The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-04-01

This famous Work nae 800
described as ''The Autoo'osiaP ~ ,i,e
Worlds Fair" There u an ".,1t ~
charm about autObi)grdP'''0"' " 'e'i'P' J.,
its simplicity, directnss9, l's',,'a.S y,
knowledge, and richness =. '''e,-'',e ~
If narratio,, can be applied TO the genesis
and dev-Ionin,, of a great event, it be
INC 81 ttr,if,ry interest and unrvaled
instructive power. ..,.,
What a remarkable work would be
history of the pyramids written in this
manner: First, the man ""o o''sind',u
the idea would write Of the earliest crude
conception in his mind, the reasons there
for. the notifications ana developments
Of the nlan and its final adoption by the
pharaoh If his day. Then the officer
who selected the site would tell the story
of the contests OF various Me cities lci
the honor and the reasons Why tRe
great monuments were placed near caro-
Then the architect would present ms
varied tentative plans showing WY the
present imperishabie forms were auop.'d'
to the exclusion Of richer ana more IN
posing styles Of architecture linen inc
builders would have their say, recording
the transportation OF mountains u 9'oiie
over illimitable deserts, the laying Of the
broad and docn foundations, the feats Of
engineering I'm building the upper courses
the disastrous episode OF the lsraelite
slaves marching away under the com
mand Of Moses Then the astronomers
the priests. the royal court officials. could
set forth the relations of the vast granite
piles TO the scientific and public life Of
Egypt. What a chronicle OF marvels that
would be.
or. imagine a history of the battle Of
Waterloo in which Napoleon should eX-
plain his purposes and tactics; Yelling
ton. his arrangements for defence; Ney,
the charge of the French cavalry Vivian
the deeds of the English horsemen,
Grouchy, the delay OF his army In the
fatal distance; y ErOn, the combats and
crumblng Of the French right wing;
Butcher. the rush of the Prussian bri-
gades upon the embattled field: and Cam
bronze. the humiliation Of the old guard.
How indescribably thrilling would b. a
history Of the diet Of worms. written by
the great Emperor. Martin Luther. and
the attending prelates; or Of the cruciiiX-
ion written in detail by ST. Peter. the
doubling Thomas, plate, Caiaphas, and
Mary Magdalene.
When the leading actors in any Of the
worlds great events can plan and labor
and write together concerning the details
Of their achievement. we shall come very
close to the veritabie foundations Of his
tory, and find their annals at once more
worthy and reliable, more piquant and
engrossing than the perfunct0ry work
Of pale students in their lonely Libraries.
The Book of the Builders" IS exactly
such an ideal work in which the Column
ban Fair, the grandest event In the
modern era Of Industrial supremacy and
fc ghrurIQIlH
minute precision and unceasing interest by
the very men who planned and carried II
forward, and brought out Of myriads OF
obstacles an unprecedented success: II is
an inspiring pleasure TO read in the very
words Of the victors. Of grand conceptions
evolved from nothing, of difficulties
removed and obstacles evaded. of depres-
sion, conflict, disaster. perseverance, and
the final majestic triumph, whose fame
fills all the world. The chiefs OF the Fair
have themselves written the varying chap
ters OF the Book of the Builders ;
seventy-five Of the leading artists Of
America have prepared for 1t an immense
number Of choice pictures; and the Col
umbian Memorial Publication Society.
chartered expressly for this work by the
State Of Illinois, with ample financial
equipment, will shortly issue the work.
At great cost the Times has arranged
with the society for a popular edition OF
this remarkable book, expressly for our
own subscribers TO be sold 1T merely
nominal cost The fuller announcements
will be found in our news columns The
Times book will not be a dreary con-
densation, but a skllful epitome mot
greatly reduced I'm size of the costly
Edition de Luxe. written in a picturesque
and instructive style. and containing all
the salient facts and the finest pictures of
the larger work This sumptuous book
sets forth the inuermcst chronicles OF the
wonderful Columbian Fair, as contributed
by its leading projectors and officers and
| it will certainly be an invaluable educa-
| tional and general book Of reference In
/ INV IfIrarx-