The greater part of the contents of this volume is published in admirable form by A. M. Robertson, of San Francisco, with the title The Shadow on the Dial and Other Essays. When the prospectus of Mr. Bierce’s Collected Works was issued by our house in 1908 no allowance was made for this matter, but through the generosity of Mr. Robertson, and of Mr. S. O. Howes, the book’s compiler and editor, we are now able to include it in our scheme, with revisions and additions by the author. For this courtesy we are greatly indebted to Messrs. Robertson and Howes.

The Neale Publishing Company.

April, 1912.

• The Shadow on the Dial
• Civilization
• The Game of Politics
• A Possible Benefactor
• Warlike America
• Some Features of the Law
• Arbitration
• The Gift o’ Gab
• Natura Benigna
• Industrial Discontent
• Writers of Dialect
• Crime and Its Correctives
• On Knowing One’s Business
• A Trade of Refuge
• The Death Penalty
• Religion
• Immortality
• ...