Diary of a Pilgrimage

Transcribed from the 1919 J. W. Arrowsmith Ltd. edition by David Price, email ccx074@pglaf.org. Proofed by Andrew Wallace, email andy@linxit.demon.co.uk.
by JEROME K. JEROME
author of “the idle thoughts of an idle fellow,” “stageland” “three men in a boat,” etc.
Illustrations by g. g. fraser
BRISTOL J. W. Arrowsmith Ltd., Quay Street LONDON Simpkin, Marshall, Hamilton, Kent & Co. Limited
First Edition , April , 1891. Reprinted , June , 1891. Reprinted , December , 1891. Reprinted , February , 1892. Reprinted , February , 1895. Reprinted , September , 1896. Reprinted , December , 1897. Reprinted , January , 1899. Reprinted , September , 1900. Reprinted , October , 1902. Reprinted , October , 1903. Reprinted , January , 1904. Reprinted , October , 1905. Reprinted , March , 1907. Reprinted , February , 1909. Reprinted , February , 1910. Reprinted , November , 1911. Reprinted , February , 1914. Reprinted , December , 1916. Second Edition , December , 1919.
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 lead 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 of the young and the frivolous. I do not want them to notice, as they go on, that they are being instructed; and I have, therefore, endeavoured to disguise from them, so far as is practicable, that this is either an exceptionally clever or an exceptionally useful work. I want to do them good without their knowing it. I want to do you all good—to improve your minds and to make you think, if I can.