definite purpose; it would be more true to say with several definite purposes.  For this very reason it is not an artistic triumph as the two “Alice” books undoubtedly are; it is on a lower literary level, there is no unity in the story.  But from a higher standpoint, that of the Christian and the philanthropist, the book is the best thing he ever wrote.  It is a noble effort to uphold the right, or what he thought to be the right, without fear of contempt or unpopularity.  The influence which his earlier books had given him he was determined to use in asserting neglected truths.

[Illustration:  The Late Duke of Albany. From a photograph by Lewis Carroll.]

Of course the story has other features, delightful nonsense not surpassed by anything in “Wonderland,” childish prattle with all the charm of reality about it, and pictures which may fairly be said to rival those of Sir John Tenniel.  Had these been all, the book would have been a great success.  As things are, there are probably hundreds of readers who have been scared by the religious arguments and political discussions which make up a large part of it, and who have never discovered that Sylvie is just as entrancing a personage as Alice when you get to know her.

Perhaps the sentiment of the following poem, sent to Lewis Carroll by an anonymous correspondent, may also explain why some of “Alice’s” lovers have given “Sylvie” a less warm welcome:—­

      TO SYLVIE.

      Ah!  Sylvie, winsome, wise and good! 
      Fain would I love thee as I should. 
      But, to tell the truth, my dear,—­
      And Sylvie loves the truth to hear,—­
      Though fair and pure and sweet thou art,
      Thine elder sister has my heart! 
      I gave it her long, long ago
      To have and hold; and well I know,
      Brave Lady Sylvie, thou wouldst scorn
      To accept a heart foresworn.

Lovers thou wilt have enow Under many a greening bough—­ Lovers yet unborn galore, Like Alice all the wide world o’er; But, darling, I am now too old To change.  And though I still shall hold Thee, and that puckling sprite, thy brother, Dear, I cannot love another:  In this heart of mine I own She must ever reign alone!

      March, 1890.

      N.P.

I do not know N.P.’s name and address, or I should have asked leave before giving publicity to the above verses.  If these words meet his eye, I hope he will accept my most humble apologies for the liberty I have taken.

At the beginning of 1894 a Baptist minister, preaching on the text, “No man liveth to himself,” made use of “Sylvie and Bruno” to enforce his argument.  After saying that he had been reading that book, he proceeded as follows: