This book records the history of little more than the events of one year out of the twenty-four years of my life. Why do I undertake such an employment as this? Perhaps, because I think that my narrative may do some good and because I hope that it may be put to some constructive use. I will relate the story of an error, innocent in its beginning, guilty in its progress, and fatal in its results. I would hope that my true record will show that this error was not committed altogether without excuse.