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 521 



PREFACE TO SECOND EDITION 



Liberty and a Living was first published 

 nearly fifteen years ago. It is hardly neces- 

 sary to say that during these years its sale has 

 not been such as to warrant the belief that the 

 world had received this "gospel of idleness," 

 as one of my critics called it, with anything 

 like enthusiasm. Nevertheless, that the little 

 book has been read by a good many interested 

 people is shown in the several hundred letters 

 that have reached me from Maine to California 

 commending my courage, deploring my in- 

 sanity, pitying my wife and children, or asking 

 advice. I have been denounced as an immoral 

 person who held up a mirage as the goal toward 

 which men should strive. It has been predicted 

 that I might have many letters from those 

 weak-minded enough to follow my advice, but 

 that they would be dated from this or that 

 county poor-house and would all begin: "We 



