PREFACE.The publishers cannot permit this modest harbinger of their great enterprise to steal into the world without stating how thoroughly they believe in the excellence of their INSIDECOMPLETUAR, and how intense an emotion of gratitude fills their bosoms towards every one who has helped them in their stupendous production. To editors, advertising agents, compositors, and office-boys alike their hearts go forth in a flood of unctuous and oleaginous fellowship.It is impossible for the publishers to over-estimate the pleasure which they felt on learning that Messrs. Derry and Toms were willing to join the editorial staff.The news that came a few minutes later to the effect that Mr. Daniel Leno would also put his services at their disposal moved them to transports of gratification; only excelled by the fainting fit of rapture into which they subsided on ascertaining that Messrs. Salmon and Gluckstein’s reluctance to acthad been at length overcome by the tactful intercession of Bishop Welldon.They cannot refrain from pointing out with pardonable pride that their columns contain no fewer than forty million words of text, and that if the entire staff of contributors were placed in a horizontal position, the feet of one touching the head of another, they would extend in unbroken continuity fromDENMARK HILL TO DELHI.Again, if the collective brain avoirdupois of these gifted creatures were placed in the scale it would cause1600 WHITE ELEPHANTSto kick the beam with fatal violence.Having, in duty to ourselves and our contributors, stated these simple but convincing facts, we have only to lift the curtain and invite our myriad subscribers to fall to upon the eupeptic and unparalleled banquet which it has been our privilege to provide.December, 1902.
The publishers cannot permit this modest harbinger of their great enterprise to steal into the world without stating how thoroughly they believe in the excellence of their INSIDECOMPLETUAR, and how intense an emotion of gratitude fills their bosoms towards every one who has helped them in their stupendous production. To editors, advertising agents, compositors, and office-boys alike their hearts go forth in a flood of unctuous and oleaginous fellowship.
It is impossible for the publishers to over-estimate the pleasure which they felt on learning that Messrs. Derry and Toms were willing to join the editorial staff.
The news that came a few minutes later to the effect that Mr. Daniel Leno would also put his services at their disposal moved them to transports of gratification; only excelled by the fainting fit of rapture into which they subsided on ascertaining that Messrs. Salmon and Gluckstein’s reluctance to acthad been at length overcome by the tactful intercession of Bishop Welldon.
They cannot refrain from pointing out with pardonable pride that their columns contain no fewer than forty million words of text, and that if the entire staff of contributors were placed in a horizontal position, the feet of one touching the head of another, they would extend in unbroken continuity from
DENMARK HILL TO DELHI.
Again, if the collective brain avoirdupois of these gifted creatures were placed in the scale it would cause
1600 WHITE ELEPHANTS
to kick the beam with fatal violence.
Having, in duty to ourselves and our contributors, stated these simple but convincing facts, we have only to lift the curtain and invite our myriad subscribers to fall to upon the eupeptic and unparalleled banquet which it has been our privilege to provide.
December, 1902.