COPYRIGHT, 1886, 1887, 1894, 1898, 1900 Revised and Enlarged Edition [COPYRIGHT, 1918, 1922, 1924, BY THE PRESS ASSOCIATION COMPILERS, INC.] The publishers of the present edition have arranged with Messrs. D. A familiar occurance at the present time is the appearance of works on current history, dealing with the development of civilization, as it relates to humanity at large. This subject treats of the great movements of the time merely as products of collective energy, and only incidentally reveals the work and influence of individuals. In this it is incomplete, telling only one side of the great story, because, while collective activities are important, the work of individuals, in conceiving and carrying to maturity the great ideas that make history, reveals origins. Thus, as we learn, the now active institution of the League of Nations had nearly its earliest formulation in the writings of a leading American journalist, who, while recommending many features not yet found essential-although the future may see their adoption-anticipated the general constitution now in operation. Similarly, those notable institutions, commonly familiar under the names "trade school" and "shut-in movement", are found to be, not results of generally acting forces, not simple products of an evolutionary process, but concepts originated in individual brains. Nearly the greatest value of a collection of biographical records lies in the opportunity afforded to assign proper credits, or in common parlance, to identify the "stations" whence great thoughts have been "broadcasted" to all the world. The late world war afforded manifold opportunities, not only for acts of heroism and deeds of self-sacrifice, but also for the origination of financial and administrative methods previously unknown, as means for organizing patriotic efforts or of accumulating funds for present needs. There were numerous cases, also, in which the outcome of great events hung upon individuals, sometimes acting on their own responsibility, often originating counsels and schemes for dealing with serious crises. Occasionally the names of such persons have passed into history in association with the services which they have rendered to humanity, but in most cases their activities are discovered and preserved only by the biographer. In the present volume, the publishers have followed their original plan of devoting such space as is required for the development of individual stories, while maintaining a high standard of literary excellence. Considerable space has been devoted to the life-records of workers in special lines, and such stories have been compiled with the view of giving information in form acceptable to readers conversant with the special subjects involved. Thus, the records of many noted American physicians and surgeons will be found, with notices, as complete as possible, of their several contributions to medical science and literature. A representative number of composers, sing INTRODUCTION TO TENTH EDITION ers and musicians is included, as well as several artists of prominence. These, with the records of statesmen, governors of states, leading engineers, inventors, manufacturers and merchants, reveal the spirit of American progress as it appears from various angles. In every department, also, the old story of self-help, and the progress from straitened circumstances into success and prominence, is featured, wherever the facts have been obtainable. Such histories are always inspiring, often also of absorbing interest. No less interesting are the stories of the origin of the mail-order business, now such an important factor in American life, and of the development of enterprises widely known through persistent advertising from beginnings almost impossibly small. As the familiar saying has it, "all kinds of people are in the world", and many representatives of every kind, of every form of occupation, are worthy representation in a work purporting to fill the field of American biography. Such a work must be as various in the subjects treated as is the nation which it undertakes to represent. vi |