THE GENTLE READER

Copyright, 1903

By Samuel McChord Crothers

All rights reserved

Published October, 1903

HEN Don Quixote was descanting on the beauty of the peerless Dulcinea,the Duchess interrupted him by expressing a doubt as to that lady'sexistence.

"Much may be said on that point," said Don Quixote. "God only knowswhether there be any Dulcinea or not in the world. These are things theproof of which must not be pushed to extreme lengths."

But this admission does not in the least interfere with the habitualcurrent of his thoughts, or cool the ardor of his loyalty. He proceedsafter the momentary digression as if nothing had happened. "I behold heras she needs must be, a lady who contains within herself all thequalities to make her famous throughout the world; beautiful, withoutblemish; dignified, without haughtiness; tender, and yet modest;gracious from courtesy, and courteous from good breeding; and lastly ofillustrious birth."

If in the following pages I begin by admitting that there is much to besaid in behalf of the popular notion that the Gentle Reader no longerexists, let this pass simply as an evidence of my decent respect for theopinion of mankind. To my mind the Gentle Reader is the most agreeableof companions, and to make his acquaintance is one of the pleasures oflife.

Of so elusive a personality it is not always possible to give aconsistent account. I have no doubt that I may have occasionallyattributed to him sentiments which are really my own; on the other hand,I suspect that some views that I have set down as my own may have beenunconsciously derived from him. I have particular reference to theopinions expressed on the subject of Ignorance. Such confusion ofmental properties the Gentle Reader will readily pardon, for there is noone in all the world so careless of the distinctions between Meum andTuum.