Simple？I'llsayitis!PositivelynothingcouldbesimplerunlessitbethestarksimplicityofthemindofanauthorwhofiguresthatwhentheAtlanticOceanstartsboringitswaythroughacrackinaseawallyoucanstopitbypluggingtheholeontheinnersideoftheseawallwithasmallboy'sarm。NedBuntlinemayneverhaveenjoyedthevogueamongparentsandteachersthatMr。
　　McGuffeyenjoyed，butI'llsaythisforhim——heknewmoreaboutthelawsofhydraulicsthanMcGuffeyeverdreamed。
　　AndtherewasPeterHurdle，theraggedladwhoengagedinalongbuttiresomeconversationwiththephilanthropicandinquisitiveMr。Lenox，duringthecourseofwhichitdevelopedthatPeterdidn'twantanything。Whenitcameontostormhegotunderatree。Whenhewashungryheatearawturnip。Rawturnips，itwouldappear，grewalltheyearroundinthefieldsofthefavoredlandwherePeterresided。IfthechillwindsofautumnblewinthroughoneoftheholesinPeter'strouserstheyblewrightoutagainthroughanotherhole。Andhedidn'tcaretoacceptthedimewhichMr。Lenoxinanexcessofgenerosityofferedhim，because，itseemed，healreadyhadadime。WhenitcametobeingplumbcontentedthereprobablyneverwasasoulonthisearththatwastheequalofMasterHurdle。HeevenwassatisfiedwithhisnamewhichIwouldregardastheultimatetest。
　　Likewise，therewasthecaseofHughIdleandMr。Toil。Perhapsyourecallthatmovingstory？Hughtriestododgework；whereverhegoeshefindsMr。Toilinoneguiseoranotherbutalwayswiththesameharshvoiceandthesamefrowningeyes，bossingsomejobinamannerwhichwouldcosthimhisboss-shiprightoffthereelinthesetimeswhenunionlaborissotouchy。Andwhatisthemoraltobedrawnfromthisnarrative？IknowthatallmylifeI
　　havebeentryingtogetawayfromwork，feelingthatIwasintendedforleisure，thoughneverfindingtimesomehowtotakeitupseriously。Butwhatwastheuseoftryingtodiscouragemefromthisagreeableideabackyonderintheformulativeperiodofmyearlieryears？
　　InHarper'sFourthReader，editionof1888，IfoundanarticleentitledTheDifferenceBetweenthePlantsandAnimals。IttakesupseveralpagesandincludessomeofthefanciestlanguagetheseniorMr。HarpercoulddisinterfromtheUnabridged。Inmyowncase——andIthinkIwasnomoreobservantthantheaverageurchinofmyage——IcanscarcelyrememberatimewhenIcouldnotreadilydeterminecertainbasicdistinctionsbetweensuchplantsandsuchanimalsasachildislikelytoencounterinthetemperatepartsofNorthAmerica。
　　Whileemergingfrominfancysomeofmycontemporariesmayhavefallenintotheerrorofthelittleboywhocameintothehousewithahauntedlookinhiseyeandaskedhismotherifmulberrieshadsixlegsapieceandranroundinthedustoftheroad，andwhenshetoldhimthatsuchwasnotthecasewithmulberrieshesaid:"Then，mother，IfeelthatIhavemadeamistake。”
　　Tothebestofmyrecollection，Inevermadethismistake，oratleastifIdidIamsureImadenoinquiryafterwardwhichmighttendfurthertoincreasemydoubts；andinanyeventIamsurethatbythetimeIwasoldenoughtostumbleoverMr。Harper'sfavoritebigwordsIwasoldenoughtotellthedifferencebetweenanordinaryanimal——say，ahousecat——andanyoneofthecommonerformsofplantlife，suchas，forexample，thescaly-barkhickorytree，practicallyataglance。I'lladdthistoo:NickCarterneverwastedanyofthegoldenmomentswhichheandIspenttogetherinelucidatingformetheradicalpointsofdifferencebetweentheplantsandtheanimals。
　　IntherangeofpoetryselectedbythecompilersofthereadersformyespecialbenefitasIprogressedonwardfromtheprimaryclassintothegrammargradesIfindonexaminationoftheseearlierAmericanauthoritiesanevengreaterarrayofchuckleheadsthanappearintheprosedivisions。Ishallpassoverthecelebratedinstance——asreadbyusinclassinaloudtoneofvoiceandwithouthaltforinflectionorthetakingofbreath——oftheTurkwhoatmidnightinhisguardedtentwasdreamingofthehourwhenGreeceherkneesinsuppliancebentwouldtrembleathispower。IrememberhowvaguelyIusedtowonderwhoitwasthatwasgoingtogreaseherkneesandwhysheshouldfeelcalledupontohavethemgreasedatall。Also，IshallpassovertheinstanceofAbouBenAdhem，whosenameledalltherestinthegoldenbookinwhichtheangelwaswriting。Whyshouldn'tithaveledalltherest？AmanwhosefrontnamebeginswithAb，whosemiddleinitialisB，andwhoselastnamebeginswithAdwillbefoundleadingalltherestinanycitydirectoryoranytelephonelistanywhere。Alphabeticallyorganizedashewas，Mr。Adhemjustnaturallyhadtolead；andyetforhoursonendmyteachesconsumedherenergiesandmineinamoreorlessunsuccessfulefforttocausemetomemorizethedetailsassetforthbyMr。LeighHunt。
　　Inthreeseparateschoolbooks，eachtheworkofadifferentcompilator，IdiscoverSirWalterScott'spoeticcontributiontouchingonYoungLochinvar——YoungLochinvarwhocameoutoftheWest，thesameasthePlumbplansubsequentlycame，andtheHiramJohnsonpresidentialboomandtheinitiativeandthereferendumandtheI。W。W。EveninthoseancienttimestheWestappearstohavebeenafavoriteplaceforupsettingthingstocomefrom；soIcan'ttakeissuewithSirWalterthere。ButIdotakeissuewithhimwherehesays:
　　Solighttothecroupethefairladyheswung，Solighttothesaddlebeforeherhesprung!
　　Eveninchildhood'shourIamsureImusthavequestionedtheabilityofYoungLochinvartoperformthisachievement，forI
　　wasbornandbroughtupinahorseback-ridingcountry。NowinthelightofyetfullerexperienceIwishSirWalterwerealiveto-daysoImightarguethequestionoutwithhim。
　　Letusconsiderthestatementonitsphysicalmeritssolely。HerewehaveYoungLochinvarswingingtheladytothecroupe，andthenhespringstothesaddleinfrontofher。Nowtodothishemusteithertakealongrunningstartandleapfrogclearoverthelady'sheadasshesitsthere，andlandaccuratelyinthesaddle，whichisscarcelyaproperthingtodotoanylady，asidefromthedifficultyofspringingtenorfifteenfeetintotheairandcomingdown，crotchedout，onagivenspot，orelsehemustcontributeafeatincontortionthelikeofwhichhasneverbeenduplicatedsince。
　　Tobebrutallyfrankaboutit，thethingjustnaturallyisnotpossible。Idon'tcareifYoungLochinvarwasaslimberasayardoffreshtripe——andhecertainlydidshakealithesomecalfinthemeasuresofthedanceifSirWalter，inanearlierstanza，istobecreditedwithveracity。Evenso，Idenythathecouldhavedonethatcroupetrick。Thereisn'tacroupieratMonteCarlowhocouldhavedoneit。BuffaloBillcouldn'thavedoneit。NedBuntlinewouldn'thavehadBuffaloBilltryingtodoit。DougFairbankscouldn'tdoit。Icouldn'tdoitmyself。
　　SkippingoverRobertSouthey'stiresomeredundancyinspendingsomuchofhistimeandmine，whenIwasintheFifthReaderstage，intellinghowthewaterscamedownatLadorewhenitwasapetrifiedcinchthatthey，beingwaters，wouldhavetocomedown，anyhow，Iwouldnextdirectyourattentiontotwooftheforemostidiotsinalltherealmofpoesy；oneayoungidiotandoneanolderidiot，probablywithwhiskers，butbothembalmedinverse，andboth，mindyou，stuckintoeveryorthodoxreadertobeglorifiedbeforetheeyesofchildhood。Irefertothatjuvenilechampionamongidiots，theboywhostoodontheburningdeck，andtotheship'scaptaininthepoemcalledTheTempest。Letusbrieflyconsiderthegivenfactsasregardsthelatter:Itwaswinteranditwasmidnightandastormwasonthedeep，andthepassengerswerehuddledinthecabinandnotasoulwoulddaretosleep，andtheywereshudderingthereinsilence——onegathersthesilencewassodeepyoucouldhearthemshuddering——andthestoutestheldhisbreath，whichisconsiderablefeat，asIcantestify，becausethestouterafellowgetstheharderitisforhimtoholdhisbreathforanyconsiderableperiodoftime。Verywell，then，thisistheconditionofaffairs。Ifevertherewasatimewhenthoseinauthorityshouldavoidspreadingalarmthiswasthetime。Byallthetraditionsofthemaritimeserviceitdevolvedupontheskippertoremaincalm，coolandcollected。Butwhatdoesthepoetrevealtoalotoftrustingschoolchildren？
　　"Wearelost!"thecaptainshouted，Ashestaggereddownthestair。
　　Hedidn'twhisperit；hedidn'ttellittoafriendinconfidence；
　　hebelloweditoutatthetopofhisvoicesoallthepassengerscouldhearhim。Theonlypossibleexcusewhichcanbeofferedforthatcaptain'sbehavioristhathisstaggeringwasduenottothemotionoftheshipbuttoalcoholicstimulant。CouldyouimagineLittleSureShot，theTerrorofthePawnees，drunkorsober，doinganasininethinglikethat？Notintenthousandyears，youcouldn't。
　　ButthenwemustrememberthatLittleSureShot，beingamoraldime-novelhero，neverindulgedinalcoholicbeveragesunderanycircumstances。
　　TheboywhostoodontheburningdeckhasbeenplayedupasanexampleofyouthfulheroismforthebenefitoftheyoungofourraceeversinceMrs。FeliciaDorotheaHemanssethimdowninblackandwhite。Idenythathewasheroic。Iinsistthathemerelywasfeeble-minded。Letusgivethisyouththecarefulonce-over:
　　ThesceneistheBattleoftheNile。ThetimeisAugust，1798。
　　Whentheactionofthepiecebeginstheboystandsontheburningdeckwhenceallbuthimhadfled。Yousee，everyoneelseaboardhadhadsenseenoughtobeatit，buthestuckbecausehisfatherhadpostedhimthere。Therewasnogoodpurposehemightservebysticking，excepttofurnishaddedmaterialforthepoetess，butliketheleather-headedyoungimbecilethathewashestoodtherewithhisfeetgettingwarmerallthetime，whiletheflamethatlitthebattle'swreckshoneroundhimo'erthedead。Afterwhich:
　　Therecameaburstofthundersound；
　　Theboy——oh!wherewashe？
　　Askofthewinds，thatfararoundWithfragmentsstrewedthesea——
　　Askthewaves。Askthefragments。AskMrs。Hemans。Or，tosavetime，inquireofme。
　　Hehasbecometotallyextinct。Heisnomoreandheneverwasverymuch。Stillweneednotworry。Mentallyhemusthavebeenfromtheveryoutsetaliabilityratherthananasset。Hadhelived，undoubtedlyhewouldhavewoundupinahomeforthefeeble-minded。Itisbetterso，asitis——betterthatheshouldbespreadaboutoverthesurfaceoftheoceaninabroadgeneralway，thussavingalltheexpenseandtroubleofgatheringhimupandburyinghimandputtingatombstoneoverhim。Hewasoneoftheincurables。
　　Onceuponatime，writingalittlepieceonanothersubject，I
　　advancedtheclaimthatthechampionhalf-witofallpoeticanthologywasSweetAlice，who，asdescribedbyMr。English，weptwithdelightwhenyougaveherasmile，andtrembledinfearatyourfrown。ThisofcoursewaslongbeforeProhibitioncamein。Thesetimestherearemanyreadytoweepwithdelightwhenyouoffertogivethemasmile；butinMr。English'stimeandAlice'stherewereplentyofsaloonshandy。Iremarked，whatanawfulkill-joyAlicemusthavebeen，weepinginadisconcertingmannerwhensomebodysmiledinherdirectionandtremblingviolentlyshouldanybodysomuchasmerelyknithisbrow!
　　ButwhenIgaveAlicefirstplaceinthelistIactedtoohastily。
　　SecondthoughtshouldhaveinformedmethatundeniablythepostofhonorbelongedtothecentralfigureofMr。HenryW。Longfellow'spoem，Excelsior。Iranacrossit——Excelsior，Imean——inthreedifferentreaderstheotherdaywhenIwascompilingsomeofthedataforthistreatise。Naturallyitwouldbefeaturedinallthree。Itwouldn'tdotoleaveMr。Longfellow'sherooutofavolumeinwhichspacewasgiventosuchlesservillageidiotsasCasabiancaandtheSpartanyouth。Letustakeupthissadcaseversebyverse:
　　Theshadesofnightwerefallingfast，AsthroughanAlpinevillagepassedAyouth，whobore，'midsnowandice，Abannerwiththestrangedevice，Excelsior!
　　Therewegetanaccuratepenpictureofhisyoungman'sdeplorablestate。Heisclimbingamountaininthedeadofwinter。Itismadeplainlateronthatheisastrangerintheneighborhood，consequentlyitisfairtoassumethatthemountaininquestionisonehehasneverclimbedbefore。Nobodyhiredhimtoclimbanymountain；heisn'tclimbingitonabetorbecausesomebodydaredhimtoclimbone。Heisnotdressedformountainclimbing。
　　Apparentlyheiswearingthecostumeinwhichheescapedfromtheinstitutionwherehehadbeenaninmate——acostumeconsistingsimplyoflowstockings，sandalsandakindofflowingwoolennightshirt，cutshorttobeginwithandbadlyshrunkeninthewash。
　　Hehasonnorubberboots，nosweater，notevenapairofearmuffs。Healsoisbare-headed。Well，anytimethewearingofhatswentoutoffashionhecouldhavehadnouseforhishead，anyhow。
　　IgrantyouthatinthepoemMr。Longfellowdoesnotgointodetailsregardingthepatient'sgarb。Iamgoingbytheillustrationinthereader。TheoriginalMr。McGuffeywasverystrongforillustrations。Hestuckthemineverywhereinhisreaders，whethertheymatchedthethemesornot。Beingasfondofpicturesasheundoubtedlywas，itseemsalmostapityhedidnotmarrythetattooedladyinacircusandthenwhenhegottiredofstudyingherpictoriallyononesidehecouldaskhertoturnaroundandlethimseewhatshehadtosayontheotherside。Perhapshedid。InevergleanedmuchregardingthefamilyhistoryoftheMcGuffeys。
　　Bethatasitmay，thewardrobeisentirelyunsuitedfortherigorsoftheclimateinSwitzerlandinwintertime。Symptomaticallyitmarksthewearerasapersonwhoismentallylacking。Heneedsakeeperalmostasbadlyasheneedssomeheavyunderwear。Butthisisn'ttheworstofit。Takethebanner。Itbearsthesingleword"Excelsior。”Theyouthisgoingthroughastrangetownlateintheeveninginhisnightie，anditwintertime，carryingabanneradvertisingashreddedwood-fibercommoditywhichwon'tbeinventeduntilahundredandfiftyyearsafterheisdead!
　　Canyoubeatit？Youcan'teventieit。
　　Letuslookfurtherintothematter:
　　Hisbrowwassad；hiseyesbeneathFlashedlikeafalchionfromitssheath，AndlikeasilverclarionrungTheaccentsofthatunknowntongue，Excelsior!
　　Getit，don'tyou？Evenhisfeaturesfailtojibe。Hisbrowiscorrugatedwithgrief，buttheflashingoftheeyedenotesalackofintellectualcoherencewhichanyalienistwoulddiagnoseataglanceasevidenceoftotaldementia，evenwerenotconfirmatoryproofofferedbyhisactioninhucksteringforaproductwhichdoesn'texist，inalanguagewhichnoonepresentcanunderstand。
　　Themostdelirioustyphoidfeverpatientyoueversawwouldknowbetterthanthat。
　　Tocontinue:
　　InhappyhomeshesawthelightOfhouseholdfiresgleamwarmandbright；
　　Above，thespectralglaciersshone，Andfromhislipsescapedagroan，Excelsior!
　　Thelastlinegiveshimawaystillmorecompletely。Heisgroaningnow，whereamomentbeforehewasclarioning。Abitlater，withoneofthoseshiftscharacteristicofthementallyunbalanced，hismoodchangesandagainheisshouting。He'sworsethanacuckooclock，thatboy。
　　"TrynotthePass，"theoldmansaid；
　　"Darklowersthetempestoverhead，Theroaringtorrentisdeepandwide!"
　　Andloudthatclarionvoicereplied，Excelsior!
　　"Ohstay，"themaidensaid，andrestThywearyheaduponthisbreast!"
　　Atearstoodinhisbrightblueeye，Butstillheanswered，withasigh，Excelsior!
　　"Bewarethepine-tree'switheredbranch!
　　Bewaretheawfulavalanche!"
　　Thiswasthepeasant'slastGoodnight；
　　Avoicereplied，faruptheheight，Excelsior!
　　Thesethreeversesroundoutthepicture。ThevenerablecitizenwarnshimagainstthePass；passprivilegesupthatmountainhaveallbeensuspended。Akind-heartedmaidentendershospitalitiesofamostgenerousnature，consideringthatsheneversawtheyoungmanbefore。Somepeoplemightevengosofarastosaythatsheshouldhavebeenashamedofherself；others，thatMr。
　　Longfellow，ingivingheraway，wasguiltyofanindelicacy，tosaytheleastofit。PossiblyshewaspracticinguptoqualifyformembershiponthereceptioncommitteethenexttimethevisitingfiremencametohertownorwhentherewasgoingtobeanElks'
　　reunion；soIforoneshallnotquestionhermotives。Shewashospitable——letitgoatthat。Thepeasantcoupleswithhisgood-nightmessageareferencetothedangeroffallingpinewoodandalsoavalanches，whichhaveneverbeenpleasantthingstomeetupwithwhenoneistravelingonamountaininanoppositedirection。
　　Allabouthimfirelightsaregleaming，happyfamiliesaregatheredbeforethehearthstone，andthroughthewindowstheeveningyodelmaybeheardpercolatingpleasantly。Thereiseveryinducementfortheyouthtodropinandresthispoor，tired，foolishfaceandhandsandthawouthiskneejointsandgivethemaidenachancetomakegoodonthatpropositionofhers。Butno，highupabovetimberlinehehasanengagementwithhimselfandMr。
　　Longfellowtobefrozenasstiffasadriedherring；andso，nowgroaning，nowwithhiseyeflashing，nowwithatear——undoubtedlyafrozentear——standingintheeye，nowclarioning，nowsighing，onwardandupwardhegoes:
　　Atbreakofday，asheavenwardThepiousmonksofSaintBernardUtteredtheoft-repeatedprayer，Avoicecriedthroughthestartledair，Excelsior!
　　I'llsaythismuchforhim:Hecertainlyishardtokill。Hecanstayoutallnightinthoseclothes，withthethermometerbelowzero，andatdawnstillbeabletochirptheonlywordthatisleftinhisvocabulary。Hecan'tlastforeverthough。Therehastobeafinishtothislamentablefiascosometime。Wegetit:
　　Atraveler，bythefaithfulhound，Halfburiedinthesnowwasfound，StillgraspinginhishandoficeThatbannerwiththestrangedevice，Excelsior!
　　Thereinthetwilightcoldandgray，Lifeless，butbeautiful，helay，Andfromtheskysereneandfar，Avoicefell，likeafallingstar，Excelsior!
　　Themeteoricvoicesaid"Excelsior!"Itshouldhavesaid"Bonehead!"
　　Itwouldhavesaidit，too，ifNedBuntlinehadbeenhandlingthesubject，forhehadasenseofverities，hadNed。Probablythatwasoneofthereasonswhytheybarredhisworksoutofalltheschoolbooks。
　　WiththepassageofyearsIratherimaginethatLieutenantG——，oftheUnitedStatesNavy，whowenttosomuchtroubleandtooksomanyneedlesspainsinordertobecomeacorpsemayhavevanishedfromtheschoolreaders。IadmitIfailedtofindhiminanyofthemoderneditionsthroughwhichIglanced，butIamabletoreport，asaresultofmyresearches，thatthewell-knowncroupespecialist，YoungLochinvar，isstillthereandsolikewiseisCasabianca，thetotalloss；andasIsaidbefore，IranacrossExcelsiorthreetimes。
　　Justheretheotherday，whenIwaspreparingthematerialforthislittlebook，IhappeneduponanadvertisementinaNewYorkpaperofanauctionsaleofacollectionofso-calleddimenovels，datingbacktotheoldBeadle'sBoy'sLibraryintheearlyeightiesandcomingondownthroughtheyearsintothegenerationwhenNickandOldCapweresucceedingsomeoftheearlierfavorites。I
　　readoffafewoftheleadingtitlesuponthelist:
　　BronzeJack，theCaliforniaThoroughbred；or，TheLostCityoftheBasalticButtes。Astrangestoryofadesperateadventureafterfortuneintheweird，wildApacheland。ByAlbertW。Aiken。
　　TombstoneDick，theTrainPilot；or，TheTraitor'sTrail。AstoryoftheArizonaWilds。ByNedBuntline。
　　TheTarantulaofTaos；or，GiantGeorge'sRevenge。AtaleofSardine-boxCity，Arizona。ByMajorSamS。BuckskinSamHall。
　　RedtopRube，theVigilantePrince；or，TheBlackRegulatorsofArizona。ByMajorE。L。St。Vrain。
　　OldGrizzlyAdams，theBearTamer；or，TheMonarchoftheMountains。
　　DeadlyEyeandthePrairieRover。
　　ArizonaJoe，theBoyPardofTexasJack。
　　PacificPete，thePrinceoftheRevolver。
　　KitCarson，KingoftheGuides。
　　LeadvilleNick，theBoySport；or，TheMadMiner'sRevenge。
　　LighthouseLige；or，TheFirebrandoftheEverglades。
　　TheDesperateDozen；or，TheFairFiend。
　　NighthawkKit；or，TheDaughteroftheRanch。
　　Joaquin，theSaddleKing。
　　MustangSam，theWildRiderofthePlains。
　　AdventuresofWildBill，thePistolPrince，fromYouthtohisDeathbyAssassination。DeedsofDaring，AdventureandThrillingIncidentsintheLifeofJ。B。Hickok，knowntotheWorldasWildBill。
　　ThesetitlesandmanyanotherdidIread，andreadingthemmymindslidbackalongagrooveinmybraintoacertainstableloftinacertainKentuckytown，andIsaidtomyselfthatifIhadaboy——say，abouttwelveorfourteenyearsold——IwouldgotothisauctionandbidinthesebooksandIwouldbackthemupandreenforcethemwithsomeofthebestofthecollectedworksofNickCarterandCapCollierandNickCarter，Jr。，andFrankReade，andIwouldbuy，ifIcouldfinditanywhere，acertainpaper-backedvolumedealingwiththelifeoftheJamesboys——notHenryandWilliam，butJesseandFrank——whichIreadeversolongago；andIwouldconferthewholelotofthemuponthatoffspringofmineandI
　　wouldsaytohim:
　　"Here，myson，issomethingforyou；arareandpreciousgift。
　　Readthesevolumesopenly。Nevermindthecrudestyleinwhichmostofthemarewritten。Itcan'tbeanyworsethanthestiltedandartificialstyleinwhichyourschoolreaderiswritten；and，anyhow，ifyouareevergoingtobeawriter，styleisathingwhichyoulaboriouslymustlearn，andthenhavingacquiredaddedwisdomyouwillforgetpartofitandchucktherestofitoutofthewindowandacquireastyleofyourown，whichmerelyisanotherwayofsayingthatifyouhavegoodtastetostartwithyouwillhavewhatiscalledstyleinwriting，andifyouhaven'tthatsenseofgoodtasteyouwon'thaveastyleandnothingcangiveittoyou。
　　"Readthemforthethrillsthatareinthem。Readthem，rememberingthatifthiscountryhadnothadapioneerbreedofBuckskinSamsandDeadwoodDicksweshouldhavehadnonativeschoolofdimenovelists。Readthemfortheirbriskandstirringmovement；forthespiritofoutdooradventureandlifewhichcrowdsthem；fortheirswiftbutlogicalprocessionsofsequences；forthephasesofpioneerAmericanismtheyrawlybutgraphicallyportray，andfortheirmoralvalues。ReadthemalongwithyourCoopersandyourIvanhoeandyourMayneReids。Readthemthrough，andperhapssomeday，iffortuneiskindertoyouthaneveritwastoyourfather，withabackgroundbehindyouandavisionbeforeyou，youmaybeinspiredtositdownandwriteadimenovelofyourownalmostgoodenoughtobeworthyofmentioninthesamebreathwiththetwogreatestadventurestories——dollar-sizeddimenovelsiswhattheyreallyare——thateverwerewritten；written，bothofthem，bysure-enoughwritingmen，who，I'msure，musthavebasedtheirmoodsandtheirmodesuponthememoriesofthedimenovelswhichthey，theyintheirturn，readwhentheywereboysofyourage。
　　"Irefer，myson，toabookcalledHuckleberryFinn，andtoabookcalledTreasureIsland。”