From an original photograph. The Rosetta Stone, and Description, Facsimile of original in the British Museum. PAGE Frontispiece The Sabine Women-now mothers-suing for peace between the combatants (their Roman husbands and their Sabine relations), Painting by Jacques L. David. Leonidas and his three hundred immortal Spartans preparing for the defence of Thermopyla against the Persian hosts, . Painting by Jacques L. David. I 125 356 THE GREAT EVENTS BY FAMOUS HISTORIANS General Introduction HE GREAT EVENTS BY FAMOUS HISTORIANS is the answer to a problem which has long been agitating the learned world. How shall real history, the ablest and profoundest work of the greatest historians, be rescued from its present oblivion on the dusty shelves of scholars, and made welcome to the homes of the people? THE NATIONAL ALUMNI, an association of college men, having given this question long and earnest discussion among themselves, sought finally the views of a carefully elaborated list of authorities throughout America and Europe. They consulted the foremost living historians and professors of history, successful writers in other fields, statesmen, university and college presidents, and prominent business men. From this widely gathered consensus of opinions, after much comparison and sifting of ideas, was evolved the following practical, and it would seem incontrovertible, series of plain facts. And these all pointed toward "THE GREAT EVENTS." In the first place, the entire American public, from top to bottom of the social ladder, are at this moment anxious to read history. Its predominant importance among the varied forms of literature is fully recognized. To understand the past is to understand the future. The successful men in every line of life are those who look ahead, whose keen foresight enables |