Being a Collection of Articles Written for Peck's Sun, Milwaukee, Wis.,
Generally Calculated to Throw Sunshine Instead of Clouds on the Faces
of Those Who Read Them.
Belford, Clarke & Co. - 1882.
“NOT GUILTY.”
Gentlemen of the Jury: I stand before you charged with an attempt to
“remove” the people of America by the publication of a new book, and I
enter a plea of “Not Guilty.” While admitting that the case looks strong
against me, there are extenuating circumstances, which, if you will
weigh them carefully, will go far towards acquitting me of this dreadful
charge. The facts are that I am not responsible, I was sane enough up to
the day that I decided to publish this book and have been since; but
on that particular day I was taken possession of by an unseen power--a
Chicago publisher-who filled my alleged mind with the belief that the
country demanded the sacrifice, and that there would be money in it. If
the thing is a failure, I want it understood that I was instigated by
the Chicago man; but if it is a success, then, of course, it was an
inspiration of my own.
The book contains nothing but good nature, pleasantly told yarns, jokes
on my friends; and, through it all, there is not intended to be a line
or a word that can cause pain or sorrow-nothing but happiness.
Laughter is the best medicine known to the world for the cure of many
diseases that mankind is subject to, and it has been prescribed with
success by some of our best practitioners. It opens up the pores, and
restores the circulation of the blood, and the despondent patient that
smiles, is in a fair way to recovery. While this book is not recommended
as an infallible cure for consumption, if I can throw the patient into
the blues by the pictures, I can knock the blues out by vaccinating with
the reading matter.
To those who are inclined to look upon the bright side of life, this
book is most respectfully dedicated by the author.
GEO. W. PECK. Milwaukee, Wis.,
March, 1882.