Whilst the greatest effort has been made to ensure the quality of this text, due to the historical nature of this content, in some rare cases there may be minor issues with legibility. When this story of my life, or of such portions of my life as present any out-of the-common features, is read, it will be found that I have committed errors of judgment – that I have sinned not only socially, but also against the law of the land. In excuse I can plead but two things – the strength of love; the weakness of human nature.<br><br>If these carry no weight with you, throw the book aside. You are too good for me; I am too human for you. We cannot be friends. Read no further.<br><br>I need say nothing about my childhood; nothing about my boyhood. Let me hurry on to early manhood; to that time when the wonderful dreams of youth begin to leave one; when the impulse which can drive sober reason aside must be, indeed, a strong one; when one has learnt to count the cost of every rash step; when the transient and fitful flames of the boy have settled down to a steady, glowing fire which will burn until only ashes are left; when the strength, the nerve, the intellect, is or should be at its height; when, in short, one’s years number thirty.