PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION 



This volume owes its existence to certain papers of 

 mine which were published in the Guardian during 

 the years 1890-1893. In republishing them I have 

 omitted some, and slightly altered others, but only 

 so far as seemed necessary in order to bring them into 

 book-form. 



At the time of their first appearance I received 

 many kind communications and suggestions from 

 readers of the Guardian and others. To all such I 

 am glad to have this opportunity of returning my 

 hearty thanks, as well as to the proprietors of the 

 Guardian for kindly allowing the republication. 



HENRY N. ELLACOMBE. 



BiTTON Vicarage, 



Gloucestershire, 

 April 1895. 



