Howard Pyle, a chronicle by Charles D. Abbott, with an introduction by N. C. Wyeth and many illustrations from Howard Pyle's works.

HOWARD PYLE: A CHRONICLE
him a clear vision into the minds of children, it was inevitable that this kind of artist should seem effeminate and
unpractical. He found it impossible to be on intimate terms
with them.
In the meantime his work had improved vastly. He was
making more and more drawings for Mr. Parsons, and was
meeting continually with that generous man's approval. He
had written a short story of Colonial days for Harper's,
"The Last Revel in Printz Hall,"' which had marked a
great advance over the earlier work for St. Nicholas, and
which had been moderately successful with the public. The
illustrations for this story, and for two articles by other
hands, "The Old National Pike,"2 and "Sea Drift from
a New England Port,"' had given the most convincing
evidence that here was a man who was able to portray
Colonial life with an accuracy and spirit which no one else
had ever approached. These successes gave him a good
reputation with the Harpers, who were very anxious to
keep him before their public. He had accomplished what
he had come to New York to do: he had built up his professional skill, and had found for his productions a market
where he was sure of being well paid.
Now, there was no reason for remaining in New York,
especially when he found his surroundings so unpleasant.
His thoughts turned irresistibly to Wilmington. He could
live there more cheaply and at the same time have all the
advantages of being with his family and with the people
whom he had known from childhood. Already he had the
project of a book in his head-the Robin Hood that had
' Harper's New' Monthly Magazine, Vol. llix, p. 520, (September, 1879).
2Ibid., Vol. lix, p. 8oi, (November, 1879).
3 Ibid., Vol. lx, p. 59, (December, 1879).
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