One or two friends to whom I showed these papers in MS. having observed
that they were not half bad, and some of my relations having promised to
buy the book if it ever came out, I feel I have no right to longer delay
its issue. But for this, as one may say, public demand, I perhaps should
not have ventured to offer these mere "idle thoughts" of mine as mental
food for the English-speaking peoples of the earth. What readers ask
nowadays in a book is that it should improve, instruct, and elevate.
This book wouldn't elevate a cow. I cannot conscientiously recommend it
for any useful purposes whatever. All I can suggest is that when you get
tired of reading "the best hundred books," you may take this up for half
an hour. It will be a change.