2
5. 2
The Author's Introduction.
I have written these verses, knowing from long experience that in times of great emotion there are many people who like to read of sad events, especially in the medium of metrical language, and such work in rhyme is often more valued, by the "popular reader" in the houses of the people, than the best prose des- cription, and many readers, not too critical, will keep a small book like this when eloquent press-records are put aside.
In addition, most of those who have had copies of these verses, have desired to see these "Records in Rhyme," in book-form to keep in memory of the saddest of sea tragedies.
I claim no poetic power in these verses, so that critics on the look-out for master-pieces will not find them here, but, with a rather wide personal knowledge of "the people," I beg to say that the clear, easily comprehended "rhyme" is generally more treasured by "the masses" than sonnets that may be immortal, but are for "the few."