Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-03-19

''Jhe Outline Of History" Being a
plain History Of Life and MANKIND.
by II. q. Wells. Written with the
advice and editorial help OF Mt
Ernest Barker. Sir II. II. Johnston.
Sir Il. Ray Lancaster. and Professor
Gilbert Murray. Illustrated by j. +.
Horrabn. In two valumos. New
York City: The Macmillan Co.
Price. s10.50 per set.
"Multum In parvo'' may rightfuliy be
used as an apt description of this worry
remarkable work, for though II com
prises two volumes, totalling nearly
l 400 pages It is. indeed. much in little"
whom it's vast and comprehensive scope
is considered. For IL voritably begins
nt the beginning and brings its citations
of facts it's comments and conclusions.
down TO the present day.
1T has been written primarily. says
the author in his introduction. TO show
that history as "A whole ts amenable TO
a more broad and comprehensive hand
ling than is the history of special
nations and periods broader handling
that will bring IL within the normal
limitations of time and energy set to the
reading and education Of the ordinary
citizen This outline deals with ages
and races and nations. where the ortii
nary history deals With regns and
pcdigrccs and campaigns. but II will
not bc found to be more crowded with
names and dates nor more difficult to
follow and understand. u is an at
tempt to tell how our present state of
affairs this distressed and nultifnrious
human life about us. arose in the course
Of vast ages and out Of tho inanimate
clash and matter, and Ia estimate the
quality and amount Of the range Of
hopes with which il now faces Its des-
tiny
Vast ages" well Convevs an impress
sion of the time covered hy the exist
cucc Of the world, tho making Of which
The reader is told in the beginning
started ~ some period variousiy "sti
mated az from G000n0 To 400 600 oen
years age Tho lowest estimate seems
staggering. tho maximum is stunning
bcvond human compr.hcneion Yet
each estimate ana All hctw"on the cx-
trcmos have their founders and sup
purters.
From reference 90 the awful swirl
~ th elements 81 nature Tint must
have preceded and attended actual for
nation IT the World. tn" study goes
INTO the origin and existence - land
.tnd water and of lifo. of changes in
climate. OF lowland forms Of life.
reptile and mammal II fishes and OF
birds. and then Of man. The origin of
man IS. Of course. obscure Int favor
is given to the largely current opinion
that hc descended from tn, ape. Indeed.
tho ~ i,iencv presented in support of
this theory seems convincing. enhanced
"a.
tons Then comes most interesting
accepted history of mans gradual prog
ress racial divisions. primitive and later
languages.
The dawn of history actual setting
Down Of events is portrayed. first COM
ing. so far as authentic Information
points 10 the ArNau- speaking people
of pre- historic times. civilization is
reasonably supposed q have had It's
,ricin AZ l'ast 6000 Years before the
,slrth ~ Christ N.Nt .s noted the ap-
learancc ~ ways Of setting forth words
other than orally by picture. syllable
writing and then alphabet writing
Religion came next and then tho
advent of priests Following closely
Was the division .. luon into classes
-,.rfs. slaves. sn,ial sets and free citi-
xens And with tht scattering Of the
people cam, The settlement of conmuni-
ms and next thy division of the world
into countries.
From this ituirt cn the work deals
with history as il is generally known
and accepted. llrSt is Jud,a. The
Roman Empire Is Described and tht.
story Of its ris, and fall Suocanctly
presented The birth Of Christianity
largely accelerated The formation 81
countries. The Manla Empire had its
noted reign. and ii \ am, the Great
Powers of Europe who's, history is
,old briefly and reveahngly. to present
times.
The Inception. progress and fortunes
Of government FIJI most intercsting <
chapters. Monarchies first prevailed.
but the reader is informed OF the
spirit o. liberty. implanted by nature
in the lIreast 81 man. which resisted
unjus, oppression and resulted in
revolutions and republics. Very in
1o~es,lng are the sections devoted -