AMERICAN ORATIONS, to Illustrate American Political History. Edited, with Introductions, by Professor ALEXANDER JOHNSTON. Three vols., 16m0, $3.75 and $4.50. BRITISH ORATIONS. Edited, with Introduction and Notes, by Professor CHARLES K. ADAMS. Three vols., 16mo. $3.75 and $4.50. PROSE MASTERPIECES FROM MODERN ESSAYISTS. Compiled by GEO. H. PUTNAM. Three vols., 16m0, $3.75 and $4.50. HUMOROUS MASTERPIECES FROM AMERICAN LITERATURE. Edited by EDWARD T. MASON. Three vols, 16mo, $3.75 and $4.50. BRITISH LETTERS. Edited by EDWARD T. MASON. Three vols., 16mo, $3.75 and $4.50. G. P. PUTNAM'S SONS, NEW YORK AND LONDON. HUMOROUS MASTERPIECES FROM AMERICAN LITERATURE EDITED BY VCKERMAN EDWARD T. MASON NEW YORK & LONDON G. P. PUTNAM'S SONS The Knickerbocker Press 1895 COPYRIGHT BY G. P. PUTNAM'S SONS 1886 The knickerbocker Press, New York PREFACE. T1 HE chief object of these volumes is to amuse; but, perhaps, they may also help to illustrate some phases of American literature. Humor is certainly one of the strong characteristics of our literature; and the attempt has here been made to bring together, in an attractive form and within a moderate compass, some worthy examples of humorous writing, from the time of Irving to the present day. It need scarcely be said that no claim is made to an exhaustive treatment of the subject. The title for the series was chosen, with some hesitation, as being fairly descriptive, in a general sense. Its strict accuracy may doubtless, in certain instances, be open to question; for, while it is believed that nothing unworthy of preservation has been admitted, it was necessary, in order to make the work fitly representative, to include some sketches which are hardly entitled to take rank as masterpieces. In jus |