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

PHILOSOPHER AND MYSTIC
singular life) to the sordid and belittling ensemble of New
York City.
"The situations are strong and the young man's part is
presented very simply and naturally; but it is disillusionment. Yes-that is what you intended; but the spiritual
no more than the emotional life of man goes on save by
illusion. Even the transference of the drama from Jerusalem to the Augustan Rome would have involved an immense surrender. Nay, if the Christ life had been spent
as a public ministration mainly in the city of Jerusalem instead of the Judean country, how much would have been
lost that essentially belongs to such a life!
"I cannot but feel that the publication of the story in our
magazine would grieve many readers. And it would mislead many, since to many it would seem no very important
matter whether' such a Christ as is here presented were accepted or rejected-and this I think would not agree with
your intention.
"I have enjoyed reading the story because to me it has
been translated through the knowledge I have of your intimate purpose.
"I may be wholly wrong in my judgment of the story.
The fact that one has a certain quality of sensibility does
not prove that sensibility true. But I have been frank and
you will excuse it."
Mr. Alden's objections to it seemed to be those of every
publisher to whom the book was offered. It went the
rounds, and was repeatedly turned down. Then after a
gap of seven years during which time it was again revised
and materially changed it was accepted by Harper's through
the influence of George Harvey, and published in 1903.
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