The Dragon of Wantley: His Tale

Due to the nature of illustrations, this file is best viewed in Firefox 3 or Internet Explorer 7. The illustrations might appear slightly shifted in other browsers. THE DRAGON OF WANTLEY HIS TALE By Owen Wister Illustrations by John Stewardson SECOND EDITION Philadelphia J B LIPPINCOTT COMPANY 1895 COPYRIGHT 1892 BY J B LIPPINCOTT COMPANY PRINTED BY J B LIPPINCOTT COMPANY PHILADELPHIA USA TO MY ANCIENT PLAYMATES IN APPIAN WAY CAMBRIDGE THIS LIKELY STORY IS DEDICATED FOR REASONS BEST KNOWN TO THEMSELVES When Betsinda held the Rose And the Ring decked Giglio’s finger Thackeray! ’twas sport to linger With thy wise, gay-hearted prose. Books were merry, goodness knows! When Betsinda held the Rose. Who but foggy drudglings doze While Rob Gilpin toasts thy witches, While the Ghost waylays thy breeches, Ingoldsby? Such tales as those Exorcised our peevish woes When Betsinda held the Rose. Realism, thou specious pose! Haply it is good we met thee; But, passed by, we’ll scarce regret thee; For we love the light that glows Where Queen Fancy’s pageant goes, And Betsinda holds the Rose. Shall we dare it? Then let’s close Doors to-night on things statistic, Seek the hearth in circle mystic, Till the conjured fire-light shows Where Youth’s bubbling Fountain flows, And Betsinda holds the Rose. We two—the author and his illustrator—did not know what we had done until the newspapers told us. But the press has explained it in the following poised and consistent criticism: “Too many suggestions of profanity.” — Congregationalist , Boston, 8 Dec. ’92. “It ought to be the delight of the nursery.” — National Tribune , Washington, 22 Dec. ’92. “Grotesque and horrible.” — Zion’s Herald , Boston, 21 Dec. ’92. “Some excellent moral lessons.” — Citizen , Brooklyn, 27 Nov. ’92. “If it has any lesson to teach, we have been unable to find it.” — Independent , New York, 10 Nov. ’92. “The story is a familiar one.” — Detroit Free Press , 28 Nov. ’92. “Refreshingly novel.” — Cincinnati Commercial Gazette , 17 Dec. ’92. “It is a burlesque.” — Atlantic Monthly , Dec. ’92. “All those who love lessons drawn from life will enjoy this — Christian Advocate , Cincinnati, 2 Nov. ’92. “The style of this production is difficult to define.” — Court Journal , London, 26 Nov. ’92. “One wonders why writer and artist should put so much labor on…