Yawcob Strauss and Other Poems/Preface
PREFACE.
In presenting a complete volume of his poems, the author would call attention to the fact that the first part of the book, to page 145 inclusive, consists of his first collection of poems, with their original illustrations, published under the title "Leedle Yawcob Strauss, and Other Poems," in 1878. The poems immediately following, to page 255 inclusive, comprised the second volume, entitled "Dialect Ballads, by Yawcob Strauss," published in 1888. The additional poems are those that have been written since the latter date. In the preface of his first book the author alluded to the crudities incident to a writer's first collection of poems, particularly when that writer was a business man, moving only in the mercantile world. While the issue of an abridged edition would, perhaps, at this time be the wiser course to pursue, the author has concluded to present his work, as originally written, leaving the reader to cull the wheat from the chaff, if, perchance, the wheat may be in evidence. All of the illustrations contained in this book are by "Boz" (Mr. Morgan J. Sweeney), to whom the author feels largely indebted for his invaluable coöperation.
July, 1910.
