Nat Goodwin's Book

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Nat C. Goodwin
NAT GOODWIN'S BOOK BY NAT C. GOODWIN ILLUSTRATED BOSTON RICHARD G. BADGER THE GORHAM PRESS TORONTO: COPP CLARK COMPANY LIMITED
Copyright, 1914 By Nat C. Goodwin and Richard G. Badger All rights reserved

In penning memoirs or autobiographing it is extremely difficult to avoid writing impersonally, yet I shall strive to avoid it as much as possible, not so much from a sense of duty as from a standpoint of mercy.
I have never enjoyed reading about myself and I am firmly convinced that there are few who have. Perhaps, if I am tempted during this review to give myself an opinion of myself, it may be received with favor even by those critics who have never agreed with any of my characterizations.
I started this little work with some degree of terror. I had such a poor background to frame my somewhat checkered career upon. I fully realized that a man must be a very great person, or at least imagine himself to be, to write an autobiography. But finally after listening to the advice of friends I approached myself, albeit surprised at my temerity. After having read many autobiographies I discovered that most nearly-great persons who indulge in the dissipation of giving to the world their opinions of themselves were either born in dilapidated garrets or on unproductive farms.