Classic legends of Atlantis—Chinese and Japanese accounts of early voyages to America—Prince Madoc and the Welsh legends—The voyages of the Vikings—Eric and Leif and their adventures—Columbus and his schemes—The most memorable voyage in history—Post-Columbian voyagers and explorers—Many men from many lands flocking to the newly-discovered continent—A new world opened to the civilization and to the greed of Europe

Parcelling out the country—Foundation of the earliest colonies—Jamestown and its settlers—Strange improvidence of the colonists—Troubles with the Indians—John Smith and Pocahontas—The Pilgrims and Puritans—Substantial growth of the New England Colonies—New York—Troubles with the Mother Country—Growth of the spirit of independence—The War of the Revolution and its results

Establishing a constitutional government—Disputes with other powers—A second war with England—Territorial acquisitions—Settlement and admission of new States—The slavery question—War with Mexico—The rush for gold in California—The Kansas troubles—How the great war was precipitated—The campaigns from Bull Run to Appomattox—Political results of the war—Rapid growth of the country since—The present state of the nation

The origin and object of universal exhibitions—New York’s Crystal Palace—Spirit and hopes of its projectors—Its display of the nation’s greatness—The Centennial Exposition of 1876—Magnitude of the enterprise—Description of its hundred buildings—Calendar of events—An impressive exposition of national development

Preparations for a celebration of the quartercentenary of Columbus—Chicago chosen as the site—Marvelous history of the Western Metropolis—How the Columbian Exhibition was organized—Sketches of its promoters—The principal buildings and grounds—Financial arrangements—An exhibition surpassing all its predecessors and fittingly commemorating the birth of a new world

Marriage Customs in the United States—Shiploads of women disposed of as wives to the earlier Virginia Planters—The Marriage Relation should be closely guarded—Divorced people, have they moral right to remarry?—A rich man and a stupid wife—Drifting apart—Duty of the Church—Views of a happy wife—Novels, love and marriage—“Beauty and the Beast”—An insulting imputation—Is it the “best match?”—Marriage blunders

Marriage not a failure—Rev. David Swing’s caustic comment—Views of Rabbi Silverman—Heartlessness of Divorce Court proceedings—Divorced persons debarred by the Queen of England—Sufferings of the children—“Vice is a monster of such hideous mien”—Shall we have a Constitutional Amendment restricting divorce?—Views of Bishop Foss and Bishop Whittaker—Position of the Catholic Church and of the Hebrews—“Church union cannot be combated”—“Burn the bridges”

Encumbered with mortgage—Energy of the farmer—Lack of capital—Labor—The farmer’s children and city life—“The borrower is servant to the lender”—The census valuation of farm lands—Hiram Sibley,