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
off, I should be at sea indeed, for now that magazine is my
chief support.... I do hope that Mrs. Dodge isn't disgusted with me and my designs in toto. If she refuses the
fairy tale, I'm done for, for I place great dependence
upon that and would be grievously disappointed, should
it be refused.
"This was my first rebuff. Next-Harpers declined
my design for 'Despair.' It was very clever but they could
not use it. Another small design that I had submitted at
the same time was too 'loud' for them or in other words
was likely to be accused of coarseness.
"I then took them to Frank Leslie. The 'loud' was
not too loud for him and he took it....
"This much for my diary this week. It is short and not
over sweet. In fact, it combines with its smallness all the
bitterness of a quinine pill; and may it be beneficial in removing all unhealthy humours of conceit and self-satisfaction. Still, I do hope that affairs will look brighter by
Christmas time, and that present reverses will prove only
a salutary check on a course of life that was proving too
prosperous. I can tell you, in the last two weeks my expenses have been less than heretofore; and after all, I have
quite a sum laid by. One doesn't like to have a nasty little
cankering trouble gnawing one about Christmas time, so, as
I say, I hope my luck will change.
"I shall try some illustrations for St. Valentine's Day,
next week. I have not any very clear ideas on the subject
as yet, though I should like to make a silhouette for St.
Nicholas and a pen-and-ink design for Harper's. I don't
recollect anywhere that Shakespeare speaks of St. Valentine's
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