It is not the function of the biographer any more than it is that of a dentist to prettify his subject.

"Let no one think that they can force me to prettify my types," he said.

There is no need to prettify the record; the record, as it stands, in all its crude natural colors, is good enough.

I must send him a little box at Christmas,—some little things to trim up his new house and prettify it.