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DOCTOR JONES' PICNIC
BY
S.E. CHAPMAN, M.D.
SAN FRANCISCO
THE WHITAKER & RAY CO.
PUBLISHERS
Copyrighted 1898, by
S.E. CHAPMAN, M.D.
All Rights Reserved
PREFACE.
I must confess that I offer this romance to the reading public with nolittle trepidation. I am fully aware of having transcended the ordinaryrules and paths of legitimate romance, and that I have presumed tobroach fearlessly the deep things of God. The scope of the work isinfinitely beyond the remotest thought of the writer when he began thislabor; but as it grew, deepened and broadened upon his hands from day today, like Noah's dove he could find no rest for the sole of his foot,and found it impossible to stop short of the Millennium.
The author is ready to substantiate the marvelous cures performed by Dr.Jones, for they are cases from practice. One of the objects of this workis to stimulate scientific investigation of the law of cure which guidedthe worthy Doctor in his selection of the remedy in a given case.
As to whether Silver Cloud and her achievements be possible or not, I amnot specially concerned. And whether there are air currents in the"upper deep," as described within these pages, is a matter of little orno consequence. We are desirous of being fair and magnanimous, and willlet the burden of proof rest upon the "other fellow."
When we come to the consideration of the means by which the grand finalewas brought about, then I stand by my colors, and claim to havedelineated the only way "out of the woods" for the suffering world. And,further, the denouement is but the inevitable result of the adoption ofGolden Ruleism by the world.
No thinking man can fail to see that there is something fearfully andradically wrong in this world of ours. The few are getting too much, andthe millions are getting far too little. The cry of the poor fills theearth, and many are the plans that have been devised for the relief ofthe innumerable sufferers; but there is an essential defect in each ofthem, nor is there relief to be obtained short of the power of AlmightyGod. This is fully comprehended in what we have been pleased to callGolden Ruleism, in the 2nd and 3d volumes.
Many students and writers upon the signs of the times take an extremelypessimistic view of the situation, and believe that we shall witness"blood to the horses' bridles." No one can deny that things aredesperately bad, and that something must be done soon to relieve thestrain or the very worst may be apprehended; yet the author prefers tosee things through optimistic eyes, and believes that God will raise upa Moses, (or Doctor Jones, if you please,) who will lead us to a higherand better state than this world has yet ever known. The old adage 'Itis always darkest just before dawn,' is beautifully applicable to thepresent state of the world. So I take courage and launch my book outupon the tempestuous sea of humanity, trusting that it may be welcomedas the harbinger of a better and happier era. I am sure that it bears tothe world the olive branch of peace.
As is usual with prefaces, this one is anticipatory and can only beappreciated after one has perused the book. So I make the request of thereader that he re-read it after having become acquainted with the schemeand scope of the work.
This volume is to be immediately followed by volumes two and three,which complete the set.
S.E. CHAPMAN, M.D.
Napa, Cal., Dec. 13th, 1897.