ΤΟ HENRY MITCHELL, Esq., PRESIDENT OF THE BRADFORD CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, I DEDICATE THIS VOLUME, AS A MARK OF RESPECT FOR HIS INTEGRITY AND GENEROSITY OF CHARACTER, AND HIS EXERTIONS ON BEHALF OF COMMERCIAL PROGRESS; ALSO AS A SLIGHT THANK-OFFERING FOR HIS MANY KINDNESSES IN CONNECTION WITH MY VISIT TO AMERICA. PREFACE. Some explanation is due to my readers as to the circumstances under which the sketches in this volume were originally produced. The "Scenes of Transatlantic Life" were the outcome of a special trip I made to the United States, and first appeared in the Bradford Observer, to which journal I had for some years been accustomed to contribute descriptive sketches under the pseudonym of "Saunterer." In the present instance this fact operated somewhat against me, for to be consistent with the character I had so long personated it was necessary for me to keep up a certain element of fun and jocularity, which may scarcely accord with the feelings of those readers who turn to records of travel with the expectation of meeting with a serious and dignified narrative. Still, in endeavouring to touch humorously upon these things I am not acting altogether without precedent, and I hope that underlying all this there will be found a considerable amount of reliable information concerning the places and people of the North American continent. Especially would I call attention to the chapters which deal with New England factory life, for the study of which particular facilities were afforded me. Concerning the second part of my volume, I will merely say that the "Bradford Night Scenes are in every case the result of actual experience, and as presenting a series of pictures of the nocturnal lights and shadows to be met with in a busy manufacturing town I trust they will not be without interest and value. Jan., 1880. THE AUTHOR. |