The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-03-05
RECENT PUBLICATIONS.


One Of the most distinct characteristics
OF modern literature is the tendency to-
wards comprehensive works of an ency-
clopedic character. The tendency seems
TO represent in way the modern demand
for large groupings and broad views of
events and facts as we'll as of principles
and theories. In a sense. it represents the
same movement in literature that mergers
and consultations do in the business world.
One of the most notable products of this
tendency is a new History of the World,
the first volume of which has recently been
brought out in Germany. England and the
United States simultaneously. The enter
prise originated in Germany with the Bib
biographical Institute. The first step was
to find a competent editor for work
that was intended to be the most compre-
hensive of the kind ever proposed, anG
this was done by selecting DR.. ii. +. Hell
mott. distinguished German historian ana
ethnologist. With his aid and advice there
were then selected thirty-two cOllaborators,
all men OF high standing in literary ana
scientific circles in Germany The plan OF
the work contemplates eight large imperial
volumes, of which the first Is at hand. 1t
will differ from all previous works OF the
kind in that. instead of being "A pontlcal
history OF the world, or record Oh wars
ana dynaSt1es, IL will be history OF the
human race on earth-of its beginnings,
its infancy, its development, growth, dis
semination. progress and civilization. II
VIII include all the races and tribes OF
man within its scope, and bring all these
races and tribes into a connection with one
another such as TO display their annals as
an organic whole, tracing the march
of humanity as to display the relation
which each part OF it bears to the others
and TO mt each race and tribe and nation
| into the main narrative. The execution OF
this plan by competent hands and special
/ lists OF almost worldwide renown VIII make
q work of unique character and value. Fol
! lowing is the plan OF the work: Volume /
/ Universal History; Early History; Amer
/ lea: the Pacific Ocean. Volume II
/ Oceania; Eastern Asia; the Indian Ocean.
/ IV-The Mediterranean Nations Volume
F-SOutheastern Europe; the Slavs Vol
ume Nl-GermanS and Romans. Volume
! NII-Western Europe until 1900 Volume
! VIII-Western Europe in the Nineteenth
/ Century; the Atlantic Ocean. For the first
/ time in history of the world this one
will deal fully with the historical signiti-
canoe Of the oceans that link and separate
nations. The decision 10 begin the work
with America was made on ethnographic
/ grounds. A learned German ethnologlst
| says: However much we compare indi-
| vidual characteristics of peoples in similar
stages of civilization we find the inhab-
itantS of America resemble most those VINO
/ dwell westward from them. w hen we look
/ at a map on MercatOr's projection, show
/ ing the earth and its peoples, we ind that
/ the Americans occupy a position on the
J
tant from those whose habitation is on
the eastern edge of the dividing abyss OF
the Atlantic ocean. AS the Eastern part of
/ the Pacifc-American territory of the Rocky
mountains, America is also the east of the
inhabited earth" Thus the history begins
with the American continent. though at d
period long prior TO its inhabitance by hu-
man beings. Some idea of the line of treat
ment may be gathered from the chapter
! headings in the first volume. which are:
! |. The Idea Universal History. Ii. First
| Principles of a History of the Development
| of Mankind III. Man a Life Phenom-
Times V. America. VI The Historical
| Importance of the Pacific Ocean. These
chapters, with a copious index, make Il
volume of over 600 pages, and each sue
/ ceeding volume will be as large. In this
/ volume the history of America and of the
/ United States is brought down to recent
| times In illustrating the work the pub
fishers have adopted the plan of putting
| most of the maps and cuts in a supple
ment instead of inserting them in the text
These illustrations are not ina ginative,
but authentic and scientific. The first vol
| ume carries an introduction Of about forty
pages by Hon. James Bryce, author OF
THE American Commonwealth and many
| other works in which ne gives mastery
exposition of the plan of the entire WORK
/ with his hearty approval The completed
work will be an important addition &c
world literature The American publishers
are Dodd, Mead & Co. New York.