This programme has been carried out to the letter, and every prize awarded and paid to the value of OVER $10,000; since in the multiplicity of contributors and contributions some few were omitted in the first allotment of prizes.

In consequence of the great apparent value of this unique collection, and a very large number of requests for their publication, HEART THROBS is now offered to American readers.

It should be remembered that this collection of short poems, essays, anecdotes, apothegms and stories has been gleaned from a vast mass of contributions, every one of which had been set aside and especially preserved by the contributor because in some way it had appealed with unusual force to the affections, hopes, experience, fancy, judgment or interests of the sender, and become dear to the heart; in short a veritable "heart throb" of the contributor.

It would have been too much to expect that every one of the myriads of clippings and copyings would be a gem of literary excellence and refined taste; but every one was the chosen treasure of a human heart, endeared to it by the pleasure, encouragement, or consolation, with which its few printed or written words had, like the spell of the ancient magician, evoked blooming spring, radiant summer or fruitful autumn out of the lowering and chilling wintry days of human life. It should also be remembered that, unlike previous collections made by one or more scholarly editors, or compilers, this volume is made up of selections, nearly every one of which was accompanied by a personal letter telling of the circumstances or incidents which had endeared it to the sender. Many of these selections were yellow with age, worn threadbare, and carefully repaired and strengthened; odorous with lavender, rose and orris; stained with tears; printed on silk, or deftly limned and illum. inated, and is otherwise self-proven to be of a heart's treasure-trove.

It scarcely needed the letters, often written by toil-stiffened and age-trembling hands, to tell of the sacred memories recalled by these little scraps of written or printed paper, or of the helpful, hopeful lives which had been strengthened and uplifted by their silent ministrations. These letters were indeed oftentimes the real "heart throbs," revealing the normal ambitions and aspirations of the American people in all the vocations and walks of life, and their dominant note was that fearless optimism which has faith

that in the end all will be well. Love, patriotism, faith, hope, charity, lofty aims and noble purposes; an honest reverence for al family ties and affections; a manly and womanly regret for failure to do the very best that is in us; a deep and tender sense of bereavement blended with the noblest resignation in the hope of a blessed and immortal life; these and such as these are patent, not only in the matters contributed, but even more frankly and feelingly in the letters containing them.

Thus of two universally known poems, one wrote: "Longfellow's 'Psalm of Life,' although worn by years of use in text-books, is still full of inspiration." And another enclosing the noble threnody on "Resignation" said feelingly: "Occasions when such poems are applicable to our own experience, make them immortal to us. These lines are fixed in my heart forever, as they fell, beautifully modulated, from the lips of a pure-hearted, sympathetic lady, at a memorial service in honor of my deceased cousin, a girl of eighteen summers, the companion of my boyhood." Many expressions were too personal, tender and sacred for publication, but their testimony to the immense value of every noble song and utterance in encouraging and inciting men to righteous, courageous and hopeful living and dying, was a mighty revelation to all who took part in the work of reading and comparing this wonderful tribute of the heart-treasures of fifty thousand American readers. They might, and often did grow weary of reading, comparing and filing the immense flood of correspondence and selections, but no one regretted the wonderful opportunity afforded them to see and know the tender, romantic, chivalrous, hopeful, patriotic, enduring virtues which underlie the apparently material and sordid aims so largely ascribed to the men of today.

The larger proportion of contributors from the Eastern and Middle States favored the standard poets of the 18th and 19th centuries, with a decided inclination toward American illuminati; the South drew largely on the romantic and chivalrous school of antebellum days; and the Western, Northwestern and Pacific States were more breezy, virile and original in the choice of topics and method of treatment. All sections, however, joined in seeking to make "household words" of selections from Eugene Field, James Whitcomb Riley, Ben King, Nixon Waterman, Frank L. Stanton, Bret Harte, Joaquin Miller, Margaret Sangster, Ella Wheeler Wilcox,

Hezekiah Butterworth, John Boyle O'Reilly, David Bates, J. G. Holland, Eliza Cooke, and others living or dead, who in the years to come will be numbered with the great singers of their age and people. There could be mighty essays written upon this simple contest and the lessons it has taught and will continue to inculcate for years to come; but the book itself, will teach them, without much need of comment or explanation. He who reads it understandingly will learn what thoughts and sentiments move the hearts of a people, who for the most part have a simple love for "Mother, Home and Heaven", which only needs to be fittingly appealed to, to evoke a hearty and generous response.

There be many who affect more artificial, and "advanced" views of life and duty; for among eighty millions, the vast sea of public opinion must be foam-tipped, as well as underlain by ooze and decaying matter, but the mighty depths are crystalline, pure, and unvexed, moving only with the great currents which mitigate the rigors of heat and cold, and keep the universe sweet and beautiful forever. But little of this more artificial literature will be found in this collection; not because it has been ignored, but because it was not largely represented. Agnosticism, destructive evangelism; the iconoclasm of faith, may attract attention, but do not awaken the loving loyalty of Anglo-Saxon, Celt and Norseman, and the races who have affiliated with these to build up the American people. The judges have not always decided, according to the arbitrary standards of literary taste and elegance, but have rather sought out the latent, earnest emotions of myriads of the readers of the NATIONAL; of the people, as a people meeting and communing on a common ground of human sympathy. Their choice reflects, in my opinion, the heart value of a vast number of selections from contemporary literature, and that heart-value is in the end the supreme test by which men and art must fail or become immortal.

If this book affords the reader the pleasure and inspiration its creation has afforded to its contributors and compilers it will richly repay the heavy cost, in time, labor and expense, involved in its preparation.

It is certain that such sentiment and humor are dear to all Americans, and these heart throbs of the sons and daughters of the people are the pulse beats of the nation.

JOE MITCHELL CHAPPLE.

ANENT COPYRIGHTS

The publishers of this book claim no title by copyright in its contents, except what right of use has been given them by the lapse of time, publication without copyright protection, and what rights have been conveyed to them by the courtesy of author and publisher.

They regret to announce the utter refusal of the publishers of the poems of Ella Wheeler Wilcox to allow us to publish "You Never Can Tell," "Death Has Crowned Him as a Martyr," "Laugh and the World Laughs With You," and "Worth While." These were deemed worthy of awards by the judges. The publishers of Mr. Frank L. Stanton's "A Little Hand," "Here's Hopin'," and the "Moneyless Man," also refused permission, which we must plead as our excuse for substituting others for these few prize winners. The author of Van Dyke's noble poem, "God of the Open Air," courteously gave permission, but his publishers would not consent.

Perhaps should a second volume be compiled out of the thousands of interesting and curious poems, novelettes and articles left to select from these may be eventually granted to our readers. It only remains to thank and protect those who have so kindly and happily aided us in our difficult task.

All the following articles, protected by existing copyright, are used by the consent of the owners; i. e., the publishers or authors named, or their representatives, who reserve all their rights. The following copyrights claim the above protection:

Houghton, Mifflin & Co., Boston; Alice Cary, "Pictures of Memory," "Love," "Nobility"; Henry W. Longfellow, "The Arrow and the Song," "The Day Is Done." "Resignation," "Á Psalm of Life," "Fame," "The Rainy Day"; Oliver Wendell Holmes' poems, "The Boys." "The Chambered Nautilus," "The Crooked Foot Path," "Old Ironsides," "Pluck"; J. Russell Lowell's poems, "The Present Crisis." " "Spring" and "June" in "The Vision of Sir Launfal"; Thos. Bailey Aldrich's poem, A Persian Lovesong"; Mrs. Margaret E. Sangster's poems, "Sins of Omission," "Song for the Flag," "Our Own"; Edgar Allen Poe's poem, "The Raven"; Robert Browning's poem, "Breast Forward"; Bret Harte's poem, "Master Johnnie's Next Door Neighbor"; John G. Whittier's poems, "Barbara Frietchie," "Forgiveness"; John G. Saxe's poem, "The Story of Life"; Edmund Clarence Stedman's poem, "The Door Step"; John Hay's poems, "Little Breeches," "Jim Bludso," "The Stirrup Cup"; Bayard Taylor's poem, A June Morning"; Adelaide Procter's poems, "The Lost Chord," "Per Patrem ad Lucem": Edward Rowland Sill's poem, The Fool's Prayer"; Lucy Larcom's poem,

"A Mountain Pastoral."

The Bobbs-Merrill Co., publishers, Indianapolis, Ind., grant special permission: James Whitcomb Riley's poems, "A Song." " Afterwhile," Away." in "After whiles." Copyright 1898; "Days Gone By," in "Pipes O' Pan, at Zekesbury," copyright 1888; "Let Something Good Be said," "The Old Band," in "Home Folks," copyright 1900. "In a Friendly Sort O' Way," supposed by same author, not located under that title. Mrs. Julia Ward Howe: "The Battle Song of the Republic," in "Songs of the Nation." Silver, Burdett & Co.

Rev. Henry Van Dyke: "Footpaths to Peace." Copyright reserved by the Outlook Company.

Edmund Vance Cooke, author of "Chronicles of the Little Tot" and "Rimes to be Read," Dodge Publishing Co., New York City, and "Impertinent Poems," Forbes & Co., Chicago, Ill.; the latter contains poem, "How Did You Die."

Joaquin Milier: "The Bravest Battle." "Columbus," "For Those Who Fall," "Is It Worth While?" All are taken from the complete works of Joaquin Miller. Copyrighted and published by The Whitaker & Ray Company, San Francisco, Cal.

Miss Frances E. Willard's poem, "While We May." Published in The Independent

"What

Nixon Waterman's poems: "The Empire Ship," "A Rose to the Living,” Have We Done Today," "To Know All Is to Forgive All," "Doctor Good Cheer's Remedy." All published by Forbes & Co., Chicago, Ill.

Hezekiah Butterworth's poems: "The Broken Pinion," "Lincoln's Heart," "The Taber."

Elizabeth Akers' poem: "Rock Me to Sleep," in "Sunset Songs and Other Verses." Lothrop, Lee & Shepard.

Richard Burton's poem: "Black Sheep," in "Lyrics of Brotherhood." Lothrop, Lee & Shepard, Boston.

Charles M. Dickinson's poem: "The Children," (generally ascribed by contributors to Charles Dickens).

Robert J. Burdette, Pasadena, Cal., poems: Movin'."

Sarah K. Bolton's poem: "The Inevitable."

"Alone," "Keep Sweet and Keep

Geo. D. Prentice, poem, "The Closing Year"; prose, "Where the Rainbow Never Fades," and "Death."

Little, Brown & Co., Boston: Edwin Arnold's poems, "Death in Arabia" (first line "He who died at Azan sends"), in "Pearls of the Faith," "Good Night! Not Good Bye." Collected poems. F. W. Bourdillon's poems, "The Night Hath a Thousand Eyes," "Upon the Valley's Lap." Miss Sarah C. Woolsey's poem, "Begin Again," (Pen name "Susan Coolidge").

James Jeffrey Roche's poem, "The V-A-S-E."

Holman F. Day, Lewiston, Me.: "With Love from Mother."

Mrs. M. L. Dickinson: "Love in the Home," in "Success."

Charles Scribner's Sons, New York, hold copyrights on: J. G. Holland's poem, "Gradatim," H. C. Bunner's "Hide and Seek," Josephine Daskam's "Motherhood" (in Century Magazine), and give special permission for their use.

Ben King's Verse, "Nothing to Do but Work," "Jane Jones," "Her Little Boy." Forbes & Co., Chicago, Ill.

Youth's Companion: Arthur Macy. "The Flag." Lulu Linton, "Watch the Corners," "The Fun in Life." Sarah K. Bolton, "The Inevitable."

Sam Walter Foss: "He Worried About It," "Hullo." "The Volunteer Organist," in "Back Country Poems." Lothrop, Lee & Shepard, Boston.

Walt Whitman: "O Captain! My Captain." Complete poems, etc. Edgar S. Werner & Co., New York City.

Mrs. Ellen M. H. Gates: "Beautiful Hands," "Your Mission," "Sleep Sweet," in "Treasures of Kurium." G. P. Putnam's Sons, New York.

Alfred J. Waterhouse: "To the Man Who Fails."

Edwin Carlile Litsey: "Dreams Ahead."

Lothrop, Lee & Shepard: Charles Follen Adams, "Leedle Yawcob Strauss"; James Creelman's "McKinley's Dying Prayer," in "On the Road."

The authors whose works are not connected with the publication of the above-named firms, are duly credited so far as is known with their respective articles.

It has been a much greater task to learn the names and rights of authors and publishers than one would readily imagine, and if errors have crept in, it is not the wilful fault of

THE COMPILER.