A note on the author, by Grant Allen -- An introductory word about the book, by W. T. Stead -- Letter-writers -- On writing oneself out -- The decline of literature -- Colour-blindness in literature -- The surfeit of books -- People who are "down" -- Ill-assorted marriages -- Happy marriages -- Shrews -- Are we wealthy? -- The values of labour -- The hopeless poor -- Waifs and strays -- Stage-children -- Public and private morality: past and present -- "Raising the level of amusements" -- A little sermon on failures -- "Vanity of vanities" -- Gamblers -- Scoundrels -- Quiet old towns -- The sea -- Sorrow -- Death -- Journalism.

Public domain in the USA.

Electronic text