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

THE CRUCIBLE OF NEW YORK
way--criticized manuscripts, gave extremely valuable advice, and even offered to get Howard a place in the choir
of his church. Howard finally refused this last, since he
was not inclined to accept money for singing in church;
there seemed to him to be something of hypocrisy in such
an acceptance. He took advantage, however, of all the
social opportunities which fell in his way. He made himself acquainted not only at the boarding-house, but also at
the publishing offices, and soon had a circle of friends whom
he had met in one place or the other.
During the early part of his years in New York he wrote
diary-letters-many of them have been unfortunately lostto his mother, which gave her full accounts of his activities
every day. The letters draw such a vivid picture of these
months that it seems best to quote from them those
passages which describe his habits, his achievements, and
his aspirations.
"New York,
"November ii, 1876.
"Worked all day yesterday in my room at my writing.
I am trying to finish up that old story of mine without title,
where Ephraim Marlowe tries to win Kitty Grant. It will
have to be made over entirely new, and, to tell the truth,
I feel at present somewhat blue as to the general result.
Nothing, however, is gained without labour, and if Providence intends me to become a writer, it will all come in good
time and with hard work. I can say one thing at least and
that is that I am not altogether deficient in ideas.
"I went down at night to see Dion Boucicault in 'The
Shaughraun' and was immensely entertained. I had al['91