Page:Diary of a Pilgrimage (1891).pdf/7



Said a friend of mine to me some months ago: "Well now, why don't you write a sensible book? I should like to see you make people think."

"Do you believe it can be done, then?" I asked.

"Well, try," he replied.

Accordingly, I have tried. This is a sensible book. I want you to understand that. This is a book to improve your mind. In this book I tell you all about Germany—at all events, all I know about Germany—and the Ober-Ammergau Passion Play. I also tell you about other things. I do not tell you all I know about all these other things, because I do not want to swamp you with knowledge. I wish to teach you gradually. When you have learnt this book, you can come again, and I will tell you some more. I should only be defeating my own object did I, by making you think too much at first, give you a, perhaps, lasting dislike to the exercise. I have purposely put the matter in a light and attractive form, so that I may secure the attention