from possible future dedications by
various authors:--

_Mr. H.G. WELLS to the Bishop of LONDON._

As I have seen it stated in various journals that you are the author of my
book, _The Soul of a Bishop_, I hereby take the opportunity of informing
your Lordship most definitely and emphatically that you are _not_. That
book and also _The Passionate Friends_ were written without any assistance
from the episcopal bench. To avoid future misunderstanding I may say that
all my books are written by myself. If at any time it is suggested that any
publication of your Lordship has been written by me, I shall be glad if you
will immediately issue a contradiction.

_Mr. BERNARD SHAW to the Editor of "The Morning Post."_

You have not written my books. You have not written my plays. Any statement
to the contrary is an infamous falsehood. No one else, dead or alive, could
ever have written anything which I have written. When I have become an
imbecile, which is not likely to happen yet, as I am a vegetarian and do
not read your rag, it will be time enough for other people to lay claim to
my work. Nor have I ever assisted you in conducting that which you call a
paper, nor have I ever written an editorial for its columns. Please let
this matter have your futile attention.

_Miss DAISY ASHFORD to Lord HALDANE._

If I did not believe your Lordship to be really innosent I should be very
vexed with you. But let me explain. I have heard it said in reliable
quarters that you are the auther of _The Young Visiters_. Oh, my Lord! my
Lord! I thought everybody knew by now that no one helped me even to spell a
word. I have read your Lordship's books with pleasure and of course realise
their promise. But it is all very diferent stuff from _The Young Visiters_.
Please in the future disclaim all credit for giving me my idears, and in
return I can assure you that your skemes for the better education of the
people shall have my enthoosiastic suport.

_Mr. ARNOLD BENNETT to The Man in the Street._

The last thing that I wish is that you should he misunderstood; all my life
I have laboured to explain you to yourself. That my explanation has pleased
you is shown by the fact that you buy my books. But you have commenced to
give yourself airs, my man, and it is time you were put in your place. My
books are so much to your taste that you have been led to believe yourself
the author. Now please understand my books are written _for_ you and not
_by_ you.