he cost of reproducing them。
But making the investigations was not all。 After these came the writing of the work itself； whereof the articles only formed the foundation。 This occupied the best part of another year of most incessant and careful application； for here every fact must be checked。 It was the very antithesis to that involved in the position of novels； where the imagination has free play。 Here I may add that of the recorded results of these hundreds of interviews and statements made upon the individual authority of the persons seen； or from observation of the matters investigated； not one wrong。 The manager of the Great Eastern Railway took exception to some of the carriage rates quoted by an informant； for which I was not responsible。 Also one gentleman who had invited me to inspect his farm spoke of “minor inaccuracies and blemishes” in the account I gave thereof。 In nearly twelve hundred closely printed pages that； I am proud to say； is all。
The work was well received； although of course there were those who found fault。 Everyone has his own ideas as to how such a thing should be done； though those who try to do it are few indeed。 I too had my idea； which was to arrive at the truth out of the mouths of many witnesses。 I desired to set down the facts as they were at the beginning of the twentieth century； not as they had been in the past or would possibly be in the future； or as people with various theories and political views would like to see them。 I wished to preserve a large body of incontestable evidence for the benefit of future generations。 Since that day things； I am glad to say； have changed a little — not very much — for the better； and if I were to undertake such a task afresh — which Heaven forbid！ — I might write otherwise on