been to themselves, whether a 

 novel, a play, or the life of a notable man. 



And in the latter case, especially if the life one tries to 

 depict is that of a near relation, it is so extremely difficult to 

 draw the line at too much praise on the one hand, or again too 

 little on the other, just because of that relationship — that the 

 very delicate manipulation necessary in this case will, I hope, 

 appeal to a kindly public, on my behalf. 



The story of why a book was written has always interested 

 me, and perhaps it will interest my readers to know how this 

 volume came to be published. Strange as it may seem, the 

 publishers are the real authors, for they were the first to 

 suggest that a life of John Maunsell Richardson would be 

 interesting to the public. And those who suggest — especially 

 when, as in this case, it emanated from the source it did — surely 

 are the real creators of the work they inaugurate. It happened 



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