THE NEW HISTORY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 248, 13 October 1908, Page 3

THE NEW HISTORY.

Readers will be interested in the announcement that the Tunes lias opened die subscription list lor tile sale in New Zealand of its "History oi tile \\ oJd. 1 ' It is not a little curious at sigiit, tiiat, wiiile everyone will admit alike xliie intense interest oi ntstory and tin? prolit to be derived from tile laming ol it, history enters lo so tiilluig extent into the horizon of even Wi'll-rwul men and women, it has been ii.t.iined in the schools—hardly, one fears, because of Hie interest with which tiie school text book clothes the I subject—but the grown man or woman has come to look upon any more profound and detailed survey ol human experience as a closed study upon wlhich only the specialist can venture. The educated uiaii in the eighteenth century knew more history than his descendant at tiie opening of the 20th, and, paradox as it sounds, this ignorance ui malory arises from tile very multitude of historical works published in the nine- ' teelltll celltlirv. Tin- nninlinr

nicn-e lliiat one of the initial difficulties of the student of history is to tind e\en a complete bibliography of the hisLOry of any country. ■the truth is that t'he only salisfacfactory form in which history can again be introduced ir.to the circle of - ordinary leading—where, indeed, it be-.' longs—is tlliat of a "world history.'. This is the course which the Times has! taken, issuing a history which covers, all ages and every nation in one conse-

cutive narrative, yet spacious enough to deal with each nation with tiie vividness whitSi only comes with full detail. The history of England, i'or example, in the Times History, is dealt with at greater length than it is in Knight, or Bright, or the longer version of Green; tile portion relating to classical Greece is almost tliree limes as long as Bury's "Ancient Greece," while Home before the decline runs the same number of words Momnisen's [ history. Australia and New Zealand, lit liiay be noted, are given 40,000 Words. Unlike the latest and most ambitious of Gorman Weltgesc'liiehten, that of £>neken, which is entirely tile work of German historians, the Times reveals no tendency to deal with other nations as merely secondary factors in British

history. This vita) error was from the beginning prevented by a scheme of international collaboration. The f u )) treatment of foreign nations from the inside not only gives the reader a true jliijilorical perspective, and vastly adds to his interest, but also it is practically to be recommended since none can tell what quarter of the globe may. not suddenly become tttie storm centre of contemporary politics. Ten years ago the average Englishman would scarcely have foreseen the necessity of traderstanding Japanese history, and a few months ago one might have thought the chapter in the History upon Bos-

nia .and Herzegovina a superrogatory contribution. YVSiilc, however, fault may be found with the German world histories, no one who has any acquaintance with modern Germany can doubt that its amazing progress is largely due to the historical knowledge so wildly disseminated among all classes. The twentieth century opens upon a period of acute self-consciousness. The destiny of the Empire is canvassed at every street corner. History supplies the one light by whidh to pierce the

veil of the future, and the only rational guide to conduct. The Times' History, wliidi now places at the disposal of the 'general reader the results of the vast historical labors of the nineteenth century, is well timed. It was written lo be read, and will rival Uie finest fiction in interest. No one should allow

the book to pass without making himself acquainted with its character and