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
"I think the music and the lilt of Mr. Markham's poems
lift them quite above the level of the rhymed essay. The
music and the rhythm catch your ear before your mind
grasps the substantial thought which they clothe and the fact
that there is thought behind adds in no small degree to the
enjoyment of his oftentimes ornate wording. Oftentimes
the songs possess a great metrical beauty and even in the
more somber verses there is a rhythmic stride that catches
the ear like the music of the measured tramp of many feet.
"This at least is my own feeling towards Markham's
poems and they added in no small degree to my pleasure in
illustrating them.
"Such illustrations are not very easy to make, there are
so many requirements demanded by -such text. There is no
palpable feeling to seize upon. The illustrations should be
somber and yet at the same time not devoid of a certain
at least decorative beauty; they should in no instance limit
or circumscribe the idea-upon the contrary they should
carry forward the thought of the author-not upon the
same line but u~pon a closely parallel line.
"This of course is very difficult of achievement. In looking over my illustrations I feel that I have fallen far short
of achievement. Nevertheless, the effort itself has carried
with it a very distinct and cumulative pleasure..
And then there was the marvelous group of paintings for
The Century which was entitled "The Travels of the Soul,"
and which, beautifully reproduced in full color, -was the despair and admiration of many rival artists in the winter of
1902.
Howard Pyle had to an immense degree the power of
SLetter to Doubleday, Page & Company, December 4, 1900.
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