odin are
the true prophets and leaders of their race and that a world without art
and happiness resembles a nursery without laughter.

COLONIAL EXPANSION AND WAR

A CHAPTER WHICH OUGHT TO GIVE YOU A GREAT DEAL OF POLITICAL INFORMATION
ABOUT THE LAST FIFTY YEARS, BUT WHICH REALLY CONTAINS SEVERAL
EXPLANATIONS AND A FEW APOLOGIES

IF I had known how difficult it was to write a History of the World, I
should never have undertaken the task. Of course, any one possessed
of enough industry to lose himself for half a dozen years in the musty
stacks of a library, can compile a ponderous tome which gives an account
of the events in every land during every century. But that was not the
purpose of the present book. The publishers wanted to print a history
that should have rhythm--a story which galloped rather than walked. And
now that I have almost finished I discover that certain chapters gallop,
that others wade slowly through the dreary sands of long forgotten
ages--that a few parts do not make any progress at all, while still
others indulge in a veritable jazz of action and romance. I did not like
this and I suggested that we destroy the whole manuscript and begin once
more from the beginning. This, however, the publishers would not allow.

As the next best solution of my difficulties, I took the type-written
pages to a number of charitable friends and asked them to read what I
had said, and give me the benefit of their advice. The experience was
rather disheartening. Each and every man had his own prejudices and his
own hobbies and preferences. They all wanted to know why, where and how
I dared to omit their pet nation, their pet statesman, or even their
most beloved criminal. With some of them, Napoleon and Jenghiz Khan were
candidates for high honours. I explained that I had tried very hard to
be fair to Napoleon, but that in my estimation he was greatly inferior
to such men as George Washington, Gustavus Wasa, Augustus, Hammurabi
or Lincoln, and a score of others all of whom were obliged to content
themselves with a few paragraphs, from sheer lack of space. As for
Jenghiz Khan, I only recognise his superior ability in the field of
wholesale murder and I did not intend to give him any more publicity
than I could help.

"This is very well as far as it goes," said the next critic, "but how
about the Puritans? We are celebrating the tercentenary of their arrival
at Plymouth. They ought to have more space." My answ