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

THE MIDDLE A GES
The illustrations to Men of Iron mark a great change.
The pen-and-ink work which had been so successfully used
in each of the preceding books was abandoned, and blackand-white oil reproduced by photographic process was used
in its stead. They were very suitable pictures for the book.
With this new medium Howard Pyle was able to get a more
solid, a more realistic effect than could have been obtained
with pen-and-ink, for the delicate lines of Pepper and Salt
would have been out of place in this story of combat and
bloodshed. At the time when the book appeared he was
working on some illustrations for a new edition of Oliver
Wendell Holmes's Autocrat of the Breakfast Table-he
had already made pictures for several of Holmes's booksand he sent a copy of his latest production to the doctor.
The note of appreciation from Dr. Holmes is very interesting, as coming from one of the oldest American men of
letters then living:
"November 9, 1893.
"My Dear Mr. Pyle:
"I have received some time ago your little book, Men of
Iron. I have not read the storya-I do not pretend to read
the books sent me-it would take all and more than all of
my time to do it. But I have looked at the illustrations
which seem to me unusually fine. I have seen no book
with such striking illustrations for a long while.. There is
none of the hurried slap-dash air which is so common since
the 'impressionists' have splashed their colors about on the
canvas, but honest work and careful study.
"I am very much pleased with my little book, which I
think proves generally acceptable. The 'One Hoss Shay'
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