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<br/>
<h2> PREFACE </h2>
<h3> FROM THE PREFACE TO THE ENGLISH EDITION OF “MARK TWAIN’S SKETCHES” </h3>
<p>If I were to sell the reader a barrel of molasses, and he, instead of
sweetening his substantial dinner with the same at judicious intervals,
should eat the entire barrel at one sitting, and then abuse me for making
him sick, I would say that he deserved to be made sick for not knowing any
better how to utilize the blessings this world affords. And if I sell to
the reader this volume of nonsense, and he, instead of seasoning his
graver reading with a chapter of it now and then, when his mind demands
such relaxation, unwisely overdoses himself with several chapters of it at
a single sitting, he will deserve to be nauseated, and he will have nobody
to blame but himself if he is. There is no more sin in publishing an
entire volume of nonsense than there is in keeping a candy-store with no
hardware in it. It lies wholly with the customer whether he will injure
himself by means of either, or will derive from them the benefits which
they will afford him if he uses their possibilities judiciously.</p>
<p>Respectfully submitted,</p>
<p>THE AUTHOR.</p>
<p>MARK TWAIN’S SPEECHES<br/></p>
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