has been my chief reliance for the illustrations contained
herein.

I have presumed on the time and patience of many in my
work, especially on that of Mr. Wright and Miss Burns at
Harvard and my obligations to them mount faster than I
can attest. My mother and relatives have been coworkers
throughout the preparation of the work.

I am all too conscious of the errors of omission and com-
mission for all of which I can plead the excuse only of a
maiden effort. It has been said that all you need ask of
your worst enemy, is that he write a book. This effort is
offered in the hope that it will be received charitably rather
than in that spirit.

No attempt has been made to list a bibliography of the
works consulted in the preparation of this book as several
excellent bibliographies are now available for students of the
subject, the leader among them being the work of Mr.
Wickersham already mentioned. The writer has worked
chiefly in the Widener Library of Harvard University. The
collections in the Boston Public Library, the New York
Public Library and the Congressional Library at Washington,
D. C., have also been consulted. Much valuable data was
obtained from the Western Union library at the company
headquarters in New York City. It is my fond hope that
some day I will be able to delve further into the subject by
exhausting the possibilities of the Pacific Coast libraries.

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