"The preparation of my Father's biography has been undertaken as a sacred trust. Early in the spring of 1894 he was asked by an old friend for permission to issue a biography with his approval. This my Father declined to do, and, on that occasion, expressed the wish that I should assume the task when his life-work was ended. In reply to my objection that such an undertaking demanded a literary experience that I did not possess, he said: 'I don't care anything about that. What I want is that you should correct inaccuracies and misstatements that it would be difficult to straighten out during my life. You are the one to do this. All my friends will unite on you and give you their assistance. There are many who think they know me better than any one else, and would feel themselves best able to interpret my life. IF you do not do this work there will be many inaccurate and conflicting 'Lives.'" --From the Introduction.