In the compiling of this volume, two purposes have
been kept in mind. First, the aim of the editor has
been to provide, for the general reader and for col-
lege students in particular, a group of modern short-
stories of intrinsic value, to be studied for their con-
tent and for their significance in relation to modern
art. In other words, the book is intended to supply
material for an academic or literary study of the short-
story. Secondly, and perhaps more directly, the vol-
ume is planned to furnish examples for analysis by
classes in short-story writing. In the broad sense, it
is a collection of models that may be used as a basis
for college courses in narration.

A word may be said as to the general character of
the selections. No one who reads widely in the field of
the short-story can fail to note the preponderance of se-
rious, not to say tragic, tales; on the whole, in the
short-story as in the novel, the masterpieces are con-
cerned with the darker aspects of life. For this reason
it is more difficult than would at first appear to select
from the stories at command a suitable number that are
not over-serious or gloomy. The editor of the present
volume has been at some pains to include a reasonable

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