Preface.
The History and Art of Book-Making have ordained a Preface,—no well-regulated Book appearing now without the proper porte-cochère preceding the literary structure beyond. It would appear to be "the correct thing," and yet one is disposed in many cases to enquire, "Cui Bono?" For the present volume there appears to be no absolute necessity for an Introduction, and yet to confess the truth, so strong a hold has custom upon the eye, that were this feature lacking, there would be wanting upon the free of the returns, an important factor in the tout ensemble of the work. But as Daniel Webster anticipated us in saying, "I shall enter upon no encomium on Massachusetts;—she needs none. There she is,— behold her and judge for yourselves. There is her history,—the world knows it by heart. The past, at least, is secure."
Those who have patiently borne with the diligent work of the compiler will remember our aim was to present biographical sketches of one thousand of the representative citizens of the
