The author of this text-book, therefore, has boldly ventured to omit most of the traditional matter which is usually supposed to give life to a text-book and to inspire a "love of history,"-- which too often means only a love of being amused.

For instance, descriptions of the formation of the Constitution and of the struggle over the extension of slavery here occupy the space usually given to the adventures of Captain John Smith and to accounts of the institutions of the Red Men.

The small number of pages available for the period before 1760 has necessitated the omission of "pictures of colonial life," which cannot be briefly and at the same time accurately described.

These and similar matters can easily be studied by the pupils in their topical work in such books as Higginson's _Young Folks' History_, Eggleston's _United States and its People_, and McMaster's _School History_.

References to these books and to a limited number of other works have been given in the margins of this text-book.