Publisher's Synopsis
Excerpt from Wanderings of a Pilgrim
A preface is a thing of inconsistencies. Though it comes first in the Book, it is last in the Author's thoughts; the first thing with the reader, it is the last with the writer and the printer. Though it is the shortest part of the Book, it is by far the most difficult. And though it is no part of the Book, it is sometimes the only part read, and the longest remembered. It is always demanded by custom, though oftentimes wholly unnecessary. It is like a visit of ceremony, with half an ex cuse for not calling sooner, and half an apology for calling at all. It is like the title Esq., which is no part of any man's name, and yet every man writes it on a letter to his neighbour. It is like notes at the bottom of the page, which, if they contain anything important, had better be put in the body of the work. Finally, it is like standing at the door in a rain-storm, and sending in the servant to announce your name. A Preface in the present case might have been spared, inas much as there is an introductory chapter. But perhaps it may be set down as one of those graces in book-life, like the touch of your hat to a friend across the street, which softens the manners, and does not permit men to be brutes. This doubtless is the philosophy of it, though the etymology intimates that it is simply the art of putting the best face foremost. It may be questioned whether it were not better not to have published at all; but this should have been thought of before. When I first wrote, I was thinking of dear friends, just as in collecting my Alpine Flowers, and of the pleasure I would give them, if ever permitted to show them my mountain treasures. To write merely for the public is but poor business; it makes a sort of commercial traveller out of a man, who goes about like an Argus, seeing with a hundred eyes, not one of which is his own; seeing everything for the public, nothing for himself a kind of commission agent to trade with nature, and drive the best Speculations. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.
