Kind Friends:--"The Story of Chicago" is Major Kirkland's masterpiece. He has comprehended what envious New York has called the "Windy City," but which is in reality the Magic City, not only of America but of the world. Whoever helps to put this book under eyes that have not been blessed by its fair, inspiring pages and choice photogravures has helped to increase the sum of human happiness, for as the brain of man is creation's masterpiece so Chicago is the planet's whispering gallery of whatever is most hopeful, progressive and inspiring to humanity. Her history is the epic of the Great Lakes and the wonder-book of the prairies. Long may its crisp pages rustle in the breeze. Frances E. Willard. 137 West 78th Street, } New York, July 12th, 1892. } Dear Mr. Dibble: When you prevailed upon Major Kirkland to write the "Story of Chicago." you displayed once more your acumen. You induced the brilliant author of "Zury" to forego his imaginative work for a while, and to devote his talent to the narration of an "o'er true tale"--a tale, however, as strange and absorbing as any romance. I know he will get his reward, and I hope you will get yours. But let me compliment you, heartily, upon the book itself, and upon the liberality and taste with which you have illustrated it. Every American is proud of Chicago, of her history, her great ambition, her financial and intellectual progress. Her record is faithfully set forth in your handsome volume. Whoever designs to visit Chicago and the Columbian Exposition should own and thoroughly read "The Story." Ever sincerely yours, Edmund C. Stedman. Following the good practice of "letting other men do the talking," here are some of the countless public praises which came crowding in after the publication of each of the three novels: KIRKLAND'S THREE NOVELS. [Illustration: O]NE NOVEL ("Zury") tells of life on Zury's farm, and another ("The McVeys") tells of life at Springville and early Chicago, with glimpses of Lincoln, Douglas, David Davis, etc., and bring together Zury and Anne Sparrow, the hero and heroine of both novels: Of these two books Hamlin Garland in _The Boston Transcript_ says: