THE MARRYERS
A History Gathered from a Brief of The Honorable Socrates Potter
By Irving Bacheller
Illustrated
Harper and Brothers Publishers New York and London
MCMXIV
OFFICE OF SOCRATES POTTER
Pointview, Conn.
To the Honorable Judges of Decency and Good Behavior the World Over:
My friend, the novelist, has prevailed upon me to write this brief in behalf of my country and against certain feudal tendencies therein. I have tried to tell the truth, but with that moderation which becomes a lawyer of my age 'and experience. It is bad manners to give a guest more wine than he can carry or more truth than he can believe. In these pages there is enough wine, I hope, for the necessary illusion, and enough truth, I know, for the satisfaction of my conscience. I hasten, to add that there is not enough of wine or truth to stagger those who are not accustomed to the use of-either. I warned the novelist that nothing could be more unfortunate for me than that I should betray a talent for fiction. He assures me that my reputation is not in danger.
CONTENTS
I.—IN WHICH MR. POTTER PRESENTS THE SINGULAR DILEMMA OF WHITFIELD NORRIS, MULTIMILLIONAIRE
II.—MY INTERVIEW WITH THE PIRATE
III.—IN WHICH A MAN IS SEEN HOLDING DOWN THE BUSHEL THAT HIDES HIS LIGHT
IV.—A RATHER SWIFT ADVENTURE WITH THE PIRATE
V.—IN WHICH WE HAVE AN AMUSING VOYAGE
VI.—WE ARRIVE IN THE LAND OF LOVE AND SONG
VII.—IN WHICH I TEACH THE DIFFICULT ART OF BEING AN AMERICAN IN ITALY
VIII.—I AGREE TO FIGHT A DUEL AND NAME A WEAPON WITH WHICH EUROPEAN GENT