Illus Popular Biog Of Connecti PDF Download

Excerpt from Illustrated Popular Biography of Connecticut To each, of the individuals thus designated a personal invitation was extended to appear in the proposed volume, the scope and character of which were fully described and explained. Each recipient of the invitation was requested to furnish data from which an accurate biography of himself might be prepared, and to provide a photograph from which a vignette portrait might be made, for publication in the book. The invitation was a cordial one, but no effort was made to induce anybody to accept it against his wishes. Of the two thousand persons thus invited, about seven hundred accepted unconditionally and furnished the information sought. These seven hundred are included in the present volume. Others desired to appear in the book, but imposed conditions which could not be complied with, - such as that the portrait should be a full-page steel plate; or that the sketch should carry an advertisement of the subject's business; and in one case a gentleman who has a local reputation for writing poetry insisted that sundry specimens of his verse must accompany the sketch. Others declined the invitation for various reasons, principally on the score of "modesty"; and still others would have nothing to do with the matter because they had the impression that somehow they were going to be swindled. Of the entire list fully one-half never responded to the invitation. As will be observed, however, the favorable responses were enough to render the volume sufficiently formidable in size, thoroughly comprehensive in character, and representative of every section of the State. It is a good beginning of an effort the principal object of which has been to familiarize the people of Connecticut with the qualities, the characteristics, the accomplishments, and the features of their fellow-citizens who are or have been leaders and chief burden-bearers in all the active duties of life. To fully accomplish the work thus begun, and similarly present the numerous subjects yet remaining, would require and perhaps may occasion the issue of succeeding volumes. Reference has already been made incidentally to the Popular feature of this compilation; wherein it differs, as it was intended to differ, essentially, from all other compilations of State biography that have heretofore been made in this country. The term Popular in this connection is intended in its best sense - as opposed to Exclusive. This is not the biography of a class, or a sect, or a party, but of the People. Its subjects are selected from all walks of life; and while the list includes some names of world-wide celebrity, and many of great distinction in the State, it embraces also others unknown to fame beyond perhaps the limits of their own neighborhood, yet among the most honorable and in their sphere the most useful citizens of the Commonwealth. It may be safely stated that there is absolutely no other published collection that includes fifty, even, of the seven hundred sketches which are spread upon these pages; yet for the purposes of a reference book of the citizens of Connecticut, to be consulted for information concerning people who are prominent in their respective spheres of activity, the least of all these could not have been omitted from this volume without abridging its usefulness and impairing its value. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com