Idle Thoughts of an Idle Fellow

Episode 1

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.Icannot conscientiously recommend it for any useful purposes whatever.