Violin

Whilst the greatest effort has been made to ensure the quality of this text, due to the historical nature of this content, in some rare cases there may be minor issues with legibility. For some time I have been in a state of doubt as to which course to pursue - whether to follow the usual custom, and address the reader in a Preface, or to combine my prefatory remarks with a Dedication. It will be seen that I have chosen the latter method. I am aware that inscriptions in connection with books are no longer in vogue; the necessity for them has happily long since passed away. In these free press days, though the writer of a book be the most obscure individual in the paths of literature, yet his pages will not lack readers, always providing they are worth perusal.