A century ago War had left the heart of Europe torn and bleeding.
Napoleon was ambitious to conquer the earth--a fitting parallel today
is another who wishes a place in the sun! Are you familiar with the
points of similarity in the ambitions of these two imperial disturbers
of the peace of the world? Do you know about the meteoric career of
the great Napoleon--with its equally meteoric ending? There is another
story that has a fascination that will endure forever--the story of
Jeanne d’Arc, one of the most remarkable women of all time, who at
thirteen years of age was inspired to lead the armies of France to
victory.
But we need not go outside of the United States to find
examples of heroism and valor that make the pages of history
glow with interest. There were the farmers of Lexington who, in
1775, fired “the shot heard round the world”--a shot that gave
Americans a great country in which to enjoy life, liberty and
the pursuit of happiness. And we cannot forget Paul Jones, who,
when his little ship was about to sink, answered the commander
of the great _Serapis_, who invited him to surrender, with
the immortal words, “I have not yet begun to fight!” It is
of special interest, in the light of present-day happenings,
to recall such patriots as Henry Clay, who, when asked the
question in 1812, “What are we to gain by war?” replied, “What
are we not to lose by peace--commerce, character, a nation’s
best treasure, honor?” There is the spirit of true patriotism
for you!
Get acquainted with the great men and the great deeds of the
past, for that is the only way to understand and appreciate the
men and deeds of the present. Lay a firm foundation for your
understanding of the World War by studying previous great wars,
warriors and statesmen of the world. To know history, however,
it is no longer necessary to spend long hours poring over
musty volumes of closely-printed facts--unsifted facts, with
the vitally interesting ones often buried so deep in wearisome
details that it is slow work finding them!
The Mentor History Set has been made up by such authoritative
writers as Albert Bushnell Hart, Ida M. Tarbell, and George
Willis Botsford. It gives you in compact form the very
information you should have to obtain a concise knowledge of
history past and present, besides over four hundred unusual
half-tones, and one hundred and twenty beautiful full-page
gravures printed in sepia tone.