Transcriber's Note: The original book contained decorative borders and illustrated dropcaps. To view these, see the html version of the book. Remaining transcriber's notes are at the end of the book. * * * * * LETTERS OF PEREGRINE PICKLE BY GEORGE P. UPTON. "_This, That and the Other._" CHICAGO: THE WESTERN NEWS COMPANY, 121 and 123 State Street. 1869 Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1869, by THE WESTERN NEWS COMPANY, In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States, for the Northern District of Illinois. PRINTED BY J. WADDINGTON, 121 MADISON STREET, CHICAGO, ILL. TO MY WIFE, WHOSE SYMPATHY AND ENCOURAGEMENT HAVE CONSTANTLY WELCOMED AND FOLLOWED THESE LETTERS, This Volume IS AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATED. _PREFACE._ The contents of this book originally appeared in the columns of the CHICAGO TRIBUNE, in the form of weekly letters, over the _nom de plume_ of "Peregrine Pickle," devoted to matters of gossip and interest in the world of amusement. Necessarily, much of this matter was of an ephemeral nature, which perished with publication. Many of these letters, also, were devoted to topics of a purely local and temporary character, which, at this present date, would possess no interest. I have, therefore, taken care to preserve only such parts of them as have a general bearing, and have arranged them under appropriate heads, with dates at the end of each, as a matter of convenience and reference. These letters were commenced in the early part of the winter of 1866-'67, and have, therefore, reached the very respectable age of nearly three years. Like other children, they are old enough to go alone, and I therefore send them out into the world, richly endowed with my blessings, which is all I have to give them. Should they succeed in the world, I shall be profoundly astonished, as they were born amidst the press and hurry of other editorial duties, and they came into the world scarce half made up. Should they fail, I shall at least have the gratification of showing that Lytton Bulwer was in error in regard to the lexicon of youth.