The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-02-04

| tory Tor thiS reason promises 10 De espe
| cially popular with the youth OF the coun-
| try, and, while instructing them, will
please them with the ry-telling way ir
which it is handled throughout. Mr.. Ellis
| believes thoroughly in the inspiring quail
| ties of his country's achievements and In
his Introductory essay says:
The history Of the United States OF America
is the most important section in the annals OF the
| human race. No ether paragraph in the vast
| story Of mankind POSSESSES rich an interest: NJ
other Is so full Of premise, Of prophecy, aud OF
| inspiration
Many great peoples have successfully appeared
in the historical tableau Of the world: but not
the Hindu or the Persian: not the Ehdldee or the
| Greek; not the Egyptian or the Hebrew; not the
Roman or the Celt; not even the Teuton. with
| his prodigious activity and strength, has been
| able, in Asia, in Africa, in Europe. - create
in century. in ages, historical product great
er or more worthy Of admiration than that mag
nifcent result which history has brought as her
trophy in the great American republic.
Concerning the conflict of the '60's, the
historian says in his preface:
As result Of the civil war the national domain
was unified and was speedily divided into prospec-
tive States. Star after star was added to the
national flag, until all the vast Territories Of the
ReIublic except New Mexico Oklahoma. the
Indian Territory. Arizona. and Alaska. ad-
mitted 10 Statehood. The Union became i'm
'ii'Hs'. iHc '"aHiHt ~ Fvpuiation intltu on ilhc
an eycr-broadening rivtr- Mingled with
this strain of progrcss-with this paean Of battle
and ode Of physical triumph--is blended the SYM
phoHy OF social evolution. The nineteenth cen
tury must lie memorable in the annals OF
mankind for the progress which it has made in
the arts aud sciences. The scientific development
Of the new nation has been mos, marvellous Of
all. There are men still living whose lives ante
date the ir>t successful application Of steam TO
water navigation. There are thousands Of men in
the world who can remember the dubious construc-
tion Of the first rude railway. There aye hundreds
Of thousands who can recollect the stupid skepti-
cism Of the world when Morse stretched his first
telegraphic wire from Washington TO Baltimore.
There millions who remember the night
when they first beheld the fash of the electric
light. and saw the darkness dart away like
frightened spectre.
Mr.. Ellis then dilates upon the edu-
cational and humanitarian work of the ma
tion as follows:
1t remained for the States of the American Union
to establish free schools for all. and to provide
facilities before unknown for the industrial and
scientific education Of the people. The nations
of the Old World have been obliged 10 transplant
and initiate our system Of public education. In
like manner new ideals have been followed in the
care OF the unfortunate II must be allowed that
a great and sincere humanity has BEN shown in
the United States for the protection q; those who
have suffered in their lives and fortunes at the
hands Of nature. Here for the blind the asylum
anu Nie ntiit nave mere the uulfiD
have been taught 70 speak and here the cripple
has found a way. Here the insane have been
rescued from the evil spirits that possessed them.
and here the unfortunate defenders OF the Union
have been gathered into comfortable homes in
the midst Of cheerful surroundings, to pass the
remainder of their lives in peaceful meditation.
In predatory way, Mr. Ellis comments
upon the Spanish-American conflict as fol-
lows:
lal ~, -. -
lumbar Exposition of 1893 subsidized, when q COM
pication arose relative TO spsin's administration
in the West Indies. which led to a war between
that country and the United States. 1t canaot
be doubted that the condition of affairs in Cuhs
and the other Spanish dependencies the
American coast had been disgrace TO the mother
country and 10 civilization itself. 1t cannot be
doubted that the cry Of the CubaRs for freedom
md independence was a cry that might well be
heard and needed. 1t cannot be doubted thar the
destruction Of one of our battleships under cir
,umstances of dire suspicion, might well provoke
! hostile and vindictiye answer. In any event
The Spanish.AmeTican war opened and ran its
,ricf but decisive The logical result fol-
owed, and the time-honored but deplorable !
dominion of Spain in the lands and islands dis I
covered by Columbus ended forever.
In concluding his preface, the histo- |
rian declares his purpose by stating that |
the work was undertaken in order to pre- |
sent complete record OF our history as
him in such literary enter
prise is shown by the statement that |
such work is even approximately per- |
the reader shall see reflected |
therein, without shadow or cloud, the !
Incidents of the living drama in Just |
proportion and natural sequence-is
more than the writer may hope fully |
o have attained, though it is not more
han he could wish to accomplish" Like
III works OF its kind, this has its faults,
tut they are minor ones, and the effort,
is whole. is pleasing and commendable.
rhe excerpts that have been made will
i've an inkling of the general character
II the text throughout. The bare details
Il many great events are embellished |
With the language Of romance, which is so
pleasing to the general reader, and which
'ften aids in fixing the facts in the mem
Try.
Mr. Ellis history concludes with an
ppendix including the Declaration of In
dependence. serviceable chronological ia
lie, and a general index, which will prove
ready aid TO those who frequently employ
he work as one for ready reference. The
ixth or last volume is of decided in
crest, as it contains detailed account
4 the Spanish American war, profusely
Illustrated with half-tone engravings from
riginal drawings. Cincinnati: The Jones
Brothers Publishing Company. New York;
Knight & Brown. Washington: r. A. Dins-
more, 621 Seventh Street northwest. Com
lete in six volumes. s27, $40. and $50, ae-
ording to binding)