argument, rather than to criticise the manner of presenting it; and we aim to reach this result by such insensible gradations as will not require any extra effort on the part of the reader.

While many masterpieces of classic literature have been quoted, it will be noticed that a large percentage of our mater.ial has been selected from the public press. The newspaper or magazine is the educator of the masses, and in order to do the most good to the greatest number, we have drawn largely from this source, both recent and remote. Neither do we lose anything of power, eloquence or variety by so doing; and as to reminiscences, there is nothing equal to an old newspaper, or its better elements crystallized into an old scrap book, to touch the heart with fervent glow, or bring to mind with vivid force the days of Auld Lang Syne.

stitute the literature they read. Words of meaning that all the tones and ti canvas are far less difficult of com powers of expression inherent in a does word after word require cr sentence demand an effort of proceed with our mental dig another, we find our judgm sensibilities in another; or sometimes through the u emotions; our intellect cept or reject, our co thus the whole mind of evidence and the the heart respond the divinest har

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N OF THE WORK.

e calls for "BEST THOUGHTS OF BEST ied, Classified, Exemplified, and Arto unlock the Literature of All Ages." it seems like a prodigious task to make to the better understanding of all others; hods have revolutionized other fields of labor, e field of literature. Surprises greet us from the accomplishment of the above educational ess a surprise to the reader of our book. Euclid e is no royal road to learning" (geometry, in the out by the unique method of editing this volume, oo much to claim that any person who will read it : all the references required just as he would read any ok, will, without the drudgery of schoolboy methods, qualified to appreciate, understand and even criticise er books (except the most technical), as only a thorough ar can do.

HOW WE DO IT.

FIRST, we introduce a chapter on the "Philosophy of Exression," which contains the cream of all the elements involved in the communication of thought by language or otherwise, and a lucid illustration of each principle is given therewith. That opens the way.

SECONDLY, we quote from the best thinkers, ancient and modern, the very best thoughts they have given to the world, and we so select these quotations that each is suited to amplify and enlarge upon the views of some other writer on the same or kindred subjects. Thus we make great authors amplify each other. We also have secured from many of the leading thinkers now living, original articles written especially for this volume, and in harmony with the authors' plan of amplifying the work left to posterity, and bringing the subject up

PLAN OF THE WORK.

Our title-page calls for "BEST THOUGHTS OF BEST THINKERS, Amplified, Classified, Exemplified, and Arranged as a Key to unlock the Literature of All Ages." At first thought, it seems like a prodigious task to make one book a key to the better understanding of all others; but modern methods have revolutionized other fields of labor, and why not the field of literature. Surprises greet us from all sides, and the accomplishment of the above educational result is no less a surprise to the reader of our book. Euclid said, "There is no royal road to learning" (geometry, in the original), but by the unique method of editing this volume, it is not too much to claim that any person who will read it and make all the references required just as he would read any other book, will, without the drudgery of schoolboy methods, become qualified to appreciate, understand and even criticise all other books (except the most technical), as only a thorough scholar can do.

HOW WE DO IT.

FIRST, we introduce a chapter on the "Philosophy of Expression," which contains the cream of all the elements involved in the communication of thought by language or otherwise, and a lucid illustration of each principle is given therewith. That opens the way.

SECONDLY, we quote from the best thinkers, ancient and modern, the very best thoughts they have given to the world, and we so select these quotations that each is suited to amplify and enlarge upon the views of some other writer on the same or kindred subjects. Thus we make great authors amplify each other. We also have secured from many of the leading thinkers now living, original articles written especially for this volume, and in harmony with the authors' plan of amplifying the work left to posterity, and bringing the subject up