PREFACE. 



IT requires but a few words of preface 

 before launching my little volume on the 

 sea of public opinion. 



I know it will have to do battle with 

 craft of a higher and more enduring 

 nature, and may be utterly swamped in its 

 endeavour to attain the goal of public 

 approval ; but I venture to hope it -will 

 outlive the storms of criticism ; and, if my 

 readers have half the pleasure in the 

 perusal of these pages that I have had in 

 writing them, I shall be repaid. 



Having passed some of the early years 



