the literary shop was first printed in book form in the fall of 1894, nearly five years ago. some of its constituent papers had already appeared in the pages of truth and puck. to the present edition have been added the sketches that deal with life and letters in the mcclure village of syndicate. this model literary community was established about four years ago, on a convenient and healthful rise of ground overlooking the hackensack river, which is navigable at that point. it has a population of several hundred poets and prose hands, all of whom are regularly employed on the magazine and the newspaper syndicate controlled by mr. s. s. mcclure. these sketches are reprinted by permission from the new york journal and the criterion.

new york, march 8, 1899.

j. l. f.