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
who, if they are not as good critics as thee, have yet been
engaged so long upon journalism, that they know what are
the essential qualities necessary in an article to render it
popular with the public.
"I went down to the Photoengraving Company yesterday
and received many valuable hints in regard to pen drawing.
I have commenced a picture, as much for practice as anything else, which I am going to submit to St. Nicholas if it
turns out as I hope. It is 'Queen Mab.' She is flying
through a gray evening sky on great dragon-fly wings; in
front of her is a little elf, seated cross-legged on a bat and
blowing a horn with all his might and main, and behind
comes a troop of fantastic little elves with short tails and
pointed caps. Below is a glooming valley and a glassy
stream catching the reflection of a streak of lingering sunset.
In one corner is a flickering new moon, while the top of
Queen Mab's wand forms a brilliant star. This is my
intention if I can only carry it out. One could do a great
deal if it weren't for that one word--'only.l "
"November 19, 1876.
"One suffers a great many take-downs in this world; so
with me. My manuscript of 'Johan Printz' has been declined. I cannot say that I was very much disappointed,
since I had pretty well concluded upon mature consideration that it was hardly up to standard. Mr. Gilder said
that its chief fault was that it was hardly vividly enough
imagined. He said that another great objection was that
Henry James had written a ghost story for them, where,
like mine, the house-was burned.
"I may as well mention here.. that I saw Mr. Smith
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